Returning to work after maternity leave is supposed to feel like a step forward—a reconnection with our professional selves, a chance to contribute again, a signal that we’re back. But for many women, it’s not empowering. It’s defeating.

For Elise Slavin, a mum of two and experienced marketer, the return came with all the right intentions, and all the wrong support. In a recent episode of the Working Mumma podcast, Elise opened up about how her return to work became a turning point in her life. Her story is equal parts painful and inspiring—and packed with takeaways every working mum can learn from.

A Toxic Return to Work

Elise returned to her corporate job after her second baby. From the outside, things looked structured: she was allowed to return part-time for three months. But behind the scenes, the expectations were anything but flexible.

“By the end of those three months, I was expected to be working full-time with two kids under five and barely any childcare,” Elise recalls. “I was overwhelmed, burnt out, and no one seemed to care.”

Worse still, when she tried to raise concerns, HR dismissed her. Elise remembers one phone call vividly. “I said, ‘I feel like I’ve been bullied.’ The woman on the other end looked shocked, but said nothing. No questions, no support. Just silence.”

That moment changed everything.

“I got off the phone, turned to my husband, and said, ‘I can’t go back.’”

Saying No—And Starting Fresh

Elise walked away. She had no job lined up. No guarantees. But she had one thing she hadn’t had for a while: clarity.

“I knew I needed to find a role where I wasn’t just a cog in the machine,” she says. “I wanted to be seen as a human being, a mum, and someone who could still contribute in a big way.”

A few weeks later, she had an interview with a mid-sized company, and instantly connected with her would-be manager.

“She offered me the job on the spot,” Elise says. “She told me later I was at the top of her pile. That was the first time in years I felt truly seen and valued.”

Now Elise works four days a week, during school hours, in a part-time flexible role that gives her the space to be both a professional and a parent.

Letting Go of Guilt

For Elise, the biggest shift wasn’t just in location or hours. It was in mindset.

“I had years of workplace trauma that I didn’t realise I was carrying,” she says. “My new manager saw that immediately and organised mindset coaching to help me rebuild my confidence.”

That’s when Elise adopted what she now calls her “1% Rule”—a personal strategy that has helped her maintain boundaries and wellbeing, even in the chaos of working mum life.

What is the 1% Rule?
It’s simple: 15 minutes a day (1% of your day) just for you.
No guilt. No multitasking. Just something that fills your cup.

For Elise, that might be a walk, some stretching, or sitting quietly with her crochet. “The point is that it’s just for me—and it’s sustainable.”

3 Key Takeaways from Elise’s Story

1. You’re allowed to say no
If a workplace doesn’t support you post-maternity leave, it’s not your failure. It’s a failure of the system.

2. Flexibility is more than policy
True flexibility means trust, empathy, and outcomes over hours. Elise’s current employer supports her not despite her part-time status, but because of her value.

3. Small daily actions can create big change
You don’t need a two-hour morning routine. The 1% Rule proves that 15 minutes of focused, intentional time can restore balance, and remind you of who you are outside of motherhood.

The Bigger Picture

Elise’s story is deeply personal, but sadly not unique. Many working mums feel pressured to conform, sacrifice, or stay silent—especially when re-entering the workforce.

But stories like Elise’s remind us that there’s power in walking away from what no longer serves us, and even more power in redefining success as working mums on our own terms.

“I love being a mum,” Elise says. “But I also love my work. Having a role that supports both makes me a better version of myself.”

Her advice to other working mums?

“If your kids are happy, safe, and loved, you’re doing just fine. And if your job doesn’t see that, it’s okay to find one that does.”

🔗 Want to hear the full conversation with Elise? Listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify.

Connect with Elise via LinkedIn