The Parenthood Effect: Explained

After being made redundant shortly before my maternity leave was due, I rummaged through the internet in search of a support network for redundant parents. To my surprise, there weren’t as many resources as one would hope. I couldn’t even find many Reddit or Mumsnet threads revolving around redundancy and parenthood. There were a few stories similar to mine on the ‘Pregnant Then Screwed’ website, and I came across a couple of TikTok accounts made by women who were sharing similar experiences, but that was about it.

I wanted to create a safe space where I could connect with other parents and publish my stories online in the hope that others could relate.

Originally, I wanted to design this community for women only, but then I remembered that I intend to promote inclusivity, and men’s careers can suffer too due to the choice of starting a family, particularly if they are the primary caregivers of their children. It’s just not so widely reported or talked about compared to women’s experiences with discrimination in the workplace. But believe me, I have witnessed previous male colleagues’ careers wither away due to being the default parent.

Overall, I did not create this space with the intention of being completely negative. I would like to share positive aspects too and help those who perhaps lost confidence in their abilities to perform at work once they chose to start a family. The hope is that we all connect and support each other through our personal journeys. Whether you have faced workplace discrimination, are thinking about returning to work after starting a family, or are generally curious about the world of parenting. Everyone is welcome!

If you would like to join me on this journey, feel free to follow @theparenthoodeffect (all platforms).