"I'm...Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee"

If you are a Mom you have probably heard this song. Until I became a Mom, I did not know this catchy little darkish tune that children seem to love. I stumbled on it when playing a new CD from a friend and low and behold, my son could not get enough. He made me play it...and play it...and play it..."Mama, BEEEEEEE!"

While the dancing that accompanied replay after replay was the best ever, I found that I could not get this song out of my head. Once it even intruded upon my thoughts when I was trying to get to sleep...isn't repetition a powerful thing?

A lot of Moms I have met over the years tell themselves all kinds of things. In fact, they repeat them:

• "My brain has turned to mush all these years as a stay-at-home Mom interacting with babies and toddlers all day"
• "I've just been a stay-at-home Mom for 3 years and my husband has been the one with the career"
• "I don't have anything to show for the past 5 years I have stayed at home and I have no idea how to find a job or even if I am qualified for one"
• "I haven't kept up with my skills or developed any new ones"

These are just a sample of the dozens of disqualifying statements I have heard come from the mouths of Moms who have contacted me for help with re-entering the workforce. Most think they have nothing to show for "off-ramping" and are at a loss when it comes to their resumes and how to strategically job search.

Many women who have made the biggest commitment - to stay at home with their children - think that having a career just, well, stops. And that going back to old jobs or finding new careers in a changing workplace will be daunting at best but perhaps near impossible with lots and lots and lots of compromises.

If you have that tune or something close to it stuck in your head, it's time for a new one. Repeating negative thoughts about your chances at a successful career post-children will seriously limit you, to say the least. How we think and more importantly, what we say to ourselves, is critical during the transition of re-entering the workforce.

Bottom line: pay attention to your thoughts. In fact, write down what is going on in your brain as you ponder or act upon reigniting your career. While it might be a more difficult exercise than repeating lyrics about a bumblebee being squashed and revived and mommy being so proud, you might find that the tune in your head is just that repetitive - and just as disturbing as this little song :)

For help with your transition back to work, contact Ellen at trueprofessions@gmail.com for a free consultation.