Episode 73 – Returning to Work After Parental Leave with Helen Harmetz
Returning from parental leave is rarely straightforward. It’s emotional. It’s logistical. It’s identity-shifting. And it often feels like there’s no roadmap.
In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah welcomes back executive coach Helen Harmetz to share thoughtful, practical advice for navigating this transition with intention.
Helen reflects on her own experience returning to a demanding tech role after both of her daughters were born. She discusses how to assess whether your role still fits, how to set boundaries that protect your time and energy, and why this season often makes parents more focused and effective at work.
Even if you’re not personally returning from leave, this episode is an important listen. It offers insight into how we can better support colleagues, friends, and family members during one of the most vulnerable transitions of parenthood.
Key Takeaways
Assess the fit. Decide whether your job still aligns with this season of life — or if it needs to change.
Name your path. Some parents want a fresh challenge. Others want the stability of something familiar. Both are valid.
Boundaries increase productivity. Limited time forces clarity and sharper prioritization.
Communicate clearly. Direct conversations about time, meetings, and workload build respect.
Expect evolving routines. Newborn schedules change quickly — your work rhythms will too.
Think long-term. Working parenthood is a marathon, not a sprint.
Quotes
“When you want to come back to what you're doing, it’s easier to come back.”
“There’s nobody more intentional than a working mom with daycare pickup.”
“It made me better at my job because I was forced to prioritize.”
“Life as a working parent is a marathon.”
“Give yourself grace — it’s an evolving system.”
Resources Mentioned
Helen Harmetz : Executive coach for working parents and tech professionals. Connect with Helen on Instagram @mindthebeet.
Heron House Management – Virtual house management for busy families
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This episode of De-Stress the Nest is sponsored by Heron House Management.
About Heron House Management:
Heron House Management is a virtual house management service that takes the stress out of your busy life by taking on your mental load and managing your To Do list. We provide fractional virtual house management for busy families at 10, 15 and 20+ hours/month.
Meal planning, signing up for kids activities, scheduling doctor's appointments, finding a house cleaner, planning your kid's birthday party, getting quotes for that home renovation project, or scheduling a monthly date night with your significant other and so much more. We do it all!
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00:00
Hannah Morgan: Welcome to De-Stress the Nest, a podcast for busy parents where experts share bite-sized tips on how to create systems that minimize stress at home. I'm your host, Hannah Morgan. Today’s episode is sponsored by Heron House Management — the first-ever virtual house management service that lightens your mental load by handling your to-do list with monthly subscriptions of 10, 15, and 20+ hours per month. From meal planning and doctor’s appointments to birthday parties and home projects, Heron House Management helps busy families reclaim their time and live their best lives. Learn more at heronhousemanagement.com.00:48
Hannah Morgan: We welcome back Helen Harmetz, a seasoned executive coach who’s here to talk about best practices for returning to work after parental leave. Even if this isn’t your current season, consider how we can support friends, colleagues, and family members navigating this transition.01:22
Hannah Morgan: Helen, I’m so excited to have you on the show today. Let’s start by hearing a little bit more about who you are and what you do.01:32
Helen Harmetz: Thanks, Hannah. My name is Helen Harmetz, and I’m an executive coach for working parents and people in tech. I’ve worked in big tech and small tech for the last 15 years. I’m also a mom of two with a busy partner and a dog. I’m passionate about helping parents live and work with intention.02:05
Hannah Morgan: Today we’re talking about how to come back from parental leave — a milestone that can feel incredibly difficult. What shaped your perspective on this?02:20
Helen Harmetz: I’ve come back from leave twice. I was fortunate to take about five and a half months both times before returning to a demanding job in tech. It was hard both times — and also a relief both times. I held those two truths at once.02:50
Helen Harmetz: My first big learning is to ask yourself: is your job worth coming back to? That sounds dramatic, but when you want to return to what you’re doing, it’s easier.03:15
Helen Harmetz: I’ve seen two paths. Some parents come back and feel like their old work feels stale. They need a new challenge. Others find comfort in returning to something familiar when home life feels chaotic. Both paths are valid — but it helps to name which one you’re in.03:55
Helen Harmetz: My second thought is this: there’s nobody more productive than a mom who has daycare drop-off, pumping breaks, and pickup deadlines.04:20
Helen Harmetz: Before kids, I could work into the night. After returning, I had eight focused hours. I had to prioritize. The mental noise dropped away because I didn’t have time for it.04:50
Helen Harmetz: It became easier to say no to meetings without agendas. I would ask, “Do you really need me? Or can this wait?” People respected the clarity.05:20
Hannah Morgan: There’s such a stigma about distracted moms, but I think the opposite is true. The focus sharpens.05:32
Helen Harmetz: I truly believe it makes us better workers. We become more intentional and decisive.05:50
Helen Harmetz: And my third thought is that life as a working parent is a marathon, not a sprint.06:10
Helen Harmetz: When you first return, routines feel rigid. But they change quickly. Pumping schedules evolve. Childcare needs shift. What works today won’t work in three months.06:40
Helen Harmetz: Stay open to that evolution. Give yourself grace. It’s an evolving system.07:05
Hannah Morgan: It’s just like parenting — as soon as you figure it out, everything changes.07:18
Helen Harmetz: Exactly. One day you’re managing newborn naps. The next, you’re at an 11 a.m. ballet recital across town.07:40
Hannah Morgan: I hope our listeners share this with someone navigating this transition.07:50
Helen Harmetz: I’m always happy to talk to anyone struggling with it. It’s a big shift.09:40
Hannah Morgan: Thanks for listening to De-Stress the Nest, the podcast where experts share bite-sized tips on how to minimize stress at home. Don’t forget to subscribe and tune in every Tuesday for more ways to simplify your life.
