“I Wish I’d Had a Coach”: How Coaching Can Support the Return from Parental Leave
When I look back on my own return to work after maternity leave, I remember a lot of things: the joy of being back in adult conversation, the anxiety about childcare logistics, the overwhelming feeling of being split between two worlds.
But what I remember most is how lonely that transition felt — even with a supportive workplace.
No one really talked about the emotional whiplash. The identity shift. The self-doubt. The pressure to prove you’re still “on it.”
And I often think: I wish I’d had a coach.
Coaching isn’t about fixing — it’s about holding space
Coaching during a return from maternity or paternity leave isn’t about performance or productivity. It’s not about pushing people to “bounce back.”
It’s about making space — space to think, process, and decide what matters now.
Because returning to work after becoming a parent is a huge moment. For some, it’s a confidence wobble. For others, it’s a chance to completely reassess what they want from work and life.
A coach doesn’t give you answers. They help you hear yourself clearly enough to find your own.
What a return-to-work coaching conversation can offer:
In my work with parents through Nest & Next, here’s what coaching often helps with:
Naming what’s changed — in your values, your energy, your priorities
Rebuilding confidence — especially if you’re feeling out of step or behind
Making a plan — for communicating boundaries, re-onboarding, or navigating flexible working
Letting go of guilt — and rewriting the story you tell yourself about “having it all”
Sometimes, it’s just a quiet hour where no one needs you — where you get to focus on you.
And honestly? That’s powerful.
It’s not about having a big problem — it’s about having support
I often hear people say, “I don’t think I need coaching — I’m doing okay.” And if you’re doing okay, that’s wonderful.
But coaching isn’t just for when things go wrong. It’s for when you’re standing in a moment of change, asking: Who am I now? And how do I want to move forward?
That’s what the return to work after parental leave really is: a turning point. Coaching helps you walk through it with more intention and less overwhelm.
Coaching also helps employers do better
When companies invest in return-to-work coaching, they send a strong message:
We see you. We value you. And we want you to thrive — not just survive.
That kind of support isn’t just good for parents. It’s good for retention, engagement, and long-term performance. It builds cultures where people feel safe to be whole humans.
And from what I’ve seen? That’s exactly the kind of workplace people want to return to.
If you're about to return — or support someone who is
Whether you're a new parent preparing to return, or an HR professional thinking about how to better support your people — coaching can be part of the solution.
It’s not about adding more to your to-do list.
It’s about making space to do this next chapter your way.
At Nest & Next, I offer 1:1 coaching packages for parents returning to work, as well as workshops and support for HR teams. If that’s something you or your organisation needs, I’d love to talk. Get in touch here.