I went back to work 10 days after giving birth. Two decades later, I finally took a break.
After decades of putting work first, a real estate executive stepped away from her career to be there for her college-age sons.
Leslie Cohen, a real estate executive in the Boston area, returned to work just 10 days after giving birth to her second son, two decades ago. Cohen, now 52, has since decided to take a career break to be more present for her college-bound children. When Cohen had her first child, she took six months of paid leave, gradually returning to work over time.
However, when her second son was born, her boss asked her to return to work early, just 10 days postpartum. Cohen complied, working only four days a week and receiving payment for a night nanny, as her second son had colic and she needed sleep. Cohen's sons, now 21 and 19, are navigating college, which she feels is a crucial time when her children need her most.
She credits the availability of paid leave as a contributing factor to her decision to return to work so early. Cohen continues to advocate for progressive paid leave policies, which have helped reduce the stigma for working mothers.
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