I had already heard some stories about women that suffered in the labour market after becoming moms. Some didn’t want to let go of their positions, others didn’t know if they gave up everything to be full time moms and others if they would be able to balance everything. Fair enough, when I found myself in this position, I freaked out. 

Everything started when the womb of pregnancy started  showing itself and I filled myself with plans. My idea has always been to conciliate both things, a mother’s life and one of a woman.

Inspite of experiencing a great fright at the beginning of my journey (my daughter decided to come into the world earlier than expected!), I stuck to my plan until the end of the 3 months of my maternity leave. Then, my mother side spoke louder, along with other setbacks, and I was sure it was the right moment to take some time off on my professional life and embrace my role as a full time mom.

After a year of enjoyment and dedicating myself to my family, the label “fulltime mom” was beginning to be too much for me. I didn’t think it was glamorous anymore, I miss socializing with other people and thought that all those years of dedication and study were being thrown away into the trash. 

“Brazil was in a crisis and I, a +30 woman with a baby and without support from my family (which lived in a different town), threw myself to that tornado. “

This was when I decided to go back to work. Gradually, without any rush I started sending my CVs here, then there, informed myself what was going on the market… The anxiety got to me after 6 months when I realized it wasn’t easy to go back. Brazil was in a crisis and I, a +30 woman with a baby and without support from my family (which lived in a different town), threw myself to that tornado. 

During the next 2 years, I participated in interviews, had to take off qualifications of my CV and got a really big “NO” more than a few times. My anxiety was turning itself in frustration. I didn’t think it was fair to waste all those years studying JUST to be a mom. In the meanwhile, I was trying to accept my role as a mom as an amazing opportunity and worked my mind waiting for my turn to go back to the market. 

After a while, I was blessed with an opportunity to move with my family to a beautiful city that received me with open arms. In the middle of the process, my priorities, opinions and world views had changed a lot. What I looked for wasn’t the same thing I looked for the past 5 years. Naturally, it was my turn. 

“What I looked for wasn’t the same thing I looked for the past 5 years. Naturally, it was my turn. “

This is how I arrived in the welcoming, friendly, cosy, with beautiful people environment. Home of inspiring values and ideas of acceptance and equality. All the time I waited, all the frustration and anxiety, all learned in the process, all the sleepless nights and diapers changed were worth it. Today I have more clarity of who I am, what I want and where I want to be.

If you are reading this article you might be one of the both, both or none of them, just wait for your time. 

Claudia Ecco is responsible for the Administrative and Financial sectors of Brazilian Experience. She came to Be because she embraced the idea that by living and experiencing differences, we can co-create a better world. She is passionate about knowing different cultures and especially the cuisine of each. Loves to taste different dishes that bring the history of each culture in it. Claudia’s dream is to show the world to her 5-year-old daughter, Olivia, and expects her to fall in love with traveling just like her.