I Barely Took Maternity Leave. My Kids Are Now Grown and Need Me More.
Key Points:
- Leslie Cohen, a 52-year-old real estate professional in Boston, has paused her career to spend more time with her college-aged children, marking her first extended break from work.
- Earlier in her career, Cohen balanced paid maternity leave with work demands, returning early after childbirth with accommodations like a reduced workweek and a night nanny to manage her newborns' needs.
- Her husband, a retired dentist and teacher, did not take paternity leave, reflecting limited availability of such benefits at the time.
- Cohen emphasizes the importance of being present for her sons during their transition to college, valuing flexible time to support and listen to them without work interruptions.
- A recent experience spending a morning with her younger son reinforced her belief that taking a career break was the right decision for her family.