Being a working mum is an important sign for my daughter.

Claudia Lässer, as the CPO of blue Sport & News, oversees the largest sports television in Switzerland and the fourth-largest online platform in the country. By the time she became a mother, she was already where she wanted to be in her career. That is precisely why a break was not an option for her. She returned to work after the 14 weeks of maternity leave. Resilience, her family and good time management helped her to do justice to both her career and her daughter. Looking back, she wouldn’t have done anything differently – except perhaps to allow herself a few more weeks at home after giving birth.

How did you experience the first weeks after your daughter’s birth?

To be honest, they were a borderline experience. Right from the start, you’re extremely challenged as a mom – mentally and physically. And this continues more or less over the first three years of your child’s life. I went back to work after 14 weeks. That was my plan. But it was exhausting: breastfeeding, working and spending important time with my child. Today, I would allow myself a few more weeks at home.

Why did you decide to go back to work immediately?

My role as a leader and media manager brings me great joy. I am very passionate about it. Therefore, it was not an option to become a full-time mom at the time. I also see it as an important sign to my daughter. She experiences a mom who sets an example that it can work well to combine family and career.

How did you manage that?

I found a way quite quickly that made it easier for me to find this balance between the two: mindfulness – being completely present wherever I am. That means I focus on the situation and place where I am, as well as on the people who are with me there and the tasks I have there. When I work, my entire focus is on it. When I’m with my daughter, all my attention is on her. I try not to do a split. So I never really felt that my daughter was shortchanged – and she never made me feel that way. I think you also need to have a certain resilience. By that I mean to take care of oneself and to have a good sense of what one needs as a mother and woman, and what is good for oneself. “Me-time” is often neglected. You’re not just a mother, partner and boss, but also a woman with needs that should also have space in this phase of life. It helps if you find tools that give you strength and energy.

Have you found your tools?

I’ve always done a lot of sports and meditated regularly. That has helped me a lot. I was able to integrate both well into my daily routine. By making sure to schedule this time for myself, I was also able to manage the demanding early days with little sleep. I have kept this up to this day, even though my daughter is now almost 10 years old.

Do you have such tools or rituals as a family?

Yes. We have quite a lot of rituals. I used to be a teacher and know from experience that structures and familiar routines can be helpful for children. These include especially the rituals that my daughter and I have. We always read a story in the evening. I used to read to her, now she often reads. In the evening, we have a fixed routine when we go to bed. In the morning, we have cuddle time together. Those are our 15 minutes after the alarm has gone off. Besides the weekend, Friday afternoon is mom-daughter time. We do a lot of crafting or go on outings. Rituals give security and thereby strengthen children’s self-confidence. Precisely because I am not always there, I want my daughter to know that she can rely on a clear and dependable structure in her school day. And by the way, this also includes my handling of the phone. That is something I count as part of “mindfulness”. On Friday afternoon and on weekends, I put the phone away and am only reachable in emergencies. My daughter reminds me if I don’t stick to it.

What role do good care offerings play for you and your family?

My parents have always been a great support to me and have helped me with the care. After the death of my father a few years ago, my mother is still always there for us. I also chose the Montessori school system early on. I greatly appreciate that the children there are continuously cared for by educators throughout the day. For me, that was a big relief. Switzerland simply lacks offerings that provide a good day structure for children. There is still a lot of room for improvement. One should be able to put one’s child into care with the good knowledge that they will be well cared for throughout the day. The fact that care costs here are very high adds to the challenge.

What change would you like to see here?

That women receive more support regarding the costs of childcare. Childcare should not necessarily be free of charge. But especially women who want to return to the job with a small workload are in a difficult situation. Then you naturally weigh the costs and benefits very consciously against each other. Do you really want to spend your entire salary on care?

How important is the support of young families by the employer?

I think it’s essential that the employer is aware of the challenge of reconciling work and family. Young families need support from this side as well. There should be possibilities to reduce the workload, as I have done. It’s also important to realize that this issue affects not only mothers but also fathers. I have several dads on my team. For them, this is just as important an issue today as it is for the moms.

What advice do you have for young mothers?

Discuss seriously with your partner before becoming parents what changes you will experience as a family. Answer the question of what a child means to you as a couple and as a person. Who takes on how much responsibility for child care when the child is there? Do I have family support? What are the long-term consequences of my decision for or against working as a mother for me? Anyone who leaves the profession for several years today will probably find it difficult to return. One should calmly look 10 years into the future and ask oneself in which constellation one is happy as a woman and not just as a mother. Support is incredibly important: as a family and between man and woman. There is a lot of potential in that. By helping each other out, you can take the pressure off others.

“Me-time is often too short. You are not only a mother, partner and boss, but also a woman with needs that should also have space in this phase of life. It helps if you finds tools for yourself that give strength and energy.”