The Parental Leave Playbook: 10 Touchpoints to Transition Smoothly, Strengthen Your Family, and Continue Building your Career

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Author’s Note
Introduction
	Understanding What You Face: Challenges Are Opportunities in Disguise
	Understanding the Framework
	The Playbook in Three Phases
Chapter 1 Parental Leave Is a Mess—Let’s Fix It!
	Language Matters: Defining Parental Leave
	A Broken System: Parental Leave in the United States
	When We Get Parental Leave Wrong
	When We Get Parental Leave Right
	You Are the Way Forward
Chapter 2 The 10A Transition Touchpoints Framework
	The RETAIN Parental Leave Transition Coaching Model
	The Three-Phase Parental Leave Transition
	From Worker to Parent to Working Parent
	Roles and Identity
	Routines
Phase 1 Preparing for Leave***Work Focus
	Chapter 3 Phase 1: Preparing for Leave Overview
		The Emotional Passage to Working Parenthood
		Don’t Expect Others to Have a Plan
		Frontload the Work
	Chapter 4 Touchpoint  1Announcement
		When It Goes Badly . . .
		When It Goes Well . . .
		Preparing to Announce
		Key Elements of a Good Announcement
		If You’ve Already Announced
		Ongoing Communication
		When Someone Says the Wrong Thing
		The Broader Impact of Your Leave
		Take the Lead
	Chapter 5 Touchpoint 2Assess
		Introducing the 6-S System for Parental Leave Transition Success
		Walking Yourself Through the 6-S System for Parental Leave Transition Success
		Take Stock
		Take Charge
		Using Your Assessment Results
		Revisiting Your 6-S Assessment
	Chapter 6 Touchpoint 3 Action Plan
		Plan Overview
		Plan Elements
		Importance of Contingency Planning
		Phase 1 Planning: Preparing for Leave
		Phase 2 Planning: During Leave
		Phase 3 Planning: Returning to Work
		Final Thoughts on Planning
	Chapter 7 Touchpoint 4 Acknowledge the Transition to Parenthood
		Inner Work
		Letter Writing as Reflection
		At Work
		The End of Phase 1
Phase 2 During Leave***Parent Focus
	Chapter 8 Phase 2: During Leave Overview
		Prepare for All the Feels
		Make Connection a Priority
	Chapter 9 Touchpoint 5 Appropriately Keep in Touch
		Keeping in Touch with Your Personal Support System
		Revisiting Your KIT Strategy After Your Child’s Arrival
	Chapter 10 Touchpoint 6 Advocate
		Having Difficult Conversations
		Self-Advocacy at Home
		Self-Advocacy at Work
		Recruiting Others to Advocate for You
		Dealing with Unsolicited Advice
		Advocate for Others by Providing Feedback on Your Leave Experience
	Chapter 11 Touchpoint 7 Arrangements for Return
		Revising Your Return-to-Work Plan
		Return Logistics
		Arrangements at Home for Your Return to Work
		Arrange for Self-Care
Phase 3 Returning from Leave***Working Parent Focus
	Chapter 12 Phase 3: Returning from Leave Overview
		Your One Whole Life
		Self-Efficacy and Self-Evaluation
	Chapter 13 Touchpoint 8 Acknowledge the Transition to Working Parent
		You Are New and Improved
		Identify Your Shadow Values
		Reframing
		Another Letter (or Two or Three)
	Chapter 14 Touchpoint 9 Adjustment
		Identify Your Integration Points
		Communication
		Adjusting at Home
		Adjusting Your Boundaries Instead of Attempting “Balance”
		Types of Boundaries
		Enlist Boundary Guards
		Know Your Boundary Management Style
		Boundary Management at Work
		Boundary Management at Home
		Where Boundary Adjustment May Be Needed
	Chapter 15 Touchpoint 10 Access to Career Development
		Modern Career Development Models
		Parental Leave as a Career Development Opportunity
		Career Development Isn’t Always a Straight Line
		Shifting Between Career Gears: Pedal to the Metal, Downshift, Park
		Your Career Need Not Be Your Calling
		You Can Always Change Your Mind
		The End of Your Transition
Rounding Out the Human Experience***
	Chapter 16 Additional Challenges and Resources
		Systemic Racial Oppression and Bias
		Challenges Faced by LGBTQ+ Families
		Adoption and/or Fostering
		Surrogacy
		Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
		Lactation
		Infertility and Pregnancy Loss
		Infant/Child Loss
		Previous Trauma
		Other Health Issues for a Birthing Parent
		Postpartum Healing
		Health Issues for Your Child
		Workplace Discrimination
		Conclusion
Appendix One Values Exercise List
Appendix Two Free Resources from the Center for Parental Leave Leadership
Appendix Three An Emerging Working Parent Support Ecosystem
	Policy Advocacy
	Thought Leadership and Practice
	Research and Communications
	Compliance and Leave Navigation
	Parental Health and Wellness
	Supporting Services
	Funding and Investment
	Legal
	Conclusion
Appendix Four Recommended Reading
Endnotes and General References
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Index
EULA