Letter: On Coming Back Changed
Some leave is just time away. Other leave changes how you see things. This letter was written at the end of a long parental break, to the leader who encouraged Ted to actually use it.
Dear Rebecca,
Thank you for encouraging me to truly take the time off, disconnect from work, and focus on my family. Over the past few weeks, I realised I had not been giving them the attention they deserved. The clearest sign was seeing how much happier my eldest son became, and how much he genuinely enjoyed spending time with me. I have always believed I was managing the balance well. This experience showed me there is still room to grow.
In eighteen years, this was the longest time I have taken away from work. It gave me space to reflect, recharge, and finish two books: one on the value of being a more present, less anxious parent, and another on following what the universe keeps nudging you toward.
The parental leave was a genuine blessing. It gave me time to settle in with our newborn, manage the household, and be present with my wife and children in a way I had not been before. My wife recovered from surgery during this period, and I was there. After four years, we had forgotten many things about having a newborn. Rediscovering them together has been one of the best parts.
The time also brought me closer to family I do not see enough. A friendship with my father-in-law, built slowly over these weeks, is something I will carry forward.
None of it would have happened without the organisation’s support, your encouragement to make full use of the leave, and a team that held things together while I was away. They are, as you already know, exceptional.
Thank you for the handover note, and for making sure they knew that too.