After experiencing childbirth and child rearing from a life of work as a brand representative
ith representative, Ayu Takahashi, has been on maternity leave since August 2021, expecting the birth of her first child, a girl, in October, and after a childcare leave, she has decided to return to her job at ith this June 2022.
For Ms. Takahashi, ith, which she started in 2014, has been absolutely central in her mind 365 days a year, whether she is asleep or awake. In such a situation, leaving ith for an extended period of time could be considered a turning point. We asked her to talk about her feelings on the eve of her return and the changes in her thinking about rings, parenting, and work.
Doing what is in front of you, one by one, with care.
- Ms. Takahashi's life was devoted to work. When you started maternity leave, didn't you worry about ith?
Takahashi: Not at all! To my own surprise, from the day I started maternity leave, my switch against ith turned off (laughs).
I was more focused on my life with my husband and my growing belly, and there was no room to think about work! I felt like I was always thinking about my husband and my growing belly, and I didn't have time to think about work!
- I was surprised to hear that. I thought you were spending all your time worrying about it.
Takahashi: I guess I had come to a point in my life where I could let the people I work with take care of me. Of course, I had a sense of security in being able to leave things in the hands of the people I work with. Unlike when I first started ith, where I felt self-conscious that I had to be there, I have been working with specialists in each field, and I think a large part of that was because I felt that ith would be fine without me.
- Did your feelings change when your daughter was actually born?
Takahashi: I was further spurred to get out of work, and I thought, "It would be nice to live peacefully raising a child from now on..." My desire and impatience to return to work disappeared completely (laughs). It was as if a whole new life had arrived.
I originally didn't think I was the type of person who was family oriented or interested in children, so I was surprised to find myself now having a daughter of my own and being crazy about her. I never knew babies could be so cute! I can now think, "This is a new side of me that my daughter has brought out in me.
- From this state of mind, it is surprising that you are returning to work after waiting less than a year. Did you plan this before your maternity leave?
Takahashi: Before I had the baby, I thought I would return after the New Year. However, that was an impossible imagination when I actually gave birth. My own physical condition had not returned, and I wanted to watch the baby's growth for as long as possible. There were times when I wanted to raise the baby by myself until he or she was about one year old, when I could see him or her crawling and walking.
However, since I could not devote myself to raising a child all the time, I submitted a request for a daycare center in April, when it was easier to enroll my child, and although I was not selected at that time, I was able to enroll my child in a daycare center in May.
I am glad that I was able to enter a preschool where I could fulfill both of my requirements: that my child be cared for in a good environment and that I be able to balance my work with taking my child to school and picking her up from school.
- Did you start with shorter hours?
Takahashi: No, I work full time. To be honest, I cannot spend the same amount of time ith as I did before the birth. But my role is not something that can be limited by time, so I thought it would be different to draw a line between work and child-rearing by working shorter hours. My husband also helps me with childcare and housework together, so I want to cooperate with him and raise my daughter and ith well.
Oh, but... I hope everyone at ith will take it easy on me (laughs).
- ith also has senior members who have returned to work after maternity leave, and the way you work as a representative of Mr. Takahashi is also part of your new phase.
Takahashi: Am I the first person to return to work full time after maternity leave? I want to work while having fun so that the members of ith and Arts & Crafts can have a positive image of balancing work and child rearing.
I am sure there will be challenges, but there is no point in worrying about them now, so I will take the plunge! I look forward to working with all of the ith clients and staff again.
Doing what is in front of you, one thing at a time
This interview took place at Ms. Takahashi's home. She looked so happy as she talked to her daughter in a relaxed manner with a soft expression and voice, which I could not imagine from her tight expression at work.
What impressed me was their attitude of not forcing themselves to make decisions about the future, but rather to carefully and fully focus on what is most important at the time, without being greedy. Now that I have decided to return to ith as if the fullness of time has arrived, I am looking forward to the future development of ith.
And then there is Mr. Takahashi's baby, who made the members of our interview a bonafide success. Your daughter won't wait until she's one year old to appear in an upcoming ith movie, so be sure to find her and watch her!
