---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a wrench when you have to go back…"
description: "\"It is a wrench when you have to go back to work after maternity leave, whether you've had two months or over a year.\" — Holly Willoughby"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/holly-willoughby-5755_back_it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back_3205615.jpg"
---

#  It is a wrench when you have to go back to work after…

![“It is a wrench when you have to go back to work after maternity leave, whether you've had two months or over a year.” quote by Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/holly-willoughby-5755_back_it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back_3205615.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/holly-willoughby-5755_back_it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back_3205615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/holly-willoughby-5755_back_it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back_3205615.jpg)

> “It is a wrench when you have to go back to work after maternity leave, whether you've had two months or over a year.”

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Returning to work after maternity leave can feel jarring, disrupting the rhythm of new parenthood.

**In simple terms:** Back to work after maternity feels abrupt.

Key Takeaway

Plan transition.

Themes

work-life balance parenthood career

Mood

empathetic reflective

Type

advice reflective

When to use this quote

- career planning

Key Concepts

maternity leave employment family dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- What support would ease your return?
- How can workplaces better accommodate new parents?

A Different Perspective

The abrupt shift can cause stress and guilt.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Maternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maternity/) [Maternity leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maternity-leave/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [I used to work in a maternity shop when I was at college. But I started baby-sitting in the evenings. I started then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-frost/i-used-to-work-in-a-maternity-shop-when-i-was-at-college-but-i/)

[Jo Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-frost/)

> [My greatest mistake? I once took a three-day maternity leave. I had my daughter on a Wednesday, and then went back to the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/my-greatest-mistake-i-once-took-a-three-day-maternity-leave-i-had-my/)

[Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/)

> [Working from home or going on maternity leave is no excuse to let go of your look. The more you schlep around in drawstring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-garcia/working-from-home-or-going-on-maternity-leave-is-no-excuse-to-let-go/)

[Nina Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-garcia/)

> [I'm not taking maternity leave from 'Big Brother.' I e-mailed my boss over there this weekend and I said, 'Don't worry. I can still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-chen/i-m-not-taking-maternity-leave-from-big-brother-i-e-mailed-my-boss/)

[Julie Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-chen/)

> [And in the future, you know, maybe there's kids in the future for me, I don't really know. The interesting thing with me is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-stratus/and-in-the-future-you-know-maybe-there-s-kids-in-the-future-for-me-i/)

[Trish Stratus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-stratus/)

> [I sold my first short story while I was home on maternity leave, then began working on novels. Since I was reading and enjoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-sold-my-first-short-story-while-i-was-home-on-maternity-leave-then/)

[Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/)

> [It's interesting that there's so many different sides of this: Women get frustrated that we don't get paid enough; and then the Republicans or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/it-s-interesting-that-there-s-so-many-different-sides-of-this-women/)

[Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/)

> [I'm excited about going back to 'Today,' but, at odd moments, I'll grit my teeth in anxiety. I feel like a student before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-pauley/i-m-excited-about-going-back-to-today-but-at-odd-moments-i-ll-grit-my/)

[Jane Pauley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-pauley/)

> [Beginning in the 1800s with the Industrial Revolution, when women started to go into the formal workforce, leaving working at home to working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-heymann/beginning-in-the-1800s-with-the-industrial-revolution-when-women/)

Jody Heymann

> [In German science, we have a special problem. We lose talented women at the time they get pregnant. Some of it occurs because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-nusslein-volhard/in-german-science-we-have-a-special-problem-we-lose-talented-women-at/)

[Christiane Nusslein-Volhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-nusslein-volhard/)

> [I had to learn how to not be a micro-manager. Maternity leave made me do that. I just couldn't anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshma-saujani/i-had-to-learn-how-to-not-be-a-micro-manager-maternity-leave-made-me/)

[Reshma Saujani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshma-saujani/)

> [Maternity leave is for women to hide and heal their disintegrating body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/maternity-leave-is-for-women-to-hide-and-heal-their-disintegrating/)

[Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/)

> [The truth is I don't want my baby out in the freezing cold just because there's an election. But there is no such thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-badenoch/the-truth-is-i-don-t-want-my-baby-out-in-the-freezing-cold-just/)

[Kemi Badenoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-badenoch/)

> [Every time a woman leaves the workforce because she can't find or afford childcare, or she can't work out a flexible arrangement with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/every-time-a-woman-leaves-the-workforce-because-she-can-t-find-or/)

[Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/)

> [I come from Canada, and maternity leave is six months to a year, and they also have paternity leave, and I think that there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/i-come-from-canada-and-maternity-leave-is-six-months-to-a-year-and/)

[Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/)

## More by Holly Willoughby

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [Without sounding like a right idiot, my mum and my dad are my role models. They devoted everything to my sister and me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/without-sounding-like-a-right-idiot-my-mum-and-my-dad-are-my-role/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [Working mums and stay-at-home mums get a tough time. You're damned if you do and damned if you son't. You just have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/working-mums-and-stay-at-home-mums-get-a-tough-time-you-re-damned-if/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [Every woman needs to look in the mirror and instinctively decide what will make her feel happy and good about herself and her body;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/every-woman-needs-to-look-in-the-mirror-and-instinctively-decide-what/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [Skinny jeans don't work on someone, like me, who's a size 12 and has got child-bearing hips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/skinny-jeans-don-t-work-on-someone-like-me-who-s-a-size-12-and-has/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I know how to dress my figure, so I stay looking good by wearing the right clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-know-how-to-dress-my-figure-so-i-stay-looking-good-by-wearing-the/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [Being a mum can be utterly overwhelming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/being-a-mum-can-be-utterly-overwhelming/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I Iike listening to people talking. I'm really interested in people's lives and what makes us work, what makes us weak, at times, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-iike-listening-to-people-talking-i-m-really-interested-in-people-s/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I try not to focus too much on my appearance. As long as I'm being healthy, that's good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-try-not-to-focus-too-much-on-my-appearance-as-long-as-i-m-being/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [Because I'm married and like being at home, I'm labelled as a Stepford wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/because-i-m-married-and-like-being-at-home-i-m-labelled-as-a-stepford/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I can't stand the assumption that I'm blonde and a bit stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-can-t-stand-the-assumption-that-i-m-blonde-and-a-bit-stupid/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I love an elasticated waistband on holiday. I look like the before photo of a makeover. I don't care and no one can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-love-an-elasticated-waistband-on-holiday-i-look-like-the-before/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I think the fact that we don't usually see 'normal' sized women on television has something to do with the reaction I had. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-think-the-fact-that-we-don-t-usually-see-normal-sized-women-on/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I like clothes that feel good, look nice and are comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-like-clothes-that-feel-good-look-nice-and-are-comfortable/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [On 'I'm A Celebrity' it's important to have chemistry and to have a friendship as a starting point you can grow from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/on-i-m-a-celebrity-it-s-important-to-have-chemistry-and-to-have-a/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

[Explore all 100 Holly Willoughby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

## More Back quotes

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/)

[Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/)

> [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/)

[Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/)

> [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/)

[Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/)

> [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/)

[George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/)

> [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/)

[Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/)

> [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/)

[Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/)

> [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/)

[Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/)

> [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/)

[Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/)

> [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/)

[Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/)

> [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/)

[Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/)

[Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/)

Browse all 9,709 Back quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is a wrench when you have to go back to work after maternity leave, whether you've had two months or over a year.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Holly Willoughby"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back-to-work-after-maternity-leave/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Back"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back-to-work-after-maternity-leave/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/holly-willoughby-5755_back_it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back_3205615.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/holly-willoughby-5755_back_it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back_3205615.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/holly-willoughby-5755_back_it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back_3205615.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is a wrench when you have to go back to work after maternity leave, whether you've had two months or over…” — Holly Willoughby",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Holly Willoughby",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is a wrench when you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back-to-work-after-maternity-leave/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back-to-work-after-maternity-leave/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
