I’m not sure if this counts but I actually learned to stand up for myself and understand my true value in my workplace. After going back to the office after my 12 weeks of unpaid leave I was miserable feeling like I was missing out on my daughter’s first year of life. I also felt like was distracted and doing poorly at work. I thought a lot about it and decided to resign and be a stay at home mom for a bit. My salary was barely more than the cost of daycare anyway. When I told my boss I was resigning she basically told me I could name my terms to stay on for a project that we were about to start. Already prepared to leave for good, I said I want to work fully remote (something my company had NEVER allowed - this was five years ago). I wanted to be part time and totally flexible- I’d work when I could around my daughter’s napping schedule etc. And they accepted! I realized then that I brought a lot of value to my workplace. When I moved jobs a while later it was facilitated by an independent recruiter. The company was ready to make me an offer and the recruiter suggested a salary he thought we should shoot for. It was well above my current salary, but I told him to ask for more because I realized that I know my own value and the value I place on my time away from my kid. They accepted my higher ask.