Feeling anxious and emotional for change

Exactly the same! I go back to work in May next year but can’t stop thinking about it already. Although I am excited to return to work I am worried about how I will manage x

I actually went back in October so just after he was 6 months. The change has gone well and he settled in nicely (we switched to a childminder at the last minute). The lead up was definitely more emotional than when it started and work helps with keeping my mind occupied so I’m not focussed on missing him. I am fortunate that I predominantly work from home so knowing he’s only 10 minutes down the road helps. I was more anxious when I went to the office (1.5-2hr commute away) and dealing with the pumping at work but my colleague said it does get easier as she’s gone through this twice now.

I went back to uni at the end of October just after my little girl turned 6 months. I was so anxious about leaving her as she was starting to become clingy to me. But you know what, it’s done us both the world of good! I absolutely miss her when I’m working my 12hr days or nights but I know she’s safe and being looked after. She has also become less clingy to me as well. I found it nice to go and have an adult conversation again 🤣 it is scary leaving them I won’t lie! The first week I messaged my mum about 50 times just to check she was okay… it makes the days you do spend with them when your not working so much better! My little girl will go to either a child minder or nursery in April x

I cried on Sunday night and Monday night. I looked down at my baby in her cot, all 7.5 months of her and was just “wow”, look at this miracle. Found myself each night looking at her baby photos. It’s gone so fast. I haven’t worked since pregnant and start a new job in Jan which will build up to 3 days a week. I am ready but this has been a once in a lifetime chapter for me. One k never ever imagined and I am so eternally grateful I got to experience it 😍

I had my meeting with HR regarding going back to work last week and honestly even now I feel physically sick. I’m dreading it. I’ll be starting KIT days from January which I’m okay with as it’s only 1 day a week and I’ll probably like the break 😂 then annual leave March to end of April starting back work the weekend after baby’s birthday and I’m scared to death. She’s going to be with my mum one day, my partners another and a childminder 2 days a week. I’ve known this childminder since I was a teenager it’s my high school best friends mum. But I am dreading leaving her with a “stranger” (she’s a stranger to baby). We also can’t afford for me to not go back to work - not comfortably anyway. I’m even dropping from 5 days to 4 but I’m still so upset at the thought someone else is raising my baby 😭 x

@Hayley that is such a lovely way of looking at it 🥰 and also same with the photos, every day I think I need a break and then as soon as he’s gone to bed I just look at pictures of him 😅 But yeah I’m partly looking forward to going back to work because I feel like it will help me feel a bit more like “me” again but also dreading leaving my son at nursery. I have loads of annual leave to use so think I’m going to give myself a bit of a phased return to work and hopefully that will help x

@Deborah I have made some really lovely mum friends and some are back at work now and they too had these feelings. So so so normal darl. Shows we love our little ones so so much. Some had a real journey to get pregnant and for me it was the biggest surprise ever (the best one tho). They’ve had the tears at drop off. I used to work in day centres in Liverpool and Sydney and lots of parents felt the same. Once them babies are in tho - it’s so much fun for them. They will love it. We just have to learn to get used to having them not by our side 🥹 We are sooooo lucky to have them 😍

@Hayley You’re so right, I didn’t think I’d get to have this at all and I do feel very lucky, need to try and remember that when the dread starts creeping in! 🥰 I’ll probably be crying more than my son at nursery drop off though! 😆

@Deborah all valid darl 😍