Return to work blues

I start after Easter. 8-5:30. Will leave home around 7 and get back about 6:15/30. Feel SICK.

Dreading going back for this reason we'll be leaving the house 0715 and not home until 1830 so he will be going straight to bed. I feel for you I can see myself getting burnt out pretty quickly

I went back after my first to my 9-5. Luckily she didn’t have to go to nursery every weekday as sometimes my partners days off fall during the week. It’s tough but it definitely gets easier, I just found myself appreciating my time with her more. I am looking to possibly reduce my hours with my second, not 100% what I’m going to do yet

I've started back at work. I'm a teacher & have gone back part-time (3 days a week). My baby girl is with my mum on Mondays and at my childminders Tuesday and Wednesdays 7.30am until 4.30/5 🫠 it's awful but it really makes me cherish the time that I have off with her. I just try to plan lovely things such as play groups, trips out on the days off (when we're not teething or having a sleep regression). It's lovely for your baby to spend time with his grandparents so they can create a special bond. Also, in the long run going to nursery will also benefit him. I work in Early Years, specifically Reception for 10 years this year and we find the children who struggle with separation anxiety from their care givers the most are children who haven't been apart from them. So remember you're helping him grow confidence and social skills at nursery. Are you back full time? Try & plan some things so you can cherish the time off you have with him. Easter is coming up, so you'll have a long weekend off with him soon.

Honestly with my first when I went back it was very hard but he was getting quality time at nursery learning new skills doing things I probably wouldn't have thought to do and socialising. It also allowed me to be a person again and not just mum. I felt better for it. Im already back at work with no 2. I didnt feel ready and tbh I'm not happy about it. But again a bit of me time helps me keep my personal identity even if it's at work. Helps that I actually like my job though

I have my first kit day tomorrow and I'm gutted maternity had come to an end after having a year off, I only just felt like I had got into a routine and now I have to try find a new one 😅 Not sure what hours I am going to commit to yet as I use to work full time 45 - 55hrs a week and I dint wnat to go back to that, i have requested a phased return but unsure how that will go as they have said we will have a meeting and do paperwork after the kit days etc. I can't bare the thought of only seeing him to get him ready to drop off somewhere before work and picking him up to put him to bed x

I start in June 7am to 7.30pm shifts 😪 Won't get home till after 8pm and will leave before LO wakes up. I don't really know how I'm going to cope with it 😩

@Samina that sounds tough! who's going to have your lo whilst you are working?

I went back to work in January. I absolutely loved maternity leave and I hate being back at work. I work 12 hour shifts on a week A/ week B basis working 3 days one week, 4 days the other week. I’ve used my holiday to book off every Tuesday til April. So I’m working 3 days a week each week for now and I’ve also used holiday to finish a little earlier as normally I’d work 8am-8pm but I now finish at 6pm to make it home for bedtime. My girl is in nursery every Monday and Thursday and then Dad looks after her on the days she’s not in nursery and I’m working. I do like the schedule as I get more full days off compared to working a 9-5, 5 days a week job but I don’t know how I’ll cope not being back for bedtime when I’m back working 8-8 cause on those days I’ll only get to see her for 30 min - 1 hour max 😭😭😭 Hopefully now that I’m getting back into the swing of things at work I’ll also be able to do 50% of my monthly shifts working from home. Looking forward to trying this out.

@Jill I work as paediatric nurse so only doing 3 days a week. Those 3 days mil is going to be having her (we are inviting her from abroad to stay with us for a while) and thereafter my parents will have her (they're only a road down from us). I'm just trying to make the most of the time now...