Returning to work from maternity leave

[monkee641]

I’ve just had the most wonderful year off with my beautiful baby girl, and today the inevitable has happened, I have to return to work. I am so upset I can’t put it into words. It was a journey to get her to start with, we had IVF and so she is just the most precious thing in our lives. Her Daddy has just taken her to the childminders and all I can do is cry. It feels so unfair that I can’t be with her always. I feel like, I’m her mum and she should be with me until she starts school. I can’t get over the fact that I won’t see her all day, and I’m dreading going into my office. I know I’m going to be desperately trying to hold it all together. Especially since the people in my office are basically strangers too. I’m also filled with feelings of ‘have I done enough with her over the past year’ ‘could I have done more’ ‘have I interacted with her enough’

I don’t have any questions really, I’m just reaching out I guess. If you’ve read this far, thank you 🙏🏻 x x

[Zeebee14]

I completely understand. I was dreading returning to work, I felt guilty and a complete lack of interest in work.

However once I went back it wasn’t as bad as I imagined at all, in fact I quite enjoy it now. I work 3 days a week and have 2 days off with my little girl, so I think I’ve got a good balance. But I know plenty of people who went back full time and are happy too!

Another thing is that my little girl loves her nursery. She’s thriving there, they do things that I wouldn’t do at home like messy play, and she’s learning to interact with other children.

I know it’s hard but once you’re back it won’t be as bad as you imagine, I promise. X

[monkee641 in reply to Zeebee14]

Thank you. I know it’s necessary. We want our little girl to have a good life, days out, holidays, and memories. We could probably survive on one wage, but it would definitely be a struggle. We also know how important it is for her to be around other children. That’s what I keep telling myself. She does really enjoy it with the childminders as they make it so much fun - messy play, dancing, singing, story time…things I have tried at home but definitely not on the same level.

I’ll get there I’m sure x x