Any words of wisdom for transitioning back to work?

dhreczuck

I go back in 3 weeks, DS will be 14 weeks= freaking out!!! We choose a daycare over nanny after looking at the pros and cons. I'm fairly comfortable with the daycare, the location we're enrollled at has only 6 babies all under a year, they transition to another location after a year. We ran into a mom on our way in to check it out and she only had praises for it. DH will be doing drop off and pick up since he works shorter days than I do. My work has acknowledged they understand my first few weeks will be transitional and they dont expect 45+hr weeks out of me.  I'm still having such a tough time with this!!! I grew up a latch key kid and hated it, I'm already thinking of looking for a p/t position so DS doesnt spend the entire week in daycare. Anyone have advice on how to get through all of this without having a breakdown? 

82Sonia

The anticipation of going back is worse than actually going back.  Also, and this was the hardest one for me, your LO will get sick at daycare.  It's going to happen and probably sooner than you'd like but it's okay for kids to get sick.  I have to keep reminding myself that a couple of colds is actually probably a good thing in the long run.    

jd614

Agree with all of the above. Cut yourself some slack the first month. It'll be hard and you will cry -- I sure did! But you do get into a good routine and you will feel like a million bucks everytime u walk in the door and your baby is so happy to see you. It's the best. Make those few hrs at night all
About ur child and u will see the quality of the time is rewarding. Good luck to u. It's never easy but it def gets easier

mariamaria

PrivacyWanted said:

To me going back has been like ripping off a bandaid...you just have to grin and bear it. It helped me both times to focus on being efficient and focused when at work so you can just focus on LO when at home. So now I work through lunch and don't socialize as much so that I can get my necessary billed hours in a shorter amount of time.
GL

This is good advice. I am going back in two weeks after having my 2nd. After my first I survived by keeping focused on how quickly I could get stuff done so I didn't have to stay late or do work at home. That helped me feel in control and connected to baby in some way. I tried to remember to compartmentalize everything in my brain to try and keep my work and mom lives separate.

It's tough, but you'll adjust! And so will baby. We have a nanny so I won't have to get everyone out the door in the morning, but it will still be tough. Go easy on yourself. It's okay if you find it hard to do it all. Cut yourself some slack!

cecilyandgautam

I think getting some meals stocked in the freezer and/or being ok with eating semi-prepared foods in the first couple weeks; being caught up on your laundry before day 1 back in the office; and getting as many naps in now as you can will help. 

I may be the only one who tells you this, but I think pumping played a major role in me feeling totally at peace with going back to work. I felt completely connected to my child throughout the day, had the chance to talk about her and my feelings with other working moms at my organization, and just be totally in the mom zone 3 times a day while at work. So when I sent to pick up my daughter, I felt like I had been with her in spirit the whole day. Maybe it was the camaraderie in the pump room, I don't know, but I loved it and it was one of the best parts of going back to work. 

dhreczuck

Thanks ladies, kind of helps to know what others have done.  I definitely know ill be hustling and super focused at work to get things done so I can always leave to get home before DS goes to bed. It helps that my cfo has three little ones herself. Unfortuntely I started exclusively FF about 3 weeks ago due to extremely low supply. 

I did mention to DH yesterday we need to stock up on precut veggies ect to cut down on food prep time. 

Did anyone adjust your LO's bedtime to later when you went back? Right now DS goes to sleep between 6:30-7:30 but usually closer to the early side and is sleeping 7-10hrs a night, meaning I will get very little time with him during the week