If you went back to work.

PAGAS

How hard were the weeks leading up to it?  I am so nervous about returning to work and extremely sad about the whole thing.

Any advice?  Thanks~

melissa0312

i was sick to my stomach at the very thought and burst into tears almost daily. my first day back i cried all the way to work and several times that day.

advice... have lots of pics for your desk. call and check on her (that's always allowed) during the day. if you have time, go see her during your lunch break.

it does get easier, i promise. it's always hard, but it does get easier. the thing that has helped me is the daycare's webcam. i can still see what's going on any time during the day.

jkb2606

They were hard. I cried every time I thought about leaving dd. I also cried everyday the first month I was back at work. (I am a middle child and am a cryer so take that with a grain of salt). I hate only seeing my dd for a little over 1 hour while she is awake.

That being said, one of my closest friends told me that she still thinks of work as her vacation. Her ds is 13 months old.

I think it is different for everyone. I hope that it isn't too hard for you. Don't worry your dd will still love you the most and want you more that anyone.?

Good luck. I will be thinking about you.?

CindyandScott

The first week back was really hard but it got easier and easier. I must admit I had a few rough days after wards as well but overall it got much easier.

tne22727

I just went back last week. It was very hard but I am lucky because my MIL is watching him so she sends me pictures and video during the day. I am not going to lie I CRIED AND CRIED AND CRIED!

savannah11

It was tough. ?I was torn on the whole issue. ?I knew I would not be happy as a stay at home mom and I was looking forward to going to the bathroom by myself and eating out for lunch by myself. ?But I was also still breastfeeding at the time and really, really hated the idea of him getting bottles. ?

I had a really hard time leaving the morning I went back. ?I kept fearing he would think I was abandoning him. ?I was all he had known for 12 weeks (DH was traveling full time so he was only home on the weekends.) ?It helped a lot that my best friend watched him for the first 9 weeks while she was on summer break. ?As the first couple of weeks passed and I realized that he would not forget I was his mom and he'd adjusted just fine it became easier and easier. ?

?I really think the key is to be completely comfortable with the nanny/daycare provider you choose. ?If you feel she's receiving good care at home you'll worry less about not being there.?

retsub

It's very hard.  I ended up staying off work until Sarah was 7 months....it was still hard at that age.  But I loved the place I had found for her and realized she had no concept of time, so the transistion was easier on her.  When she was old enough to realize where she was, she would clap and bounce up and down when we got into the nursery.   

Now with Jacob.....much easier...I really needed the break and going back to work was like a vacation.

kjr

It was hard for me, too.  I was anxious about it and thought about it a lot.  I was really anxious and worried that I was going to cry a lot.  lol

I was really worried that he would forget me or that he didn't know I was his mom.  (Poor Mags had to talk me off that ledge every other day! lol)

But it got easier and better with time.  I still miss Alex when I am at work, but I enjoy having my job and I like the adult conversation and everything else that goes along with it!

LisaK2b

When I had a couple of days left of leave, I went back to work for one week for half days.  That made it a lot easier and adjustment to work life better.So I would go to work around 9a or so and go home around 2p or 3. 

chrisbride04

I wen

chrisbride04

I went back when Connor was 8 weeks old. It was hard, but I made it easier on myself by having DH watch him the first days back. In my mind, I was leaving for work, but not "leaving him" since he was just staying home. This allowed me a few days to get back into a routine at work as well.  I agree that leaving them in care you are 100% comfortable with makes it easier too.

mrslind

It was very hard but it got a lot easier after just a few days.  I also made sure I didn't go back on a Monday... I think I went back on a Thursday that way I was able to ease my way into leaving her.

TexasHarmony

Practice leaving her with the nanny for a few days before you start work - even if just for a few hours.  We did several trial-runs at daycare so I could drop my teeny weeny helpless baby off and go boo-hoo in my car.  I used the time to get presentable again - new clothes, hair done, etc.

Going for the whole day was still hard when I really went back to work.  I was a few blocks from daycare, so I did several pop-ins each day for the first couple of weeks.  Not where she could see me, but I'd look through the window or go in and talk to the teachers.

retsub

TexasHarmony:

Practice leaving her with the nanny for a few days before you start work - even if just for a few hours.  We did several trial-runs at daycare so I could drop my teeny weeny helpless baby off and go boo-hoo in my car.  I used the time to get presentable again - new clothes, hair done, etc.

I forgot I did this too.  For the first week, she was only there a few hours a day.

lilycat

It wasn't easy at first; it became easier. I think one big turning point is when he started learning things at school (Itsy Bitsy Spider hand gestures, for example). It made it feel better.

Now, at 2, I'm relaxed about the whole thing. He has a blast at school and has friends. It is all seemingly good for him.

Happy2bHopper

I was bitter about having to leave him and go back to work.  I was sad and upset that I had to do it.  I cried the first couple of days.  It has gotten easier but I would still rather be with him.  It really does help to trust the person you leave your child with.  We have a friend that keeps him in her home and she is good about sending me pictures from time to time and text messaging me.  He loves his time there and she treats him like one of her own so he is well taken care of.  It helps me knowing he is in such good hands.