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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
working moms...encouragement needed!
Hello there,
I am returning to work FT on 10/25. In the meantime, baby will start daycare next week starting Monday for a transition period.
I will be working a 1/2 day on Tuesday as well--so I can transition.
I am soooo not looking forward to any of this. I'm not the slightest bit excited to be out in the world with adults. Nope. I like our routine, I like doing what I want to do when I want to do it (with my 3 month old's permission of course!) and I love how stress-free my life is right now.
The reason I'm returning to work is that if I don't go and we live on hubby's income alone, we'll have about $400 left after regular bills.
If we both work and pay $800 for daycare, we'll have $1500 a month leftover after regular bills.
If I may quote Christmas Tree from Avenue Q: It sucky sucky sucky sucky sucky sucky sucks.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: working moms...encouragement needed!
I don't know what to tell you except I love being a working Mom. It is fulfilling in different ways- and 3 mos is very different than 3 years(so my neighbor tells me). Hopefully your hubby gets a raise before the next one comes along- daycare for 2 whew! Thats when my husband started staying home. It just got to be too darn expensive- either way we are broke! AND I would rather have him home and broke, than working and broke!
Edit: I posted before I was done!
I returned to work 2 weeks ago. I was dreading it, but honestly it wasn't that bad. I will tell you the first day sucked and I cried but it was nice seeing my coworkers and it's nice to get a mini-break. Don't get me wrong, I miss my DD more than anything and would love to be at home with her.
I would do a surprize visit. I did and am so glad I did. The teachers let me sit with them and let her interact with the other kids. Totally eased my mind about doubting them.
Good luck!
I put LO in daycare when he was 6 weeks becuase I was laid off work a few weeks before that. We had to keep his spot but decided to go part time till I found a job. I was VERY lucky and found a better job which starts on Monday. I'm nervous but excited to be back at work. I wish LO was sleeping better but I'll just have to get use to it. I wish I had some words of encouragement other than it'll fly by quicker than you realize. I miss DS when he's gone but I love him even more at night when he gets home.
I'm with you... I could stay home, but there is NO way we'd live a comfortable life. Since it would be a struggle, I have returned to work.
I went back this week and it does suck. I want to cry every morning and fight back tears as I hug her goodbye. I'm also pretty tired by the end of the day.
But it is nice to see some of my coworkers again and be around adults. My students are also so happy to see me, so their smiling faces in the morning and good-byes at the end of the day almost make it worth it.
So I have mixed feelings.
I go back the 25th as well! I dropped by my baby's daycare to see the kids/babies in action and try to picture how LO's day will go, but ended up frantic and emotional.
I think I needed that to prepare. I could never be a SAHM and LOVE my job. I spent 8 years preparing for it and so much money to get my Masters and be where I am. I just keep thinking that it will be good for both of us.
I specialize in early childhood and find that children exposed to peers and a public setting where they have to learn how to socialize and problem solve at an early age often do better in school and get sick less often. I need to focus on that.
I also go back on the 25th. I am a full-time teacher, and I could have had a whole year of leave (unpaid after the 6 weeks) but we couldn't afford it.
I hate that I have to go back to work. I hate that I have to leave DD...and that I won't have that flexible schedule.
I love that DH is the caregiver during the day, so that I can always check on things...and DD can be in her own house. I should be grateful for that.
Btw...I love that you quoted Avenue Q!
Same. Unless we hit the lottery I HAVE to work. And I loved my job before my LO was born. I have been back for 2 weeks now and my DH stays home with our DS during the day and goes to school at night so I am lucky that I don't need daycare, however, that doesn't make it easier. My DH needs breaks so that he can do his homework, and my hours are impossible (have to leave house at 7:30 am to be to work by 10 am because of traffic) and I leave work at 6pm but usually don't get home until 8pm because of traffic. That said, I am applying for a new job within my own company that has different/better hours (oh, and did I mention I work weekends, too and have Wed/thurs off!?) My own boss wouldn't work with me to shift my hours a bit so I could get home earlier and give my DH a break, so I'm changing gears hopefully. Cross your fingers for me!
All I can say is if you are having a really, really hard time going back, what helps me is saying "I'm putting food on the table for my LO and making sure he has everything he needs by working and am showing him how to be a productive person."
That said, if I could stay home full time I would in a heartbeat.
This...my MIL is an early childhood teacher and she kept telling me that its good for him to socialize with other babies.
I cried the first week and called my daycare at least 5 times a day to check-in. I also have a ton of pictures in my office so I can still see his smiling face.
Also, nothing is better then going to pick up my son and the sound of my voice puts a HUGE smile on his face. I was really nervous he was going to forget me or think that I was abandoning him. Everyday I drop him off he smiles at me and everyday I go to pick him up and he hears my voice his arms and legs start moving and he has a huge smile on his face...he "knows" I am mom !
Good Luck !
It'll be ok. It's good interaction for the LO. Good you get to go back at 3 months instead of 6 weeks though. I go back November 1. I feel bad too because with LO#1 I was with him longer than I will be with LO#2. But he likes daycare and playing with kids.
And although I love being with my kids... I love my job and the fulfillment it gives me. Plus, we couldn't live as good as we do with just DH's income.