Back to work

JennaEllen · January 2016

Back to work tomorrow and I'm incredibly torn up about it. My only glimmer is being a teacher and looking forward to summers off.

My heart is just not there. I feel like a completely different person since having my LO. The longest I've been away from him was last week for a few hours for a trial run with his sitter. Other than that he's my little sidekick buddy. I EBF and have an incredible bond with him. I'm so sad that it will change.

I feel so jealous of SAHMs because it's just not an option at the moment. I can't stand when people tell me it will get easier. I don't want it to! (If that makes sense) I don't want my normal to be away from him.

I'm just so so sad at the moment and would love some words of wisdom. (Other than it we'll get easier.)

ladynesiko · January 2016

I feel the same way, I have FOMO (fear of missing out) when it comes to her. I don't want her milestones to be seen first from her caregivers, I want to be the first to see it. I still wish America was better when it comes to maternity leave.

ktlany · January 2016

I am right there with you. I'm on day 4 of back to work and it's not easy. I was just as sad leaving this morning as the first day and sat at my desk all day counting the minutes until I could leave. I can't imagine a time when it'll be easy to leave her. I would also love to stay home but can't at the moment. I'm jealous you have summers to look forward to! I know teaching isn't easy but I have no time off in the foreseeable future and it makes me sad. No words of wisdom here, just commiseration. Hang in there!

midge519 · January 2016

With my first I went back to work at 5 weeks PP. while I was excited to get out missing him sucked. My ex-MIL watched him so he was with family but that made his firsts being with her suck that much more. We got lucky and he did everything first with me or my ex but I feared he would do it for her. Not saying it gets easier but you will adjust. I recommend asking your caregiver to not tell you when he does something new just for her to tell you when she sees him getting close to doing something. Like LO is getting close to crawling keep an eye out. That way you won't know if he does something with her but can watch for his first time doing it.

VioletandRose · January 2016

Today is my first day back as well. For the last 3 months I've been dreading returning to work, and this morning was ROUGH, but you know what? Once I was on my way in and back to seeing the normal sights, getting my coffee, etc, I felt a little at peace. I know my daughter is with good people, being well taken care of and will make friends, and as much as I'd like to be at home with her, it's kind of nice to put on real clothes and have adult conversation again. The people I work with are being great about everything, too.

I say this now, but I know the first time I miss something, I'll be a wreck. Like, a couple days ago she laughed – a true, purposeful laugh – for the first time. What if I wasn't there for that? Ugh.

brittanispears · January 2016

My first day back was last Monday. I cried about 17 times. But the previous week, my husband snuck to my office and placed a picture frame with a collage of him and the baby on my desk and left a card for me. He told my co-workers it's been hard for me, trying to get back into going to work again. Of course when I saw the frame on my desk, I cried even more.

My husband lost his job in December so he's staying with Baby Girl until he finds work. I feel a little better about that. When he goes back to work, she'll alternate between my mom and sister. We're very fortunate to have that option but still, if I didn't have to go I wouldn't. I'm working on getting my employer to allow me to telecommute from time to time.

Joelliexox · January 2016

I hear you mama! I am a teacher as well and am heading back next Monday!! I am so sad and heartbroken to have to leave my baby. Missing some of his firsts will absolutely kill me.

summer and all the school holidays are our saving grace I have to keep telling myself how lucky I am to have that as a teacher. That will need to be my mantra when leaving in the morning. Hope all goes okay with your return. I also keep telling myself that he will be napping a lot of the time that I am gone. Can't wait to see that smile after I walk in. However, my doctor said as a teacher before I am allowed to touch my son I need to change my clothes and either shower or wash up from the elbows down. I am a kindergarten teacher

SweetnSassy23 · January 2016

It is super hard to leave LO when you don't want to work. Every day is like torture. It's difficult to get into a new routine, and only see LO a few hours a day. It absolutely sucks. Weekends are too short and filled with errands, bills, chores, etc. that take away from the baby. Unfortunately you have to trudge through until you find the new normal.

meganraschke · January 2016

@SweetnSassy23 I completely agree! Between traffic and my work hours I am away from my house 12 hours a day. It sucks knowing when I get home I have about 2-3 hours before I pass out from exhaustion. If I could learn to stay up later I probably would

basdenjn6 · January 2016

I'm a teacher as well and I go back in a week and I'm trying not to think of it because I get upset everytime. I feel the same way- my caregivers will be my mom and a close friend so I have no worries about his safety or care- I just hate that I'll miss out on him for hours a day. The only thing I think might help (besides looking forward to spring break and hen the summer) is that there is no down time when I'm at work. My DH had a really hard time his first weeks back because he sits at a desk all day and couldn't concentrate since he wanted it be home so bad. I'm hoping that keeping busy will help the time fly by.

SweetnSassy23 · February 2016

My advice is to try and get as much done as you can while LO naps. If baby will go down for a few hours that is great time to clean a bit, do laundry, shower, run errands, etc. It's not unusual for DH or I to make dinner at 2 in the afternoon because that's the time we have to do it. By the time LO wakes up, dishes are washed and all we have to do is nuke is before dinnertime.

chein1 · February 2016

Teacher here too! This is my fourth week back. We had a blizzard last week so I ended up having a 10 day weekend. It was glorious! I agree with @basdenjn6 there is no downtime and I am as productive as possible so that I have as little to do at home as possible. I also go in super early while my girls are sleeping. It's easier to leave when they're not awake staring at me haha.

JennaEllen · February 2016

So jealous of your snow days! I'm in NE Ohio and I we usally get a ton of snow but we havnt had any this year

JennaEllen · February 2016

Joelliexox said:

I hear you mama! I am a teacher as well and am heading back next Monday!! I am so sad and heartbroken to have to leave my baby. Missing some of his firsts will absolutely kill me.
summer and all the school holidays are our saving grace I have to keep telling myself how lucky I am to have that as a teacher. That will need to be my mantra when leaving in the morning. Hope all goes okay with your return. I also keep telling myself that he will be napping a lot of the time that I am gone. Can't wait to see that smile after I walk in. However, my doctor said as a teacher before I am allowed to touch my son I need to change my clothes and either shower or wash up from the elbows down. I am a kindergarten teacher

Glad I'm not alone

I'm Intervention Specialist in an elementary school and do K through 4. The first thing I do is change my clothes when I get home!

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