Anyone else going BTW soon?

[Canary]

This is my third thread on this subject 'cos I have only just found the right forum! (redface)

I am going back to work in 8 1/2 days!!!! Am feeling really up and down about it. Just wondered if there is anyone else going back soon who would like to share experiences? DH just doesnt get it.

If you are reading this, Satya- I have been reading your posts and have found your advice really helpful, so thanks!

Got to go as my son is working on a nappy change for me!
Canary. x

[PinkPalace]

hi there
i start monday.
this is sorta my second time back at work - but in saying that my eldest is only just turned 2 and DS is 9 months.

I am going back 2 days a week - i am nervous but also excited about adult conversation again haha.

I am working odd hours so i dont have to have them in care - and DH will care for them (evening, nights weekends).

Doesnt do much for familiy time, but it eases my mind knowing DH has them while i am at work.

[sharon1977]

Hi Canary,

I'm not going back to work soon, I've been back for a while now. But I did go back when my ds was 4mts old. Unfortunately we had no option financially

It was hard, I cried, ds cried, I had a few tantys, ds had a few tantys. Poor dh just gave us both lots of cuddles and did what he could to make it all better

My only advice would be is to get anything you possibly can done the night before. Work out your clothes, any bags you have to pack for you or your little one, lunches packed etc.. it took me about 2 weeks of crazy running around in the am before I got that under control.

Good luck, I found it hard at first missing ds so much, but then as I realised the world was still moving, he was still growing, learning and happy during the day without me there (who would have thought they could possibly be happy when mum isn't there! ) I started to enjoy 'my' adult time and a little bit of freedom to just be me!

[Canary]

Hi PinkPalace, it is Sunday night here in the UK, so I guess that your first day back is fast approaching. Do you think that it is easier the 2nd time? At the moment, I am in charge of everything to do with DS. DH even asks me what clothes to put him in! Is it the same for you? Hope all goes well Mon am, let me know how it goes xx

Hi Sharon, Thanks for advice! I am trying to get myself organised, but I must admit to being a bit of a last minute type of gal! I have decided to cut down on chores as much as poss and have moved to ordering groceries online. Won't help with the morning rush though....!

[Sararose]

Hi canary,

are you going back full time or part time?

I have been back at work for about a month now after having dd2. I was nervous about work and thinking I may have forgotten everything I knew but after about 1hr it was like I never left. Im only working tuesdays and alternate weekends, Im a nurse so I am mainly working afternoon shifts which is great because I still get to spend all morning with the girls so they get mummy's attention for a good chunk of time.

After having my first baby and returning to work when she was 4 months I was nervous about how df would cope but it was great for him to step up and make decisions about our dd care. I just had to remind myself just because he sometimes does things differently to me doesn't mean he is doing the wrong thing.

For me the nerves and anxiet about returning to work were much worse than the reality. The girls are thriving, their dad and my mum love looking after them, so far so good. Im really enjoying being back at work, the conversation is great and being part time it almost feels loke a hobby. I understand your up and down feelings with it, I sometimes feel guilty that Im enjoying being away rom the kids, but I know for me Im actually a better mum for having that child free time. I call home at least once per shift just to check everyone is coping, makes me feel a lot better when I call df and he tells me they are all fed and happy

I try and cook meals in the morning so df just has to heat it up when he comes home rom work after picking the girls up from mums. I also try and pack bags, iron my work clothes and get organised the night before if Im working a morning shift, makes things much easier

Good luck, I hope you have a smooth transition back to work

[PinkPalace]

Hi canary
Yep i have finished day one.

I was ok. perhaps yep a little easier second time around for me, but i think harder for DH as he isnt used to having 2 under 2 all day on his own.

I came home to an empty house *sob*.. they must be out having fun somewhere....

i still look forward to the 'mummy's home and big cuddles' but i am sitting here on BB with icecream instead lol!

[Canary]

Hi Ladies,
Hope you enjoyed the ice cream Pink palace, sounds like you deserved it!
Hello SaraRose, thanks for your advice. You sound really positive about being back at work, which is encouraging! I am going to go back 4 days a week and have Fridays off with oscar. We will start baby signing classes in September, which will be nice as some of our friends will also be in the class.

Found out today that I have a hospital appointment on my first day back at work. Boss has been really nice about it and says I must go! so my first day won't actually be a FULL day...!

My boss has also suggested that I go to a meeing in October that is on a Friday (my day off). At first I thought that I should protect my days off with Oscar and try to avoid the meeting, but now I am wondering if I should be a bit more flexible. If I can work it out with the nursery, I could swap my day off on that week. It would mean missing a baby signing class, which I have already paid for.

The job that I am going back to is different to my previous one and it is a research post, so the meeting would beneficial for me, but I don't want Oscar to miss out because of my job.

I'll see what DH thinks when he gets home, it helps to 'think aloud'
Hope all is well at work with you,
Canary

[PinkPalace]

Hi canary... well more ice cream has been had lol!

My transition back to work hasnt been as smooth as i like.
My new boss is concerned i have only worked 3 months in 2 year (that kinda happens when you have 2 under 2!). And wants me to do regular shifts during the week for a few months.

i guess that was something i was trying to avoid cause the thought of childcare scares me, so i am in the problem now of giving my profession up or putting the kids in child care.... i know what i should do for the long run but honestly my heartstrings are crying!

i dont have an issue with childcare itself. - so anyone reading this please dont take it as a childcare is bad thing.

It is personal experience when trying to assimilate my DD into CC the first time. it was a terrible process and took me 8months to find a FDC eventually where she wouldnt cry for 4 hrs straight and would actually sleep.

the thought of doing this all over again - and with 2 is scaring the hell out of me.

so i am happy to truck along with you canary on this RTW journey if you let me lol!!

[Canary]

Oh PP! so sorry to hear that things aren't quite going as planned. Just when you have things sorted in your head, they get changed by someone else!
How old was DD when you first tried DC? Maybe she will like it more now?? Hopefully you wont have the same experience with DS. I am really lucky that DS loved his nursery. He went for his 2 hour trial yesterday and came home all smiles and then fell fast asleep for 40mins!

I have started to get that 'Sunday night' feeling of not wanting to go back to work. Trying to pretend that it is not really happening and all that is going to happen on Monday is a little adventure for us both. LOL!

You are nearly at the end of week 1 PP, that must feel good!
In the meantime, pass the ice cream!

[SamiH]

I am going back 2 days a week on 10/08 - my bub is currently phasing at child care this week

bub in arms, more later

[sas85]

I have a meeting with the Managing Director and the lady I hired to take over as Accounts Manager next week about returning the following week. Probably will only be half a day to start but company is expanding so supposed to increase but boss said will be very flexible (I won't be getting my management position back as it was F/T and will only work P/T which is great as same pay without the stress

Have arranged to leave DD with my parents through rest of tax season as DH works 60hrs+ at this time of year (everyone wants their refund yesterday) but after that he will arrange his 2nd job on different days, and not book appts at times he has her so he can do alone Daddy time (which he is really looking forward to - me too, as am sick of being asked what I think constantly - as I want him to be able to be confident in deciding what's best to do with her on his own). Also need to step up and get my qualifications to meet my experience, so will be starting my accounting diploma with OTEN at the same time, which should be fun to try and concentrate on at home with a baby on my lap trying to eat the paper .

[Canary]

Hi Sas and Sami!

Sas- IKWYM re: DH making childcare related decisions alone. This morning, I was asked what to dress DS in, and for the first time he put him in a sensible combination of clothes! (For example, he was not wearing 2 vests! LOL!) Hope your meeting goes well at work.

Sami - Hope that the childcare intro is going well. Have you left bub yet? I found the first time I went and chatted to the carers was really hard, but the fact that he was OK made it a bit better. Good luck!

PP - Hope you are OK too and that childcare arrangements are starting to look less worrying.

AFM - Heard news yesterday that I might not be able to start on Mon afterall. Something to do with the millions of forms that I have had to fill in before starting. Whether I have formally gone back or not, I will still pop in through the week to show my face, even though I wont get paid for it. I just want to get it all over and done with and get into a routine ASAP.

Bye for now.
C.

[Canary]

Well ladies, I survived! My first week of work is now over and I am looking forward to spending tomorrow with my baby on my day off.
Although the week has been OK, my feet haven't really touched the ground. It went a bit like this:
6.30am - DS wakes up and has a breast feed in bed with us in the hope that he will go back to sleep and we will get a few exta minutes (which does not happen)
7.00am - I get up and get DS changed and dressed and ready for the day,then he plays while I get ready. I put washing in machine on timer. DS has been sick on clothes, or has dirty nappy, so have to get him changed and dressed again.
7.45am - DS and I play together for a bit
8.00am - we leave for nursery and arrive at 8.15. All the staff seem to love him there. I havent worked out whether they say that about all the babies.
8.30am -I arrive at work and talk about/think about /look at picture of DS on my desk whilst i should be doing other things
5.00pm- I leave work and really look forward to doing the nursery pick-up and finding DS eager to see me, only to find him asleep when I get there
5.30-7.00pm - play / feed /bath / story /bed for DS
7.00pm-9.00pm -Cook dinner /eat dinner /wash up / wash bottles and get formula ready for next day/ get washing out of machine /ironing /generally tidy up
9.00pm -Sit down with DH and wonder where all the time went!
10.00pm- Collapse into bed!

Dont think that I can keep up this pace for long, but I hope it will get easier with time.
Bye for now!