Dreading going back to work

[puddleduckmummy]

I am due to return to work in a few weeks after my mat leave finishes with my 2nd child. I'm only going back 2 days, so it's not as though I'm spending an awful lot of time there. But to be honest, I am dreading going back because I don't feel like I belong in their little clique anymore. Since I reduced my hours 3 years ago after returning to work after my first child, I feel I have been overlooked and pushed aside. I feel I am good at my job but I'm not given due credit or any thing other than dead basics. I don't live in the town I work in, and it's more difficult to get over there and socialise with a young family anyway but I don't feel that is a reason to not be invited to these events and I feel it is counting against me. It has been compounded this weekend by a large social event being organised but I wasn't invited. I am probably taking this more personally as I am due back there soon and it makes me feel, well, unwanted. We're not financially in a position for me to quit my job and other jobs in a feasible area don't come up very often. I suffer with anxiety too which I'm just about keeping under control but I worry it's going to flare up again.

Has anyone else been in this situation and how did you deal with it? Any advice would be gratefully received as I really don't want to be there!

[BackforGood]

Just go in, do the job, be pleasant to people and not worry about it.
It's lovely to have a job that means you only have to work 2 days a week - enjoy that, enjoy being a SAHP the other days, and worry about going out with work colleagues only when you have nothing else to fill your time.
Separate out the fact you weren't invited to a social event when you are on maternity leave so not even at work from if there are issues around your work. That's 2 different things.