If you've been on mat leave while your DH WFH, what's your advice?

[bloomingwhale]

First baby due the start of December. If I go late, then DH normally winds down for Christmas anyway and will still have pat leave to take, so fingers crossed, all being well, inshallah etc, he won't properly be working until January.

We have a 2 bedroom house and we were planning on leaving the second bedroom as his office and I can have the run of downstairs with the baby.

Stick to your plan. Have a separate room where DH can go and work undisturbed.

I know these things are never set in stone... but did you agree to eat together etc? What if you need help? ()

He was saying how good it was he doesn't need to commute as he can take the baby in the morning and I can get showered or have longer in bed.

If he’s working from home I’d treat it like he was working in the office - he wouldn’t be able to help if he was working from the office. I’d take advantage of an easier morning routine, but his working hours need to be protected.

Opposite way round, but i WFH and my DH is works part time so is home with the baby 2 days a week. We spend LOTS of time together, she'll be in with me crawling about on the floor while i do emails and he makes lunch or does chores, i take her for half an hour here or there, we eat lunch together unless i have meetings, they're pretty much in and out of my room most of the day. It's absolutely amazing, i love it.

Start drawing up plans for the patio.

Personally I'd keep the second room as his office, but beyond that just see how it goes.
He's already said he'll take the baby in the mornings, which is more than most men would have even thought about at this stage

Is he taking some parental leave? As he's wfh can he take say 2 days spread over the week (do an hour here & there rather than who days).

You'll find a rhythm that works for you two.

Good luck with the birth 🌷

I am on my second mat leave so a bit different as we also have a toddler, we don't have a spare bedroom so DH works in our bedroom. As Jellycatspajamas says I try to respect his working hours and only interrupt if I really need a hand (like once or twice a week, though it probably would have been more with my first!). This has the advantage that I’m really looking forward to seeing him when he does come out! In comparison to my first mat leave it is so nice to see him when he comes to get coffee or for lunch, and there is an advantage too in that we both understand the demands of each others days more. He also gets to spend more time with the DC, over breakfast and he takes our toddler for a walk when he can (but I dont expect this).
We do not eat lunch together as I eat early with my toddler, but with a baby you could, even for a few days a week. My DH does dinner bath and bed Mon, Wed and Fri for the toddler (he has to finish work early for this and log on again later, thats why he cant every day). My advice would be to discuss expectations now before you both get tired once the baby is here! And try to do something nice to mark friday night/ the weekend so that you spend intentional time together as well as being in the same house all day! Best of luck

DH works in the living room. He has the option of a different room, but prefers not to. He helps out whenever needed and we all eat together. It’s great, so much better than my first mat leave which could be a bit lonely.

DH has worked from home for years, including when I was on mat leave 6 years ago.

I would agree ground rules with him. Eg what things you can interrupt him for, understanding when he has meetings or deadlines. It was brilliant having DH at home with me. Stopped me from getting lonely and helped with the bond between dd and him. We were living in a flat, not a spacious house.