To be a little bummed out by work

[HenriettaChicken]

So, my mat leave ends Monday. I went to see boss in November, after I got a letter saying we needed to have a meeting to discuss return to work.

Had the meeting, told her when I was planning to return. Said I would be available for KIT days.

She said fine, leave it with me as I need to figure out which class I'm placing you in (am a teacher), and I'll be in touch.

I left it to her. Was surprised not to hear more but was busy enjoying DC.

This afternoon at 2.15pm I got a call from the office at work saying they were concerned they'd not heard from me, and was I coming back Monday and why hadn't I arranged any KIT days?

I know I could've been more proactive but I was waiting for the head to get in touch. AIBU to think if they were that concerned they would've got in touch earlier?

Dreading Monday now...feel like I'm starting back on a sour note.

...yeah you're probably right. That's sort of what I think too. But another part of me thinks we were both a bit slack. And I'm very very literal. So if someone says, 'leave it with me' I actually feel cheeky getting in touch.

Daft.

I think it's understood that the employee returning to work after maternity has to make the contact so it can't be interpreted as the employer being pushy. Did you confirm your return date in writing?

Kit days are not compulsory.

I confirmed the date at the meeting with the head, which they wrote to me to arrange.

I probably should've done more, which I've acknowledged, but I think they are being a bit disingenuous to say they were 'really concerned' and do nothing about it until after 2pm the Friday before my return!

I'm in bits about going back...have been looking at my lovely boy and I just keep crying. I never used to be maternal - but once he arrived he turned my world upside down, and I love it.

I am aware I sound like a sap.

It'll be fine once you get first day over, it's so hard leaving baby. .. sympathies

Personally I wouldn't have left it so late, but I assume you know which class you will be in and have done some prep? If so then on Monday just say "sorry for the misunderstanding, I was waiting for you to get in touch with regards to KIT days and I assumed as you hadn't you didn't want me to do any." I'd have struggled not to get in touch though, I would need to know what the plans were.

Are you going back full time? There's not a lot you can do about how you feel about leaving DC but as long as you are happy with the childcare arrangements you will both be fine, after a few days i'm sure you will have got over your nerves.

I know which phase I'm in...but not which class. There's one week where I'll be working with existing teachers, then half term and then I take the groups over.

DH is SAHP so it's one less thing to worry about.

Thanks for the sympathy and straight talking.

You'll be fine :) only one week to get through before half term

Ah, thank you! Had a lovely email from phase leader which made me feel better. Also really had my mind taken off it today as DH has stomach bug and DS diarrhoea so I've been doing 4 loads of washing, supermarket shop and looking after them both!

Amazingly it's actually helped. Probably more than the spa day we had planned...