Feeling down after having kids/wfh

[Purplelemon7]

I have a young family and just returned to work from some back to back maternity leave. Didn’t really feel the effects of the lockdown because I guess I felt maternity leave was a phase and I just got on with being busy with kids and enjoying my time with them knowing it was going to end eventually. Now I’m back at work I feel really depressed. I don’t know if it’s because of working from home, because all my team/friends at work have left or because I’m adjusting to a new phase of life with children. Obviously none of this is new (pandemic, children) but it’s really hitting me now in the last few weeks and I can’t pinpoint what it is or whether it’s everything and I feel like I don’t really have much to look forward to. I tend to make friends in the environment I’m in (school, uni, work) but no good at keeping in touch and find that when people move on from those environments they also move on in terms of friendships too.

With working from home whilst I miss the day to day social contact I also can’t imagine doing the long commutes and rushing back to be with the DC so I guess I need to accept that the loneliness is the sacrifice I have to make for not being stressed and having time with my kids.

I also find myself feeling incredibly nostalgic to the point that it hurts at times.

I guess I’m wondering if anyone else feels the same? Maybe I’ll make my peace with workplace changes over time as others have? Maybe I need to find friends but it feels impossible when you’re working full time, have little ones and don’t have the energy or inclination for hobbies?

Bump

I didn't want to read and run. I'm also struggling with this. I also hate my job, which doesn't help.

I think the adjustment after maternity leave is hard and home office, while convenient, can make it harder. Hope things get better for you.

I think I am about to feel the same. Maternity leave coming to an end and I feel like I've had a whole paradigm shift.
Plus, I have also become a complete contrarian. My office is currently under going consultations about permanent WFH which i don't want, but I also don't want to go back to work!

It’s always a hard adjustment going back to work after mat leave. But in a pandemic when the rules about how, when and where we work have all changed, extra hard. I normally have a rock solid work ethic but I’m find motivation hard to come by some days. I miss the chatting in the office with clients and colleagues. I hear you OP. Might you be able to go in the office some days?

Thanks for the responses. It’s good to know I’m not alone. I think I probably will be going into the office from time to time but honestly doesn’t fill me with excitement because all my work ‘friends’ have left and I miss them a lot. Not really keen on my new work colleagues but maybe some social contact will help even if they aren’t people I love.