First day back after maternity leave

[watermelonsugarr]

It was my first day back at work today. I absolutely hated it. Only going back 3 days, and this is after #2, not sure why it feels twice as hard this time.

I definitely need to look for a new job next year as I have lost the love for mine, but I need to try and get through the next 6 months and be a bit more positive.

I wish we could afford for me to be a SAHM and I really resent paying a nursery to look after my children and only getting a tiny bit of time with them each evening 3 days a week.

Does anyone have any words of wisdom for how I can reframe this to feel more positive (and stop crying all the time?!) did anyone feel like me and then it got easier?

Deep breaths. It's day one. You'll settle back soon.

Hi, I felt exactly like you.
things improved so much after the first week, much better after 2 weeks and almost ok on my third week back.

Thanks @ByProudAzureCat that's good to hear. Right now it feels like the worst thing in the world x

I felt like this when I went back after maternity leave too. Every minute at work was a minute away from my babies. After a month I was fine. It’s rubbish at the start but you’ll settle back in.

Don’t be too hard on yourself OP! You’ve gone through a massive life change having a baby and adjusting to Mum life and now you’re adjusting again changing to Working Mum life. When I went back about a year ago, I wished I could be a SAHM too (finances just don’t allow it) but I have found value in having separate sphere to my life. Try and focus on some of the good bits even if they feel trivial: a cup of tea at your desk without a tiny hand trying to grab it, a bit of time to yourself to think about something else. You’ve got this and there’s no shame in not snapping straight back into work life on day one.

Thank you, these are really helping. It's hard to imagine how I will feel a month from now

I absolutely hated my first 2 weeks back at work (3 days a week too). I just didn’t want to be there and felt super resentful. But once I got into the swing of things and got my teeth stuck on again o was really happy to be back and to have a bit of my life that wasn’t focused on children. It made me really appreciate the days I had with DD more. Hang in there I’m sure it’ll get easier it’s So hard going back