…to ask what you’d prioritize during mat leave, if you had your time again?

[ChilliGarlicMango]

I have a gorgeous nearly 8 week old baby, and am really enjoying maternity leave so far. I go back to work in September, and am thinking about the months ahead and wondering if there’s anything I’ll regret not doing now once I’m back at work.

I’m a primary school teacher, and already mat leave is feeling a lot more enjoyable, slower paced and relaxing than being at work. I’d like to continue to make the most of my time off. Some things I’ve done so far:

• baby sensory classes
• baby cinema
• meeting friends for lunch/ walks
• going for pram walks and stopping at coffee shops

My baby is currently sleeping fairly well at night, so I’m generally ok energy-wise during the days. My partner is a teacher too, so we’ll have the summer off together.

Does anyone have any suggestions for things they really enjoyed doing during mat leave, and are glad they prioritized? Both day to day things, or maybe any longer trips you took with your partner and baby? (Thinking ahead to the summer).

Thanks so much! I’m aware of how special this time is, and would love to hear ideas from people who have been in this position before.

I wish I’d tagged on a sabbatical and taken two years off!
I wish I’d done a couple more holidays when flights were cheap not in school
holidays.
I wish I wrote things down in my baby book.

Depends on the baby! Also the course and how often you'd need to be on campus

For something fully remote, if you have a good napper then it would probably work.

I was able to do a few hours of coding for a side project I was working on per day while she contact napped on me before she hit the 4 month regression.

Things got trickier after that point and then around 7 months she got really bad separation anxiety and refused to let her dad do her naptimes so I stopped having any evenings to myself - so if you have a similar baby you won't be able to guarantee catching up in the evenings

I'd recommend not adding the stress to your life and just enjoy bonding with the baby!

that dreamy home time end do school tint in that season - is such a beautiful time.

Just more hanging out, taking things slowly, face to face time, looking at things in the park etc etc. Definitely not more groups.

Travel with the first! Second time around it's more difficult as toddler in nursery and a routine.
That being said I'm just back to work and the thing I'm missing is long pram walks and the mundane

I wish I had taken more videos. Lots of photos, I took, but not so many videos.

Pack a blanket and some toys in the nicer weather and find nice little spots in random places whilst on pram walks. Still some of my favourite moments were finding little spots of grass and just sitting and playing. Tummy time for baby with toys.

Swimming. Just head to local swim centre for a splash. I don't mean lessons.

Playgroups. New toys, people and experiences for both of you. Especially the ones at children centres.

This all day. 15 years on and I still have some friends from that era and my dc have lifelong friends their own age.

I would only waste time on baby groups to the extent it fills otherwise empty days and helps me make friends.

@Frampamsam so true, one of my fave memories with both of my children individually is hanging out in the park 2 minutes from our house for a few hours with just a picnic blanket and some snacks. I think it might have been post mat leave when I was working part time, but it was lovely 😍