Does my plan for return to work after DC2 sound like it could be too stressful for DC1?

[abigboydidit]

DS will be approaching 3 when I return to work after taking 1 year maternity leave with DD. He is currently at home with me and DD 2 days per week, with his grandparents 1 day per week and in nursery 1 day per week. Before I went on maternity leave he was in nursery 3 days, 1 day with grandparents and 1 day with me.

I had planned to return to work the Monday after the Christmas/New Year break. Yet to confirm things but he & DD will be in nursery at least 2 days and with their grandparents 1 day as usual. I know it will be a shock to him when he goes back but I've just realised that nursery is shut over Christmas/New Year, he wont have his usual day with grandparents and (most unusually) DH will also be with us every day over the break. Am now wondering if going straight from 2 weeks of excitement and holiday atmosphere to a sudden return to nursery will be too stressful? Or am I being too sensitive? I know it will be hard whenever we do it and feel like a terrible mother..

Any feedback would be welcomed. Thanks.

Sorry - I should add that, while we have been reassured that DS enjoys it while he is there, he has been very upset when being dropped off at nursery for the last few months so an increase in days will not be seen as a good thing

Well to be honest, it will be difficult what ever you do. I found ds was very unsettled when I went back to work after my second (DD). However you've kept up nursery which will help.

I would just go for it, and get back into the routine quickly. When telling ds, don't make a big deal and don't keep talking about it as you don't want to pass on your concerns or worries (which you might do subconsciously!) to him.

Its possible the increase in days will help the nursery situation. I found my similar aged DC struggled when I initially started him doing 1 day a week, then 2 somewhere else but settled in brilliantly when I moved him up to 2 days in A and 2 days at B. 1 day a week at nursery is quite difficult at that age.

One thing which helped was making a visual timetable with days of the week written and pictures of each setting underneath. e.g. under Monday, pic of the nursery, Tuesday pic of Granny etc. Then stick/print picture of him onto card and put blue tack on, in the morning he moves his picture onto the right place in the timetable.

Thanks. Maybe am just over thinking it!