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Original poster

Best things you did whilst on mat leave

25 replies

Jellybabie3 · 25/08/2018 17:40

So I have 6 weeks til I am back to work and I am feeling really sad about it. I want to cram in as much as I can.

What were the best things you did please for inspiration. I really want to feel like I gave it everything!

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anotherangel2 · 25/08/2018 17:52

Holding my little one while they slept and watching Netflix.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 25/08/2018 17:54

Just enjoy your time with your baby, sit, be still, cuddle, smell s/he. You'll never get that time again!

Beansprout30 · 25/08/2018 20:46

Yes just enjoy spending time with your little one, I'm on mat leave with baby no 2 and really am cherishing the time with both kids as I realise how quickly it goes by!

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Blondemother · 25/08/2018 20:51

My favourite bits were lazy mornings cuddling in bed and long buggy walks with a beer garden stop - I always thought about how everyone else was at work and what a lovely little luxury it was. Nothing grand.

catsofa · 25/08/2018 21:07

Take baby to the pub, drink beer in the middle of the day.

Go shopping in town at relatively quiet times when other people are at work.

Do my supermarket shopping in 24 hour tescos at 3am because baby was teething and neither of us were sleeping anyway, so we had a little "adventure" instead.

Went to "Bring Your Own Baby" cinema - good grown up films in a proper cinema, special screenings where you're allowed to take under 1 year olds with you.

Original poster
Jellybabie3 · 25/08/2018 21:17

Thanks all. I guess I worry sitting in all day is boring for DS (10.5mo) its not easy occupying him all day(he drives me nuts climbing on the furniture). So i look for things out and about. Maybe i should just camp out for the next month. I am gonna miss hi so much

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mehhh · 25/08/2018 21:34

Absolutely what @anotherangel2 said... I wish I spent so much more of my time just cuddling and smelling her (she's now 1 and pretty much point blank refuses long cuddles: constantly playing and she likes the self settle to sleep).. I miss those baby cuddles so much! ...I work part time now so on my days off I just like to entertain her playing etc as that's what she enjoys now Smile

Original poster
Jellybabie3 · 25/08/2018 22:24

Yeah my DS isnt in to sleeping on me anymore Sad but he still needs mummy cuddles before bed Smile

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anotherangel2 · 26/08/2018 09:17

mehhh luckily Hmm my 2 year old is still cuddled to sleep and frequently wakes for ‘Mummy cuddle’.

blinkineckmum · 26/08/2018 15:00

Swimming
Long walks
Coffee
Train rides
Aquarium? Or pet shop to look at fish!
Farm parks or free city farms
Park, feed the ducks
Pub
Hanging out with friends
Daytime tv while they nap
Nap while they nap
Clothes shopping

Mat leave with only 1 is so precious! I am on mat leave with my third and miss being able to do a lot of those things. Enjoy, amd good luck with the return to work.

OnlyGlowingSlightly · 30/08/2018 13:17

lovely picnics and trips out to nearby gardens with NCT friends are my favourite memories from maternity leave. The group (and our children) are all still very close.

And the general cuddliness of a little one Smile (Although with an extremely cuddle-loving non-sleeper, I still got many hours a day of cuddles after going back to work Hmm Still get plenty of cuddles now at 5yo though, so on balance I'm happy Wink )

LaPufalina · 30/08/2018 13:31

Prosecco Wednesdays with my Nct friends Grin before the babies all started crawling! I'm on mat leave with my second now and awaiting their arrival...

herecomesthsun · 30/08/2018 20:31

snuggling a lovely cuddly newborn baby

especially if s/he is blissfully asleep

Teaandbiscuits35 · 30/08/2018 21:04

Afternoon naps with a gorgeous bubba next to you. Loved them and was bloody exhausted when I had to stop them because I didn’t win the lottery and had to go back to bloody work.

Rayna37 · 30/08/2018 21:26

I'm at exactly the same point as you. Sod all this sniffing/napping/cuddles stuff, I think when we're back at work that will be the only thing we'll want or have the energy to still do in the evenings.

You need to be doing all the things you'll never have time for again (while the baby naps): FULL HOUSE DECLUTTER. A proper one. This is your last chance.

Also getting things done you need to be home for like house maintenance jobs, boiler service, minor repairs, tradesmen jobs, or appointments out of the house that need to be done in the daytime. Christmas shopping even?

Bluetrews25 · 30/08/2018 21:33

Just have a rest!
They don't HAVE to be actively entertained / taken out every single second. One of the greatest things you can do is let them learn to occupy / play by themselves.....otherwise you will be keeping them entertained for the next 16 years. He has toys? Let him look at them and figure out what to do with them without your prompting every now and then. (Obviously not ALL day, EVERY day!)

Original poster
Jellybabie3 · 30/08/2018 21:58

Thanks all. Its wierd because when I am keeping him busy I curse not having a moment to myself but when hes playing by himself and I am up to whatever I want I feel guilty that I havent given him my full attention. Yesterday we wenf pj shopping in town. Today all we did was walk round the block (pre first nap) lunch at home, went to aldi and then I made a lasagne while he played....now I am racking my brains to think of something to do tomorrow to make up for todays boringness for him. Mum guilt sucks

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Original poster
Jellybabie3 · 30/08/2018 21:58

I like some of the suggestions thanks!

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rubyroot · 30/08/2018 22:37

I never feel guilty about not doing stuff. Baby is happy to go shopping etc and play by himself. We go swimming once a week, go shopping, sit in garden and go out for walks.

pacempercutiens · 31/08/2018 21:52

Its wierd because when I am keeping him busy I curse not having a moment to myself but when hes playing by himself and I am up to whatever I want I feel guilty that I havent given him my full attention.

this is exactly how I've been feeling about my 10.5 mo DD

YearOfYouRemember · 01/09/2018 19:36

I wish I'd had MN when I gad dc1. I'd read you shouldn't hold him too much as he'd get spoiled. I still remember looking at him in his bouncy chair wishing I was allowed could hold him Sad. He's 17 now and thankfully very cuddly but I still feel sad about those missed early cuddles.

elf1985 · 01/09/2018 19:42

I watched the entirety of breaking bad whilst in labour with my first. That was a long week!

Celiasausage · 01/09/2018 19:44

Following

emmaluggs · 01/09/2018 20:22

Just being with him, housework and all that stuff can wait until he’s in bed. I have 3 weeks left until I go back to work he’s currently my world and I miss him terribly when we’re not together. The only good bit about going back to work is probably to get some balance back.

I’m just going to enjoy the now rare cuddles, and silly play! Everyone says to me once back at work the time becomes more quality so you may feel guilt about not doing much at the moment, but you’ll play catch up later down the line

bourbonbiccy · 01/09/2018 20:28

I definitely agree with snuggle, cuddle and kisses. I would have as much time as possible just being with your DC having fun and love.

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