Returning to work

[Newboymummy]

I'm coming close to the end of my maternity leave and am absolutely dreading leaving my little boy. It will only be 2 and a half days that I will be working, it's not much but I still feel dread. My little boy will be well looked after by family but I can't help but feel anxious about his routine not being followed properly. I keep getting told that whatever family do with him in their time is down to them which I do understand but it just makes me have a lot of anxiety, is this normal? I also worry about the stresses off dropping him off to families houses early in the morning, getting to work on time and just balancing being a working mum a couple days a week. It's all new to me and I just want to know if anyone else has ever experienced these feelings. I don't have many mum friends so thought I'd pop it on here to get some opinions. Thanks! X

I think it's normal to feel some anxiety but you'll get into the swing of it! How long have you been off work and do you leave him at all with family at the moment?

I was meant to return to work after 9 months but i felt absolute dread so i extended it to 12 months. In that time i started taking my boy to my MIL once a week as would be our normal arrangement so we could get used to it a bit.

As far as whatever they do with him is up to them i don't 100% agree. i wouldn't be leaving my son with someone who i didn't feel like was at least trying to follow my routine and wishes. I do let some things slide - he gets a bit more TV when with my in laws for example.

It will be quite a change but no where near as big a change as having a baby in the first place! x

I finished work last July when the summer holidays started as I work in a school setting. My maternity leave didn't actually begin until end of August, was meant to go back end of this month but the day I was meant to go back falls on half term so I get an extra week. I do leave him now and then with the family members that will watch him say if I need to go to an appointment etc but he sees them in general anyway so he's comfortable with them. Thank you so much for replying, your comment is really helpful! X

That's good that he's used to seeing them and i'm glad i helped a bit!

I have to say, it is hard but i'm not a year back at work and i'm loving the balance of the two! I work mon-thurs then have friday just on my own with my boy and weekends as a family and it works great for me.

Would it help if you had a very informal chat with your family just to make sure there aren't any really serious issues that you might differ on regarding looking after your boy?

It is so hard to leave them at first but I promise it gets easier!! Xx

I'm the same, due back next month, absolutely dreading it, to the point where I'm reconsidering going back at all. My LO will be going from 24/7 me and him (we've never been apart in 6 months) to being at nursery 8 hours a day 5 days a week. I know in the long run though that nursery will be a great environment for him and that maintaining a job is better for me in terms of long term prospects for us both. Think you just have to look at the positives. It's hard though. We will be doing some trial runs before I go back ie. Getting up and making the actual journey in the morning, adjusting evening routine, going to settling in sessions etc. Maybe that would be helpful.

Living with this right now. Any advice on how it all worked out? My little boy is 6 months I am due back when he’s 9 and my anxiety is sky high! He’s so little and we have spent all our time together 🥰