Advice for return to work!

[Wendarl]

I’ve been SAHP for 2.5 years. Found a new role and second baby will start nursery (DC are 2.5 and 1)

would love any and all advice/ words of wisdom on how to navigate the new normal that will be two working parents (Im doing 4 days/week)

how do we organise this? It’s chaos as it is!

Will you be in an office or WFH? Who's doing drop off and pick up?

two days at home/ not sure how to split pick up and drop off, split it?

Good luck! Expect chaos and don't put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect/do everything.

I only worked five hours a day in the evenings when my kids were that young and I was permanently knackered.

Just remember on the days you’re exhausted that this phase doesn’t last forever! And enjoy the adult conversation and ‘rest’ that work brings :)

Make sure you're not the default parent and that however you split things with your partner, it's fair to you both. Decide together how best you can share drop offs and pick ups but also sick days, nursery closures, and all child related admin (there's a lot!)

Once you've figured it out, be prepared to switch and change when you need to nut please don't try or allow yourself to work 4 days and continue to have full/majority responsibility for the children. It will be as much of an adjustment for your partner as you and you both need to recognise that.

Best of luck!

Agree on how you split chores etc before you go back to work.

Things will be chaos then the new routine will form. Top tips are meal planning, batch cooking, getting things ready the night before etc.

I have individual small baskets for each person's clean laundry so even if I don't get round to folding and putting away I'm only looking in 1 basket for a pair of socks or whatever.

Good luck, you'll be awesome!

And I got a cleaner, means I tidy properly once a week and no cleaning floors with a crawling toddler.