Returning to work after may leave with twins

[Mumoftrois]

So I have three children, one who’s 6 and twins who will be 10 months when I return to work after mat leave. So nervous about this- I am a deputy head, reducing to 4 days a week and my partner works full time. Plus a dog to contend with too. I am the main breadwinner so need to go back, plus childcare for the twins is going to cost a fortune. I have to bring work home too, just not enough hours in the day.

My mum is helping out but she still works- no other family local.

How do you all do it? Any hints, tips and tricks.

I have a very supportive workplace and partner but a busy job with lots to do. Let alone cook and clean the house argh!!!

Paying for help is out as childcare costs (along with increase of mortgage rates) are going to be crippling for the next 2 years.

Feeling nervous already haha!

Hi! I've got twins who are now 2, and a 6 year old. I'm also a teacher (definitely not a deputy head though!)

What childcare have you considered? We have a nanny, which to my amazement works out cheaper than nursery because she does term time only, but all the nurseries here are full time. She's also very happy to have our eldest when we have INSED day issues, and even once or twice when she's been off school and my mum couldn't get there quickly enough. In a job where time off is complicated, a nanny can be ENORMOUSLY useful. It wasn't something we considered for our eldest, but with twins.... Also avoided me.having to take much time off for minor illness. Nurseries will send a kid home if they have a temperature and with tummy bug you might miss 3 days. If one twin gets it and then the other does you can be scuppered for the week. But a nanny will usually be fine giving calpol and will just have a quiet day at home with them.

Assume your standards will drop for the first term back. I got bugger all housework done that term. We just didnt invite anyone over and nobody died from it! Go easy on yourself. You'll get into the swing of things soon enough and you'll cope better so try not to feel bad if you can't keep all the plates spinning the first month back. Decide what you are ok with dropping!

Good luck. The first year back at work is tough with twins, but you'll get through it. You'll probably feel a bit like you're not coping well enough, but I bet it won't be noticeable at school. Prioritising is key.

We have a childminder for 2 days a week (she has my oldest and only charges term time) and my mum and cousin for a day. Couldn’t afford any more 😂. A Nanny is a great idea!

I think we are going to have to be easy on ourselves and like you say, drop standards at home a bit. The house has never been so clean since I’ve been on MAT leave 😂 so it’s defo going to be a shock to the system.

Work will be supportive, I have an amazing team and I am looking forward to working with them all again.

Thanks for your reply- my 1 day off a week will be meal prep and cleaning lol!

Am sure you can do it, you must have to deal with a lot being a deputy head and used to multi tasking. I returned to work in a professional job but part time (3 days a week) after my maternity leave ended with my twins - I had a 3 and 5 year old too. Typically they didn’t sleep the night before I returned to work and felt like death that day but it then got better. I too am the main breadwinner so didn’t have a choice in the matter. I’m quite organised and my DH took his share of the work, we had all 4 in childcare (twins at nursery and older kids in before and after school clubs) but my mum also looked after the twins a day or so a week. It was tough but we did it. Try to chill if you can on your day off, I used to put the twins down to sleep and if they both slept at the same time then I’d also have a nap to recharge my batteries so I had some energy for the older children at the weekend. Good luck!

Tbh it was actually a relief to go back to work so I could go to the loo in peace, have normal conversations with colleagues, dress up in clothes not covered in sick, have lunch in peace and not have to be changing nappies and do all of the mundane jobs at home for a few hours!