Returning to work after maternity leave *sob*

[Sweetlikechocolatee]

I know this is a common topic on here but I go back to work next month a couple of days after my son’s 1st birthday and I’m feeling very down. He’s my second child so I’ve done this all before and know it will be ok once I’m back into a routine but would be grateful for some hand holding and/or telling me to get a grip 🤣

I just keep feeling like I’ve wasted my maternity leave and should have done more (not exactly sure what 🤣) It’s also likely to be my last maternity leave as my husband doesn’t want any more children so I’m just wallowing a bit. I’m insanely jealous of friends who are still on their maternity leave or who are pregnant and have all this to come which I know is silly!

I will be going back to work four days a week so will have a day in the week with my son (as opposed to full time which I did after my first) so I’m clinging onto that…

Desperately dreaming of a lottery win so I don’t have to go back 🙏🏼🤣

It will be ok, you'll both get used to it like you did last time. After a while you'll thrive from having a bit of your life when you can talk to grown ups and get paid. Your ds will get to sing songs with other dc and have fun learning with the key workers. It can be such a hard transition, the change from maternity leave to work (it was hard for me too) but you'll both be in the swing of the new routine before you know it. Have you found a toddler group you can go to together on your day off every week? Can you book some annual leave/ holidays too so your return feels a bit more gradual?

Or get pregnant again so you don't have to go back for as long 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@LittleOctopus yes we have our baby swim class which we’ll carry on doing on my day off. I’ve already used a week of annual leave to extend my maternity leave and will need to keep some by for the school holidays as my daughter is in school. It’s silly as I know it will be fine and the thought is always worse than actually going back.

@Travelisfun if my husband was on board then I would 100% be planning this but he is adamant he doesn’t want any more children 😣

Solidarity! I went back last month when DC2 was 8 months. It's tough (especially in the beginning, all day crying at creche) but we're all getting used to it now. I'm still DC2's favourite person in the world, that lit up face when I get home makes my day and we still have one day a week just for us.