Returning to work full time

[Chibbsie]

how many mums return to work full time? I’m due to go back in September and my wee girl will be 9 and a half months by then, I said I’d go back full time over 4 days as my dad and my partners mum are both retired so we have childcare however, I’m dreading being away from her during the day for 4 days. I know that day has to come but I’m worried by the time I’m home it’ll be bath and bed time and I’ll miss a lot of time with her.

how do others manage it if you’ve gone back full time or is it really worth just dropping to part time hours?

I went back 2 weeks ago full time and I will say it isn’t as bad as I had overthought it to be. I am lucky I can finish work at 4 so I do get a little longer in the evenings with him. Yeah you are no longer home all day but when you are home with them you are more present. I also have a lot of holiday days so I can make some weeks a shorter week which also helps. Not going back to work wasn’t an option for us with finances and part time would not work with my line of work so part time also wasn’t an option.

It was also good for me to be back out and having adult conversations and be more than just mum. Didn’t realise how much I missed that till I was back.

I sent back full time. Everyone does in my field so I was surrounded by like minded people which helps.

Baby reverse cycled so I ended up all night feeding her, and she would wake for the day at 4am so I actually spent 4-5 hours reading and playing with her before going to work!

And yes I was dead and had to have a lot of sugar to keep me alive at work but I got through.

I went back full time, but spent the first month burning through holiday and sick leave due to baby picking up and sharing lots of nursery bugs (COVID, HFM, RSV, noro). I used all the accumulated maternity leave holiday to take one day off a week for several months and am still taking one day off a fortnight till baby is 17 months. So nominally full time but practically nine day fortnights.

I went back 4 days a week and had my day off as a day just for us no chores and anything.
It was lovely, I didn't feel like I was missing out. Even if I only had the weekend it would have been fine. I only went back 4 days because of my health and I could no longer work full time
It was a bit hectic mornings were up dressed nursery drop off work pick up dinner play bed.
It was easier when she was 9 months old Vs 4 years old as her bed time at 9 months was around 8 so we had more time after work by the time she was 4 we did nursery pick up at 6, 10 minutes drive home. The parent that hadn't done the pick up made dinner. We ate that and before we knew it was 7 and time to start bed time.

Thanks for the reply! Yeah not going back or part time isn’t an option for us either but that makes me feel a lot better hearing that! You’re right, now I never really have the chance to miss her being with her 24/7 so evenings and weekends will be a lot more special

@Optimustime that sounds bitter sweet but I’m glad you get that extra time too! It’s always hard when you’re exhausted but at least you get to see their wee happy faces!

I had to go back to work when my DS was 7 months, full time. I can work from home 2 days a week which makes it nicer as I can spend some time with him in the day during lunch or if I have a slow day (he's home with a nanny). It was hard pumping milk all the time and breastfeeding round the clock when not working. But around 9 months things got a lot easier. He's 11 months now and tbh days with him are special but more exhausting than work. And I now actually go to the office a lot more as he is aware of me being in the house.