Normal to feel overwhelmed returning full time after maternity leave?

[SquirrelBalloon]

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so overwhelmed in my career - I had a year off on maternity and have returned full time this week. I’ve moved year groups and I feel like I’m floundering with classroom setup, planning and general admin - is it normal to feel this way? How long before I find my feet again?

It’s very normal to feel like that and it will be different for everyone but you definitely will get back into it again. Do you have a good team around you?

Yes unfortunately pretty normal. I feel like in other jobs people often get time to settle back in and catch up after mat leave but in teaching you are often straight back into it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help at work and remind people that you are catching up on changes/ updates that have happened while you were on mat leave. And at home be very kind to yourself in terms of housework standards and cooking etc. Hope you have a supportive partner who can pick up more at home while you settle back into work. Make a list of what you need to do at work and don’t stress if lessons are not quite up to your usual standard for a little bit.

My class team are so lovely and really on the ball but trying to find time in the day for them to even do the little admin type jobs that would really help feels impossible.
There’s new policies, plans, systems…it’s a lot.
My husband is phenomenal so home is under control thankfully.

I'm the same, I've just returned part time after a year off and I'm struggling. Feel like quitting to be honest but financially we would struggle. I'm questioning why I ever became a teacher in the first place. Ask for help as much you can and take it day by day.

Exactly how I feel today. I really want to ask for help but I don’t know how it will go down.