Returned to work after being SAHM for 5 years...tell me it will be OK!

[OverflowingMum]

OK...so I have just(as in today was mysecond day!) returned to work after being a SAHM for 5 years ...and am sooo stressed already!
Job itself isn't too bad, and I have DH at home at the moment ( advantages of marrying a teacher LOL)
But already trying to organise childcare (nursery for youngest, after school care for others) and juggling things like inset days and my annual leave is really waring me down
I have 6 kids, aged 12 to 2 so juggling childcare is a nightmare!
DS2 has been for 2 nursery visits and got massively upset after about 20mins both times

Doesn't help that just in last 2 days my boss has changed the hours I was meant to work (having agreed them at my interview) and I have had to re-arrange childcare etc...

Also contract is only till Dec...was originally told there would be permenant post afterwards...but now massive funding cuts make this unsure at best...

Add to this that the whole unit is re-locating tonew building other side of town, in 2 weeks and all is total chaos...and you can see why I have a massive headache.....

Please tell me it will get better...I'm begining to wonder if I've done the right thing!

It does get better - honestly! I returned to work (31 hours/week) after 5 years as a SAHM in April and the first couple of weeks were really hard for everyone, but it did get better. I love the work and I'm glad it has worked out - the children (I only have three though - take my hat off to you!) are happy in their childcare arrangements now and DH has also been able to persuade his employer to let him change his hours to fit in better with me and family life. Give it a bit longer and see how you feel in another month. Chaos of moving buildings is awful, but temporary, and once it's done it's soon forgotten.

Good luck!

thanks sinkingfeeling well done you for getting back in there!

I was worried about remembering how to do the job etc...but so far that sideofthings has been fine. It has been the trying to juggle and balance home/kids/childcare and think about work too that is stressing me the most!

Anyway...have survived day 3 today and is getting slightly better! contract now confirmed till end of Dec, but with improved hope of post afterwards , so thats good!

Have also told boss about day I need off at startof Sep as kidsoff and dh back at owrk and no childcare...and she has approved it fo anual leave...so that a weight off my mind...

I'm sure once we are all into our routines in Sept it will seem better.

Well done on surviving your third day, OverflowingMum - and great that things are starting to look better as well. I found the same as you, that doing the job was no problem really, even after 5 years at home, but the main stress has definitely been childcare and getting everything done at home. Once you've cracked that, it's plain sailing I reckon. :)

Hi there, glad the job is going well. As Sinkingfeeling said it will get easier especially when you get a routine (more like a military operation!) and everyone knows what they're doing and what's expected of them.

You can make life a little easier by planning meals a week at a time (with 6 kids you probably do that anyway:) )
Having all nursery bags packed and by the frontdoor the night before.

Also my LO used to get upset at nursery they said he was fine and in the end they took some photos during the day to show me (playing eating, sleeping etc) it was very reassuring.

Good luck with it all and I really hope they extend your contract:)

Emily