Best thing about being back at work?

[Hgirl1974]

I'm now three weeks away from returning to work and having been through the usual crises and anxieties, I'm now keen to focus on the positives. So I wondered what you all thought was the best thing about returning to work after maternity leave. At the moment, I'm thinking:

1. Gossip - catching up with the office scandal (and from what I hear, there's been some good stuff going on in my absence!)

1. Being able to dig out the killer heels again, although I fear that pregnancy and new motherhood may have permanently destroyed my ability to balance on them.

1. Doing something on my own, rather than being a constant chaperone for the little guy (like those minders who escort around Hollywood stars and are generally ignored whilst the star of the show laps up the attention).

1. Being asked questions that I can confidently give an answer to, rather than "do you think he's tired/cold/hungry?" or "should he be doing that?" or "why is his poo that colour?"

What else should I be looking forward to?

This is such a great thread. I am about to go back to work and have been fretting massively about leaving DD and this has helped remind me that it's not all bad!

I would add one other positive about clocking back on, which is the security of an additional income. To me, that means that I know that if anything happened to my DH's job or we had any other financial nightmares, we'd have my current income and (hopefully) future earning ability to help keep us going. Whilst I would dearly love to be a SAHM, I console myself with the thought that this can only be a benefit for DD too.

Good luck to all those in the same situation. Hi-ho, hi-ho...!

This discussion is really food for my soul! I have been agonising about whether /how much to return to wok ever since my first child was born over 5 years ago, then number 2 came 2 and a bit years ago, and here I am 5 yeasr on finally (nearly) doing it. I have felt such guilt because even though my OH earns enough for us to manage (we have had to give up some of the nice things in life) I seem surrounded by mums who love being SAHM'S (which is great but don't enjoy it as much as I could and I am glad I've been with the kids so much so far but at times I find it a bit boring and lonely - I commend all those happy SAHM'S, they are made of stronger stuff than me, I just wish I felt the same).

I feel that I don't want to be away from my kids but being there 24/7 for them all day every day clearing up, changing nappies, being moaned out ans houted at (terrible 2's!) is 'doing my head in' at times and I feel I need another outlet just for a bit of the time. Up til kids I had a really successful career and since then just very badly paid, very low key/non challenging ie much more junior bits and pieces over the last 5 years. I am really frightened and nervous and really lacking in confidence about going back to work properly part time (3 days) about whether I'll be able to handle, whether the kids wil be ok, the impact on us as a family, whether the household stuff will be even more shambolic etc... etc..!

The sense of doing something which is about ME and not just being a mum .
The mental stimulation.
The money!
The pension!

feeling the braincells creak v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y back into action.
having people say please and thank you to me without prompting.
going to Tesco in my lunch break and getting the shopping done in complete, delicious silence.
feeling re-energised when i collect the DC in the evening

I went back a month ago,was dreding it but i feel fantastic since.I have started to lose weight from eating my healthy lunches (no temptations of local shops) and not sitting around watching daytime tv scoffing bad stuff.
I feel attractive again dressing in smarter clothes.
I love chatting to other adults.
Feeling that i am doing something productive and stimulating my brain.
Having money again.
My dd's little face when i come home and her outstretched arms.
Sitting on my arse whilst dh makes the dinner and puts kids to bed.

Intellectual conversation
Conversations about something other than babies,feeding,toilet training
Money

Having a conversation on the phone without dd1 2.5 shouting 'my turn' repeatedly until she can talk to the person - even if it is some poor unsuspecting call centre worker at a bank or similar

all of the above!
quiet office - yet adults to talk to without interruption.
Space to think (both at work, about work things and on way to/from, about anything)
1 hour of pure uninterrupted time each commute to listen to ipod / read newspaper / book / sleep.
Having a break whenever I feel like it.
Not having pointless irrational arguments about coat-wearing / the impact of sweets on teeth etc. etc.
Feeling much more interested / energised etc. when at home