Back to work - JAN 2007 - support thread

[iPodForLifeNotJustForChristmas]

Hidyho!

I'm back to work in Jan07 after 1year off. Am starting to panic a bit - Anyone else??!! Tought a kindof antenatalthread rip-off might steady the nerves!

Here's me:

ipod -
Occupational Therapist in Rehabilitation Team
Plymouth
1year off
DS 21months old, Single
Working 3 days a week

That's reassuring ipod, thanks. You've done amazingly well! I'm lucky I have a dh, even though he works till late and we don't see much of him!

Will start the weaning in Jan, just before he goes to nursery - they won't give him anything unless he's already tried it at home first, so I'll have to get their menu. Can't imagine how I'm going to get all the pureeing and freezing etc organised on top of everything else, but I suppose you just have to be highly organised and have a routine to stick to.

oh bugger - just spent another hour at the nursery for sttling in and I really dont like it!!!!

It smells funny, there's no space for my lump of a lad to move around the toys and the babies, and it smells, and it smells, and its cold, and it smells!!

Did I mention it smells?! Like cat pee or really bad damp. Cant leave him there! The staff seemed quite unprofessional as well - re doing little girls platts and bunches!!! Just seemed unprofessional really.

So, I've gone back to one of the first ones I looked at and have handed in his form and deposit. Doing settling in visits first week of jan - God, I hope I dont change my mind again!

Now I just need to tell the first nursery they smell!

hi ipod,

you can add me to your list of mumsnetters who are ot's! i used to work in community paediatrics but i am currently out of the ot world and working as a chilminder!!

quite a few of my mindees are the children of ot's that i used to work with, which is nice but also a bit strange!

just wanted to wish you luck for january. i am sure you will enjoy your new job, and find a childcare arrangement that you are happy with. xx

ps) did you know lots of cms work closely with other cms to cover for holidays and sickness? and also have you thought about a 'nannyshare' - there is a lot about that idea on the childcare forum if that is any help..

forgot to say - i keep an eye on this 'going back to work' forum because as a chilminder i feel like i need to keep in touch with the issues that concern working parents who are looking for childcare!

ooohh - would love to do a bit of community paeds - nearly applied for a job that came up in Hereford but couldn't see how I could manage without help from family and I moved back to Plymouth.

I'm happy with the idea of a nursery - it was just the smell of this one!!! - Still Don't know what to say to them ANYONe????????

So your aren't planning to put your "greens" on again???!!!

i think i will go back to my 'ot roots' at some point. to be honest though, i love being a childminder! after the frustration of working in a badly managed and poorly resourced NHS, i now manage myself and my resources -it's great!

regarding the nursery you were not happy with, maybe you should let them know the reasons why? surely it is constructive to receive feedback? it is probably like in a hospital - when you work there you get 'immune' to the smell and don't notice it anymore!!

good luck with the new (sweeter smelling) nursery!

Ok, haven't read the rest of the thread but how about this: I return to work on Jan the 1st, yes, New Years Day, no, wait, New Years Day Nightshift!!!!!! After exactly one year off, dd is only 6 and a half months, dd1 is 4 and ds is 3, I will be working 3 nights a week so that I can still be a full time Mum. Daft? No desperate!!!!

WELCOME!!!

I did 3 days this week as a kind of introduction - it was bloody hard! I was exhausted by the end of the week. I have completely underestimated how tiring it is being continually keen, sociable and appearing intelligent and interested.

There were one or 2 moments when I looked round and I was very happy to be in a non child environment.

oh and the other very sad thing I noticed was that I was hungry all the time - I think that this is because when I am at home, if I feel a bit peckish I just snack (alot ).

Good luck to all of you starting in Jan!

(oh and I still don't have any childcare for January, what am Igoing to do???)

Another person going back (for the second time) in jan. DS 21 months old (in jan) went back after mat leave when he was 7 mo, got made redundant in august. Thought i'd give the SAHM lark a try - nearly went barking mad so DS has a nursery palce for jan and I'm hoping to do supply teaching while I do a PGCE.

After having severe flu this week i'm really looking forward to it! at least when I have a paid job I can say 'I have flu I can't work today' as a SAHM you still have to get up and deal with a hyperactive toddler even when you are out of your skull on pain meds, shivering and red eyed.

Hoping to work 2/3 days a week on average.

thankyou for the welcom ipod (was it aimed at me) if so, feeling warm and accepted!!!!! Not looking forward to it but needs must.....

Hi 3donut - just read your original post - what a crap way to restart your working life - looks like they dished out the crap shifts to you cos you weren't there

My mat leave officially finishes on Christmas Eve (then I am on leave for the next few weeks) but feel sad that it is coming to an end (but glad that more money will be coming in if only for a month before I go part-time)! As the NHs is very generous with it's maternity pay, I will actually be a lot worse off going part-time than I have been whilst on maternity leave

Usually you work new year or christmas ( as I'm sure you're aware!) and with me not being there for christmas, have to work New year!!!! tbh, not really that bothered, I knew it was coming and just glad that not only am I off in the run up to Christmas but the day itself and the week after! Plus it should be quieter and therefore, 'easing' into it!!!!!

Eek - it's coming around quick! Start back next Wednesday.

Anyone still bf? If so any advice etc. I just don't know how I am going to be bf and getting my dd's and me ready, breakfasted etc and out of the door as close to 8am as I can - and still give dd2 a bf first thing. Dp likes to get work early so I will be doing the morning rush - god it's going to be hard work!

It will be fine. I used to breastfeed last thing I did before leaving for work but I didn't have to get the babies ready. We had someone come to the house each morning to take over. most important thing is apart from the breastfeeding none of this is just your responsibility. Your other half has as much a role in the preparation as you have so get that equality established right at the start.

As dp going to work early means he can be home for the dd's bedtime I much prefer this.

Dd2 is waking increasing early for her bf - 5am this morning - so if she continues I'll just dress her and take her to nursery - so I just will have to give dd1 her brekkie and get us all ready.

Tomorrow is the day! eek

I feel a bit teary!

Good luck, hotmama! I haven' read all this thread, just bits, but it certainly touched a few nerves. I'm back to work on 22 Jan, and ds2 will be only 6.5 months. I love my job and miss it but feel guilty and terrified already - ds2 is such a sensitive soul despite his big round cheeks! does anyone have suggestions for how to get little ones settled as painlessly as possible in nursery? I'm lucky, have a place for him in the same nursery as ds1 (not same room of course), v professional nursery, even a bit impersonal. I feel a bit bad seeing all you mums working 3 days a week for your little ones - I'll be back 5 days, though I might be able to get an afternoon off from time to time.

Well, my first day was a lot better than I thought it would be! The day before was wobbly though.

I am soooo appreciating today with my dd's though.

Hello - can I join too?
I'm going back to work 3 days per week on 23rd January. DD1 is 4 and started at Reception class at school yesterday. DD2 is 7 mths and had her 1st settling in session at nursery today. I'm going back to my old job which was already part time, but there are changes afoot and the location of my job and what it involves is likely to change soon too. i work for the NHS too, but have only moved to this region last year. DH only got a transfer to join me here when DD2 was born. I just feel there are so many changes all at once. I feel as though I'm losing both my babies (daft I know). Having been through it before with DD1 doesn't really help. Lots of juggling to do re school runs, nursert etc and now DD1 does activities like swimming lessons and martial arts after school. DH works long hours and leaves at 7am and isn't back till half six, so all getting ready, dropping off and picking up is down to me. When DD1 was a baby we lived near my mum so I had emergency back up.
I'm sure it'll all be fine - but so many changes all at once seems really hard and a bit scary. Glad to know I'm not the only one feeling like this.
Plama

hurrah!! Just heard I can start on Monday - good job i booked that second nursery space when I did.

Griff been this morning for 3hrs and I mooched round town posting ebay stuff, and doing annoying jobs that never get done with a nearly 2 year old in tow!

So, I officially start on monday, and then I have manual hadling training on Wednesday and then just have friday to do and i'll have done my first week at work!

Been to the Job centre and I'll be a whole £176 a week better off than while I've been on Benefits!! Cant believe it - just need to hope I get approved for a grant to get help with my first months nursery fees as my benefits stop on monday - ahhh, better fill the car up with petrol this weekend incase I'm without money for a while.

Good luck, and well done to those of you who have returned or are about to.

HI, can I join too?
I've had 4 and a half years off work and am returning to adult life on 23rd, for 3 days a week.
I'm really looking forward to it. Lunch hours (a whole hour, regularly, just for ME ).
Now nanny/ childcare,salary, terms etc are sorted, and holiday booked for next week (last chance to relax and be yummy mummy!), I think I'm almost relaxed about it.

will no doubt panic on the 22nd. But nothing a good bottle of red won't sort out!

Good luck everyone