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

Hi all
I haven't posted on this thread before but need a debrief!
I started back on Wednesday after 7months mat leave! Its like I've never been away been rushed off my feet and not even managed a lunch break! AND got a student starting next week!
Ho hum, My DD had two "settling in" sessions at nursery this week DP had her for the rest of the time!
DREADING her going full time really struggling to keep it together at the mo!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me that they settle in just fine and get on with it and its me that will struggle not her!!!

Xmasstocking here (in my none-festive guise).

Cake - looking on the bright side, at least being busy will keep your mind occupied and less worry about your lo. I wish I could reassure you about nursery but I am in exactly the same situation as you - DS has had 2 settling in sessions so far (both he has been 'as good as gold' - though I have an inkling they are using his dummy much more than I do which might explain it! - no evidence though so not sure what to do about it??? Can;t really say anything if I don't know for sure eh?) but as people keep pointing out to me, nursery never did them any harm!! All you can hope is that the nursery is ok and they are happy there I guess.

DS is the youngest at the nursery which I am surprised about - all the others can sit up at least - hope he gets enough attention.

I bought my new 'work' wardrobe in the Next sale and got some real bargains. Unfortunately I have to wear a suit to work so to buy full price would have worked out very extortionate.

Good luck to those that are due to go back and well done to those that have already gone back

Hello All, may I jump in too? I just started back on Wednesday full time, after 2 years not working, and 5 years not working in an office environment. DS (18mths) is doing 2 days with CM (she can't do any more unfortunately, as I'd prefer this full time) and nursery for the other 3. DH works away during the week so no help there.
The good news, FineWine, is that DS seems to have settled immediately, and after day 1 which was a blur of tears when I left him, and a blur of confusion when I did the whole job induction thing, I really love being back with intelligent human beings who don't care whether I have a baby or not and the job is great. I don't think I've mentioned him too much, and I am still capable of adult conversation, thank God. It feels like I've got 'me' back again for the first time in years. I'm not sure how I'd handle this if DS didn't seem fine, but so far so good.....and it's brought me back from the brink of going totally nuts, which is the chief reason I've gone back.

Finally, I hope you are all coping with this, as this is tough stuff for us all, whatever our circumstances. But I guess this is what MN is for!

I've been pointing out 'mummy's office' for teh last month every time we walk past. Now they say it by rote.
Don't know if it has sunk in yet.

should we do the 'present' thing like we did at dd (2nd child) birth? or just ignore the changes and not make a big issue of it?

anyone got practical suggestions?

hi, i start back on monday too. my ds2 has been to nursery 3 yimes this week for 30-45 minutes and he hasnt cried so far, in fact he moaned when i tried to put his coat on him. hes not the youngest so i dont feel as guilty. (he is 6 months) 2 in there are 4 months. im still bf so he will have expressed milk while hes there.

the only problem i have had is that payroll have cocked up my maternity pay for dec and paid me as if i was full time anywya. (even though im only going back 3 days) so they arent going to pay me till end of feb to sort it out. i know im going to have to refrain from using my account and getting little extras or i wont be able to afford nursery bills!!

i get my 1st bill monday, apparentyl with busybees you have to pay for the month ahead whereas at my ds1's old nursery you paid for it at the end of the month. and had to pay £100 deposit.

Hi again

BTW my xmas mane was figgypud and before that was JaneNEvie so think I recognise a few names on here!
Worley The same happened to me I wasn't told that I would have t pay before DD started I thought we paid for the month at the end I thought I was being niave!

Anyhow had a long chat with ppl work and DP and think we are going to change to a childminder that we have found who seems fab! Will have to drop a day at work until June as she hasn't got a full time vacancy til then but I've decided in the long run this seems like the better option for us! But this might change again yet! Got to work out the sums!

Thinking of all of you who are in the same postition esp those who've had longer off!

My CM and nursery also wanted paying up front, but like most of you, I'm also in a chicken and egg situation regarding paying. So I did my apologetic thing, explained the situation and told them I'd try to get an interim payment to them within the next few weeks and then catch up. They were very understanding and I got the impression this wasn't the first time they'd had this happen. DH is also strapped for cash until the end of the month, so that doesn't help things. So it may be worth a try to ask?

As for the new wardrobe! Gahhhh! I'm just about managing, but I'm not exactly the same shape as I was, so my really good stuff is either embarassingly out of fashion or doesn't fit. I just can't afford to go shopping.

Cake (hi from the post-natal thread - hadn't realised it was you!) - why have you decided against nursery, was your DD unhappy there or did you have doubts about it? (Am just curious)

Can I join in too? Back on Monday after nearly a year off (ds 11mo). He's had 4 settling-in sessions at nursery; 4th one went really badly, he cried all the time. I'm bf am, pm and afternoon and was dropping the afternoon as it seemed kinder for him, but perhaps it's best for him to feed when he's with me. I'm in tears all the time but it's great to read so many with the same fears: getting out of the house, doing an effective job, is it the best childcare, who's going to do all the housework, how am I going to stay awake all day, have intelligent conversation, remember people's names, will he sleep, will he eat, will he cope? He's hardly been left at all because of circumstances and I'm just worried it'll be a huge shock. The only thing I'm not worried about is long-term damage, I'm sure they're all ok in the end...

HMWM, I'm in EXACTLY the same situation as you (I work in the music business, not exactly 9-5 and family-friendly) - would love to know how you get on. God, this is hard!!

CeeBee CM is just SO much cheaper and flexible which is what we need with DP doing shifts!
DD seems OK there just not used to being with other ppl in general!

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Hi ginnedup - I don't think you are an emotional wreck. I feel the same and I am returning after only 6 months - I feel that my little bubble is bursting and that is only after 6 months - hat to think how I would feel after 7 months.

Good luck with the job - keep us posted

my big day tomorrow!!

Hope I can remember what to do with patients and that dropping off DS goes ok.

Will updat eyou later either to laugh about how silly it is to worry, or to rant about how much I hate working again!

elizadoolittle hope all goes well for you today. I'm BFing my DD as well. I'm working 3 days per week and hoping to drop the morning and afternoon feeds on the days I work, but to fully BF again on the other 4 - DD is nearly 8 months old. I don't know if this will work. Anyone else got any tips?

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ive just had my first day back today after 10 months off on maternity.
I actually feel quite proud of myself. Had everything packed and ready for ds last night as he was with my sil today. I was up and ready with 30 mins to spare this morning as well which was nice coz i sat and told ds what was going to happen (not that he'd know as he's only 8 months but it made me feel better).
Dropped ds off at sil for 7.45 and did feel quite teary but once i was at work i was fine and it was lovely to just have some adult time and i was finished work for 2pm and back to ds by 3.
Just to all of you who are still to get over that first day back, its really not as bad as you think it will be.

Think You are right Fifi - it really isn't that bad!#

and now, I've got a day off before I go back and do it all again!

Griffin cried.....when I brought him HOME!!!!!! kept trying to walk back up the lane to nursery! success!

Well done those of you who have survived their first day! I guess that first day is the hardest (lets hope so anyway!)

Ginned- I am going back part-time - 3 days a week.

Sorry - pressed post message before I meant to!

Cos I am only going back 3 days a week, I think that is what is making me feel less stressed as I know I still have more days at home with DS than at work without him - nice balance I feel.

And, I am quite looking forward to putting on my 'power' suits, high heels (if I can still walk in them after 8 months), make-up and looking half decent instead of a frumpy mum!

hard not to look frumpy in bottle green trousers and white nurses-type top!

Thanks to all for good luck wishes. Day 1 over and not too bad at all. ds much better than Friday, seemed to have a pretty good day really. DH was choked though dropping him off. Work is another matter... Morale is soooo low there. still a novelty for me though to have lunch on my own! Sure there'll be bad days but hope I can give some reassurance to those dreading it xx

So started my second week back and feeling more positive just difficult to adjust I guess!!

Thinking of all you guys going thro similar too tho!!!