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 everyone - ginnedupmummy - hope you are ok for tomorrow.

I totally agree with you about changing identities - I feel like I am going back to work a completely different person. Like you Floating, I was promoted within a year of starting this job and was always willing to do whatever was required (evenings, staying late to finish something, the odd weekend work) but now, I know it will be a case of turning up, doing my hours and coming home again becaue I have to pick DS up by 6 so will have to leave on time every night. Not sure how work are going to feel and also, it is quite a big shift for me as I hate leaving things undone and would rather stay late and get things finished.

Also, working evenings was quite a regular feature of my work - on average once a month but they would come in bursts (there are certain aspects of my job that can only be done in the evenings) and I can no longer work evenings - DH's job is quite erratic in that he works away 50% of the time but it can be at extremely short notice so I cannot rely on him to be around and we have no family local to ask either. Do you think I should be upfront about this and state from the beginning that it is not going to be possible anymore or wait until the first time the need crops up - I think I should be upfront whereas DH thinks I should wait.

Am having a 'return to work' interview with my boss on Friday - no idea what it is to discuss but I think it is something my boss feels is the 'right' thing to do.

Hello there - mind if I join in?
I've been feeling really uppy-downy about returning to work, mostly I think because I hated my last job so much! I left it 2 months before dd was born and she is now 6mo and of course I didn't have to 'get back in the saddle' iykwim so now although I have been offered a really lovely sounding job I am still apprehensive about it. Just to compound matters, I really have it made since I am only going to work 2 days/week, dd is going to Nana's, and to top it all, I don't really have to work at all and am only taking the job to give me a bit of structure. On the one hand I feel v selfish scuttling off to a non-essential job, on the other hand I was so BORED earlier this week. DD is an angel to look after!!
Ooooh that feels better for being off my chest.....thank you MN!

hi, can I join even though not due to start till feb? will try and catch up with the thread..

I'm out in Central Asaia (Kazakhstan), DS is 3 and a half months old, due to start back full time (I manage aid projects for the EU) on 5 Feb.. thinking of asking for 4 days but might see how it goes first. Horror at thought of leaving him! Have almost found a nanny, it's down to two, but have yet to make the final decision. hard cos they aren't officially qualified or whatever so you have to really judge their personality yourself. Anyway, will try and catch up with the rest of the thread...

Welcome Gemmity and Lady

Floating - the tiredness is what I am dreading the most I think. I remember when I started the job 5 years ago and I could barely keep my eyes open to drive home as there was so much to learn - I have a feeling it will be like that again but I will have to pick Ds up, bath, feed and put him to bed - then prepare lunches,bags, clothes for the next day (plus do his bottles) and have tea - all before I can go to sleep!

Have got a list of questions for my meeting with my manager tomorrow - most interestingly is what work they are going to take off me as there is no way they can expect me to do a 5-day job in 3 days - and who is going to do the work instead - should be interesting!

DS at nursery for 4 hours today - no problems - they even got him to settle and sleep in a cot for a bit (he never does that for me - little devil eh

Message withdrawn

I'm glad iy went well for you

I've still got to sort through clothes as I've spent most of the last 2 months in pajamas or sweats and I still have a closet fu;; of maternity clothes

Floating - glad you had a fab day today. You sound so positive about everything, it gives me hope!

I am really blanking it out of my mind that I go back on Wednesday. I know I will miss DS so much (the longest I have been apart is 4 hours) so 9 and a half hours is going to be awful. All his settling sessions at nursery have been great though he didn't sleep there on Friday (over lunch) as apparently he was too busy playing - so if he doesn't sleep whilst he is there, I am going to have a very tired, grumpy lo - that is the main thing I am worried about.

Meeting with manager went ok - ended up talking about her situation more (we have gone through a re-organisation and she doesn't appear to have a job) so not sure what the purpose was really! Another tick in the box I guess.

though part of me was excited when I saw my desk (sad I know) and having the opportunity to chat to adults again!

Guess it will be fine.

I think what excited me about my desk was how tidy and clean it was (my replacement cleaned it before he left, bless him!) - it won't stay like that for long as I am the untidiest person I know and usually have piles of paper scattered everywhere

I finally got some boxes of clothes down from the attic to search for something to wear. I only have 5 pounds left to lose but that has ruled out quite a bit of my wardrobe!

jabberwocky, I'm going to have probs finding clothes for work too! I've gone from a 14/16 to a 12 I start work on Friday

Bit about me....
I'm 26, Married for just over 2 years, 2 boys, 23mths and 5 mths. We have a 7yr old staffie x lab x collie dog who is a nutcase!
Work for an agency of DEFRA as an admin assistant, reception duties, filing etc etc (for 5 yrs). I worked full time till ds1 was born then changed to part time, back at work for 11mths before I left again to have ds2!

Not sure how I feel about returning to work, I've been fully bf ds2 but have not been able to express anything for him for when I go back despite trying suggestions from other mners. I expect he'll end up having 2 ff whilst I'm working not what I wanted considering I've done so well bf . Ds1 was mixed fed for 15wks then ff as we both got really stressed trying to bf which is why I really hoped to get to 6mths with ds2.

Well on that note, I'd better head upstairs with 2 whinging ds's and weed out all the clothes that don't fit me I'll end up with not a lot left I expect.

burstingbug - well done on the weight loss!

I'm going back a week on Monday, (DS will be 6 months) and although I'd lost all my baby weight within the first 4 weeks of his birth (due to sheer stress probably) I've put so much on over Christmas that my work suits are all too tight! Oh the joys of wearing sweat pants all day, you just kind of expand into them without realising!

Wonder if I can drop a dress size in 8 days?

Anyway, it's encouraging reading the posts of people who've started back and it was all ok! Have trialled a few days at nursery and he seems to be fine, each day his sleep there improved and he looks so happy, smiling at all the girls when I pick him up. He'll probably cope better than me!

Have to work full time, so he'll be there 8-6. My biggest worry is how I'll get through a busy work day with an hour's drive at each end, when I already feel so shattered all the time.

Good luck to everyone still to do their first day back!!

Well, I went in for the morning yesterday and it was great. Ds2 was a dream for dh and I enjoyed being someone besides mommy for a few hours. I just wish that was my permanent schedule.

Hi all - just thought I would let you know how today went.

It was great - DS was great at nursery, no problems, slept twice, had a good day by the sounds of it. The staff commented what a lovely mood he had been in. I cried after I had dropped him off though - good job I had waterproof mascara on!

As for work, it literally felt like I had never been away - very weird as it really feels like the last 7 months have been a dream! So much for a quiet week this week aswell as my manager had got some work for me and there was some stuff on my desk. Still not convinced about myworkload as there are no plans to take anything off me but how can I do what I used to do in 5 days in 3?? Guess will have to see how it pans out.

anyway, I hope this gives a bit of reassurance to those still to go back that it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be - in fact, I quite enjoyed it!

And also, my high heels didn't hurt my feet either

hi ceebee! so glad your day went well! (haven't spoken to you for ages!)

i now feel like i havent had any time off at all (been back 3 weeks now)!

any way, Good look to all those going back soon x

Hey Reidy - glad things are still going ok. I was hoping you might pop on tonight. Does the tiredness get any better as I am absolutely shattered?? Dh is away aswell so have had to do everything myself - fortunately DS fell asleep whilst giving him his bottle saving me time getting him to sleep.

How are things with MIL? Has everything settled down or is she still walking him for miles everyday??

mmmh tiredness, it doesnt get any better i'm afraid, but you just learn to cope with it i have no idea how you are doing it by yourself! although i do the evening stuff myself most times because of dh shifts. we even have to take it in turns at the weekend to have a lie in (which is only until 9am) so we have 1 day a week in bed till 9 am up at 6 every other day

we have started ds on baby rice now (he's 5 months today but weighs 18lb 11oz ) he has started waking in the night hungry so have decided to try him n solids. baby rice is VILE so am going to try him on carrots and banana at the weekend i think! ---sorry for the hijack!

18lb 11oz - wow! DS is only 17lb 8oz - titch in comparison! Sounds like your DS is ready though. Avoid baby rice like the plague - I took one sniff and decided that if I wouldn't be prepared to eat it, why should he??

totally agree, 'tis horrible stuff!!

MIL thing is still the same i'm just bititng my tongue now, tom starts nursery in march so it would just cause too much hassle if i fall out with her over it. Although she REALLY REALLY gets on my nerves!!!