Returning to work after Mat leave tips

[Kakakate]

Hi,
I’m RTW soon at the end of my maternity leave as a single mother. My work are flexible enough to offer some reduced hours at first, but I’m looking for any tips on how to make the days run smoothest and any prep I can do around the house before I start back!

any tips from experience welcome

Work out a plan with your partner? Assuming there is one? Take turns with preparing dinner etc. do as much as you can the evening before, batch cook if necessary, while one cooks the other does something else constructive etc.

Read the thread!!

Hiya, no as in the OP I’m a single mother ☺️

edited to add that I don’t have family close by for support for really looking for people’s tips I can action on my own ☺️

The organised mum method is good
Pack bags the night before this makes such a difference in the mornings :)

Batch cook and freeze toddler portions.

declutter- clutter creates mess and makes it harder to clean!

Have some contingencies in place- back up childcare etc.

Meal plan, easy dinners.
Set evenings to do things (certain chores)
If you can afford it, get a cleaner.
Prep clothes/bags/lunches for you and the little one the night before.

No matter how much you prep the first month will be bloody hard OP. Emotionally, practically and logistically. Honestly just do whatever you can to get through it.

Sending you lots of well wishes. I was so conflicted going back after Mat leave. I really needed that time for me but the stress of it all was really hard and the Mum guilt was ridiculous, but by Christmas you'll be in a rhythm ❤️

If you do food shop on line get two or three booked in ahead
make sure you have a good supply of stuff like nappies and baby milk etc you may need to have a double supply for home and at childcare
make use of any offers of help from family who live nearby if any
do things like washing on a daily basis - don’t leave all chores until the weekend or you’ll never feel like you have any down time

Thank you that’s a really useful and supportive post ❤️

Many apologies. I’m still half asleep 🫣
batch cook
prep as much the night before
be kind to yourself
make things as easy as possible

Be as honest as you can with your manager, if they're nice. Don't feel pressure to hit the ground running at your previous rate of productivity. It's a very overwhelming time - be kind to yourself!

Get everything ready the night before no matter how tired you feel... you'll be glad of it in the morning or if you've had a bad night!
If you drive put all your work stuff/lunches/their nursery stuff in car night before too and lay out clothes for you and DC somewhere easy to grab so even if nights been bad you just need to shove it all on and get out lol! (I kept make up bag on car too so could do it in peace after nursery drop off!)

Agree about not leaving washing til weekend just put load on each night at tea time so it's ready to hang/chuck in dryer before bed..

Not sure what to advise about food shop/meals though, some weeks I feel like it goes smoothly and others I'm relying on a few too many fishfinger/pasta rush jobs 😅🙈

You will find your own rhythm tho 🩷

Depending on the work you do be upfront. My hours are 9-5 but often need to work over (normal in my industry). I still can do this but not at 5 as I am doing pick up.

It's an expenses but plenty of clothes for nursery. 3 changes per day. The more that is ready on Sunday night the easier it it

Good luck. I'm a single mum of a 1 year old. No help from anyone just a childminder for childcare. Make sure you get up earlier than the baby and give yourself plenty of time. Organisation is key. Get sorted the night before. The time in the morning always seems to go fast. I drop my baby at 8 and it feels very early! Do your best that's all you can do and don't beat yourself up about anything.

I assume your baby will be going to nursery? Be prepared that they will catch every bug going - I hadn't even heard of hand foot and mouth....

Good luck! It's a strange time - I remember just sitting at my desk unable to think of what I actually needed to do. Go easy on yourself.

Depending on the job can you request a phased return? It was a game changer for me, I was able to phase back in gently over a ten week period. It meant when I was back full time it wasn't such a shock to the system. Also second getting a cleaner if funds allow.

Be careful with your shorter hours at the start. I used annual leave to do half days for 2 months. It started out great, but the closer I got to going back to full time, the more my manager expected me to be doing my full time role within those half time hours. The stress was not worth it in the end and I wished I'd just used my holidays to fully extend my maternity leave.

If possible, don't make your first day at work also your child's first day in childcare. It's not always easy dropping them off at first, there might be some tears, you don't need to do two difficult things on one day.

Agreed prepare to start work but then have days off as your child gets seemingly endless bugs.

If you get a chance, make friends with other nursery parents. You never know when you can help each other out with babysitting, bringing supplies when sick, playdates etc. Not immediately obviously but these things can develop over time!

Beware that your professional conversation filter will be rusty, try to avoid singing nursery rhymes and saying 'I need a wee wee' etc to colleagues!

Ok so weekly prep in advance for clothes and meals, pack bags into the car the night before and stay on top of daily jobs like washing 👍 got it!
I’ve heard about the constant bugs, I think im just going to have to deal with that as it comes.
I’m lucky that my phased return is actually an amendment to my contract so believe me I won’t be taking any crap from management 😂

Stock up on anti-bac and rubber gloves and if your DC goes down with any bugs go straight into infection control mode, lots of handwashing etc to try and avoid picking it up yourself.