Anyone up for a going back to work support thread?

[MissLiss]

I'm due back in 3 weeks. Having the usual feelings of dread/nausea/will they remember me-type-stuff. But I've got to do it. Anyone want to hand hold??!?

Hi can I join too! I go back in a weeks time and feel almost physically ill every morning when I wake up and remember how soon I have to go back .

It doesnt help that I have been at my job for 8 years and shed many a tear in those years at how hard I have to work and get no recognition...only to be told by my boss a few weeks ago that my colleague has been given a promotion (a promotion I should have been given had I not been on maternity leave). My colleague has only worked there two years. I could swallow it if he was more highly skilled than me but he isnt.

Aaaargh its bad enough having to leave DS but going back to a job under these circumstances is awful. I wonder if they are trying to 'manage me out'? Because I just cant understand why they could not give the promotion to me upon my return. Has anyone else had experience of being 'managed out' and how they do it? Maybe I'm just being paranoid Sorry will try and be more positive on my next post!

I'm back to work tomorrow sobs-had been able to forget about it till yesterday really and am now really dreading it. Only doing 2 days a week but it still seems a long time.

Am really lucky cos the GP's will take it in turns looking after DD and DP works shifts so he can have her some days but still....

Am planning on seeing how it goes-have to work these hours for 3 months or I'd have to pay back the extra maternity pay I had so am hoping to win the lottery before then so I can stay at home.

Hated the job before I left on mat leave.

hi guys
Just to let you know my first day back was ok. My DS was absolutely fine, no tears when I left! In fact he looked v.cheerful about the whole affair. I decided not to bother expressing at lunchtime which was very foolish because I nearly keeled over under the weight of my own bosoms by the end of the day but my DS rose to the challenge and fed like mad when I got home. I was too busy too pine but once I was in the car to go home I was like a woman possessed. When I got in my DH had left a note to say they had popped out to the post-office! I nearly wept but held it together and it turns out there was a massive queue and he never intended to be that long but grrrrr!!! My CM had written a lovely diary about all the things they did and it was nice reading that. Just feel a bit flat and tired now but it wasn't half as bad as I thought.

Usedtoreadbooks - hope everything goes well for you and your DD. I read more books than ever now due to a lengthy goodnight feed!

Soootired - what a crappy situation re your promotion. No words of wisdom but big hugs and hope that your return to work is not as awful as you fear it might be - I hate that feeling of dread, yuk.

Mollymom - hope today went ok?

Hello, me too! me too! I go back on Tuesday, which is the day after my and my daughter's birthday - she will be 1, I will be considerably older.

I will be doing 4 days a week (though I think basically I will have all of the work I used to have in 5 days to do). DD will be with my mum for one day and a childminder for 3. I have just done a sheet for the childminer about when DD naps and what she likes and doesn't like - she has had some good practice days there already though.

I am most worried about getting us all out of the house in the morning, without being covered in snot and food. And being organised enough to have something for DD to take for her lunch. Does everyone do preparation the night before?

And just at the moment DD is learning loads of new, fun stuff - can go 'ooh ooh' if you ask her what noise a monkey makes. My CM has a policy that she won't mention a new development unless you have told her about it first but I can see my mum being unable to stop herself telling me if DD takes her first steps without me or something...

On the other hand, when I am struggling with cleaning and putting a new nappy on a poo covered eel who then runs off to fiddle with plugs and pull all the dvds off the shelves, I sometimes look forward, just a little, to sitting in an office with a cup of coffee and also maybe, just maybe, having an uninterrupted wee.

Hope everyone starting on Monday is having a nice family weekend before the off.

sooootired - just clicked on this thread at random really and wanted to say that i have had a similar experience to you. In my case my new manager was someone I used to manage before maternity leave!! It's crap, there's no getting round it. I have soldiered on for 4 months and secured a new job (and slight promotion) in my current organisation. There was no way I could stay there long term but short term - I've survived. Good Luck!!!

THanks NorthernLurker and Greedygirl! NL well done on your subsequent promotion!

hello - can I join in as well please ?
I started back at work last week. I was dreading it as had not left 7 1/2 month old DS for more than a couple of hours since he was born. Went straight into a 3 day week with DH at home looking after him. Also breastfeeding so had whole expressing fafferama to deal with at work too.
Good news is that it all went ok. Cried on the way to work and drove way too fast to get home ! DS all fine and I am feeling like I have the best of both worlds...............so far !