Give it to me straight - how horrendous is it going back to work?

[sunshine75]

Going back FT when dd is 11 months. She'll do 3 days with grandparents and 2 days in nursery. I'm a teacher so will get the hols and can pick her up at 4pm.

Tell me truthfully how it feels please.

I am also a teacher. I went back ft in June when ds was 6 months old, and then went to 4 days a week in September. I left teaching in July as I was lucky enough that my husband (also a teacher) got promotion and I was able to leave. I still do supply one day a week to keep my hand in (and my sanity).

I,like you, dreaded going back to work, especially as ds was so little, but it was fine. Last year he was in nursery 4 days a week and he caught every bug going. He seemed to have a permanent ear infection for about 6 months. I took a lot of time off, as did my husband and we both got a 'talking to' at work.

I would see if you can do 4 days a week max. It was a bit difficult to manage, timetabling-wise (I'm an English teacher so see the kids practically every day), but they managed it. It was lovely to have a day a week with the little one, but still have adult conversation on the other days.

The other hard thing to juggle is the bloody marking, which really ate into my weekends, and having to work every night once ds had gone to bed.

The holidays are ace tho!

Staying at home for me would have sent me mad. After 9 months maternity leave, I was nearly there!!!!

I love my daughter so much but I have great in-laws aswell as a good local nursery and I have no worries about leaving her to go to work 3 days week.

Children 24/7 to me is my idea of hell. I need the balance that I seem to have now found in life, between me, kids, work and being part of a couple.

I would recommend trying work and yeah it will be strange at first but give yourself a few weeks to get into the swing of things and you will be fine.

Hi Sunshine, i was worried about going back and it has been absolutely fine so far. Am working 3.5 days/week but long hours so don't see that much of DD those days (but make sure I get back for bathtime and then log on again in the evening if necessary). DD is 8.5 months btw and seems fine..(reiterate what everyone has to say about feeling happpy with c/care arrangements)although i made the mistake of projecting how i was feeling onto her so if she was grumpy because teething/had a cold, convinced myself it was because she was missing me and i had ruined her life etc etc. that lasted about 3 days!

I went back to work part time after a seven year break and I'm also really enjoying it. I have 2 children at school and a 2 yr old at home and I opted to employ a nanny. I considered breakfast and after school clubs for the boys and a childminder for the 2 yr old but in the end a nanny just suited me so much better and I would urge anyone to consider it.

It is definitely expensive but I would have paid £18 a day for the boys breakfast & after school clubd plus about £50 for 10 hours at a child minder for my 2 yr old (I'm in London - it might be cheaper elsewhere)and then I would need other arrangements for the boys in school holidays and if any child was sick.

My nanny covers for me what ever the situation - I've had 2 children with chickenpox and one with a broken collar bone and I haven't had to take a day off work. Also, I don't have that stress of dropping children off in different places and then facing a journey to work.

On top of that, my 2 yr old can do the same toddler groups and playgroup as she did when I was at home all the time. When I get home the children are all fed and dinner has been cleared away...

Now the down side is that my Nanny gets £80 a day for a 10 hour day and I pay her NI and tax on top of that taking it close to £100 a day - in fact I make about £50 a month after I've paid for her!! I am lucky in that we don't depend on me to bring in extra money at the moment, but we are certainly looking forward to the time when all three are at school and we can adjust childcare and my working pattern so that we do see some extra cash at the end of the month.

Just thought I'd mention this childcare option as if you can afford it it can really ease the stress of returning to work.