Support thread for those us us returnting to work in the New Year......

[LoveBeingAMummyKissingSanta]

Hello All

Thought it would be a good idea to get a thread going where we can all share our thoughts, fears and check we've got everything covered for next week and beyond!!!!

When do I return to work - mon 5th Jan
DC? - 9 mth DD
How long have I been off- left work in feb last year so almost a year off, where has it gone??????
Childcare - mum is having her
hours - Full Time
Thoughts about going back - If I think about work alone, am excited and bring it on! If I think about PFB I don't want anyone spending all day with her every week but me not even my mum

Ok so what have I got done, house full deep clean, work clothes (bought not yet tried on) and shoes,

What have I got to do? haircut, buy all stuff needed for mums house,

What else do I need to do???

Kay - good call forgot about the photo for thedesk, now just ahve to get a desk - new boss seems to ahve settled into mine!

THANK CRUNCHIE ITS FRIDAY

So its the end of the week, how did it go for thos of us who went back?

If you've not gone back yet, what have you been up to?

I went to work on Mon and Tue, it was fine, people remember who I am, couldn't get onto my PC but hey still found things to keep me busy, if anything it has made me itch to get really stuck in!!!

Scary Scary Scary but great to be back! A few teething problems with IT, working hours and I am overwhelmed, but overall positive.

Fab news Looby4 glad to hear it went ok.

How did everyone find the nursery run there and back and also what was it like when you got home? How long did you have with DC before they went to bed - was it awful or OK?

Hi,
My week was ok. Just come off nights so am feeling a bit fuzzy bit glad to be back with my ittle boy.

Was very hard to leave him on my first day. I was doing so well - up, dressed, fed LO and was not too bad saying goodbye but I had to sit in the car to let it defrost and I caught sight of his empty car seat and I have to admit it made me have a little cry .

Work was fine, seems like I have never been away really. Am already having difficulty in managing the shifts with DH and being given changes to our rota that we just don't seem to be able to cover. No idea how we are going to manage it!

Glad my first week is over and I have a couple of days to recover before it starts all over again.
Ummadam - I am a police officer - hence the shifts. Straight into a friday night of fun!

SAEJ well if anything will keep your mind off LO then a fri night as a PC will do it I'm sure!!!!!!! Glad it went ok.

Glad it went OK for you SAEJ. A friend of mine said it was like she'd never been away and just like being back in her old life. She's been back at work full time since November and seems to love it. She said it makes her a better mummy as she loves her time with the baby so much rather than taking it for granted.

I don't know how I am going to get my LO to stay up later as he is so desperately tired by 6.45 as it is without having had a full on day at nursery. Anyone got any tips?

Oohh can I join too please? This will help, I know it will.

Amberc - not tips about getting him to stay up later. Still very much wondering how I'm going to cope with working full time if the baby contineus to wake continuously for feeds throughout the night.

I've loved my maternity leave this time and am dreading going back...to sit at my desk doing not much in a credit crunchy sort of way.

Going back: 2 March, full time
DCs: DD1, 4 yrs old; DD2 will be nine months
Childcare: school for DD1; nursery for DD2...au pair for after school care...yet to be recruited. Have I set myself up for meltdown? Yes, probably.

Things to do: Apply for flexible working (anyone done this?? Just wanna work 2 days from home.)Lose weight. Try on suits (save until night before as can't face.)

Oh, also win the lottery/have the premium bonds come in so I can stay home for a bit longer?!

Amberc - can't the nursery fit in an extra nap for him?

Harriet - welcome!!!!! BTW you'll hae to wait to win the lottery i'm first in the queue lol. Don't start worrying about going back just yet you've got loads of time left to enjoy your little one - if only I ahd another 5/6 weeks

I'm feeling very worky today and am going to start making some notes, y staff won't know whats ht them!

Glad it all seems to be going well for everyone so far

I start back next Mon but was in last Mon for a refresher day. Turns out all the wonderful new procedures they are using was all stuff that I implemented before I left to make it easier for my replacement. How smug did I feel!

It's actually scarily easy to slip back into it and a lot of it came back straight away. Would still rather I wasn't going back but I might just be able to deal with it.

Good luck to everyone this week

Hello all back-at-work mums, I love reading this thread as it makes me feel like I'm not the only one just a little bit scared of going back to work! I start next Monday, full time, and my main worry is that my DD (24 weeks) only will have breast feeds or puree, she hates bottles. But the nursery seems to think this will be OK!
Good luck to all those starting this week, hope the days fly by and then it's the weekend again..!

I've just been out and bought a new project book, new big notebook, highlighters, coloured pins and paper clips, post its and pens. Work are too tight to order nice stuff and I wanted to have nice colourful things. Also bought a nice little photo frame for my photo of DD

Taking DD into the nursery for a settling in day tomorrow. Am dreading it.

My DD is having her second settling in day tomorrow too. She went to the nursery last week for a morning session, and once I got over the fact that she wasn't around, it was actually really nice to get on with some chores and stuff for a few hours. Hope it goes well for you.

Went in today to discuss flexible working ("You're not going to be picking DD1 up from school...RIGHT?!") and do a tiny bit of work. Miserable miserable, the lot of them. Convinced there's A LIST of people to be sacked in the Credit Crunch, loads of speculation as to who's on it.

Wanted to run away, far away!

Sorry, I realise this doesn't help at all.

I know what you mean. My boss cheerfully announced that the company I work for nearly closed for good and that there would have been redundancies on the team had not two people handed in their notice anyway..

Not the best way to come back to work is it?!

See some things don't change...including the gossip!!!!

Good luck to everyone who is back to work this week!!!!

I'm starting back tomorrow. Have packed DD's little rucksack and put it in DH's car so he doesn't forget. MIL is having her on Mondays so she'll turn up in pjs and get dressed there so she'll leave me tomorrow all snuggly and warm from bed

I've picked out my outfit, de-babied my handbag and chosen the mug I'm taking in. I've made my sandwiches and chosen my satsuma. I think I'm all set.

Good luck anyone else starting this week and hope everyone else is settling in nicely

Started looking for work before Christmas and just landed a 6-month contract! And started immediately (on Tuesday) so no house deep clean or haircut for me. DS1 had flu so DH had to take 2 days off to look after one while the other went to nursery. Woo how times have changed...

Going full time 2nd Feb
DC: DS1 3 years, DS2 18 months.
Hours: 8.45am-5pm
Childcare: full time nursery (already in 2 days while I've been looking for work so nicely settled - just ill!)
Nursery opens at 8 so there'll be a mad dash across town after throwing them through the door

Feeling really fortunate to have found a good job in this climate. And slightly selfish that I'm going to enjoy the intellectual challenge of thinking again! Love my boys more than anything and we have a great time together, just didn't realise how much I'd missed it
And already less cross with DH!

Anyone else feeling excited/scared/sick/bereft? Didn't realise that this would give me such a lift - and feeling quite guilty and confused about the whole thing...

Defo understand the battle between being excited and guilty!!!!!!

I deal with it by being totally at work when I'm there and totally at home when I'm not iyswim mind you ahve so many ideas and things i want to do work is creeping inot home a little have to keep kicking it out lol

Ever regret saying something????!!!!!!

Had a very up and down week this week. Hopefully finishing on a high and getting even better next week.

How did everyone get?

Please add kind words of wisdom - I go back Monday after a year off, ds is almost 11 months and has suddenly become very clingy! Has bawled at most of settling in sessions at nursery and I just can't quite believe I'm not going to see him for - gasp - a whole day at a time. Please tell me it will all be ok.... Daddy has him next wk then he starts at nursery two days a week and will go to nana for one day a wk. The rational part of me thinks this is a nice balance but my heart feels like it's about to be ripped out

A little way off for me, but can I join too purlease?

I am starting up freelance work, which is good as I get more flexibility, but also very scary! I've loved my maternity leave, very sad to have to work again!

Going back: 10th March 'officially', but have meetings lined up before that
DC: 15 month old DS
Childcare: CM looking after DS two days a week (my mum can look after another day if needed, otherwise, I will be working some evenings/weekends if busy)

Things to do: see accountant, get public liability insurance, write terms and conditions and invoice pro-forma, buy laptop/dictaphone/clothes, make sure I have work in ... agh!!

Mostly nervous about leaving PFB, as haven't left him more than a couple of hours before ... the thought brings tears to my eyes, yes I know I am being a wuss. I hope the reality is easier than the thought

Hi realy glad to read the messages here hope it will help.

Going back 3rd Feb
Full time
Childcare -DS with sister literally across the road from office.
Really I am very lucky my contract with last job ended when I went on maternity leave, so I had to jobhunt. I only started looking after christmas so it all has happened so quickly think Im still in shock. I do realise how lucky I am to even get a job in current climate and DH very supportive but I am starting to panic about leaving DS five days a week. He is 11 months and loves his auntie, plus has gran across the road but I am guilty jealous etc etc its all about me!! Took the full time work because I thought if I sacrifice now then at least I might have chance at part time hours in the future starting with a nhs trust so hoping they are proactive in that department
glad for any words of support

Hi everyone, really glad to have found this thread as I go back Tuesday.

Part Time to start off with at 3 days p/w- hoping to make this permanent.

DC- 3, DS 6, DS 4 and DD 10 months.

Childcare- DS and DD in lovely nursery that all my DCs have been too, and DD has our babysitter as her keyworker. I could not be happier with it but... I don't want to leave her even tho' she has settled in fine. I've been there before with my DSs and I know it will be fine after a few days but the thought of it still makes me feel sick. I can't get rational about it at all .

Have cleaner (check), haircut (check) and new suit (check). Have not tried to get into old clothes as fear it could be too depressing! Need wine, chocolate and piccies of them all for my desk .