Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

[dairycow]

Hi I'm due to be going back to work in four weeks time, and am getting the hebbiejibbies about it.
I will be going back 35.5 hrs pw, (8.30am-6pm, four days pw). I will dropping dd off at nursery at 7.30am, and my husband will collect her at 6pm. I am hoping to make it home about 7pm, (but am quite worried about work over-running like it always did, and consequently completely missing bedtime.) My baby will be 8.5 mths old when I (reluctantly) go back to work.
I can't reduce my hours any more than I have already, because I won't be able to do my job. We can't really afford for me to give up work either.
Has anybody survived a similsr working pattern, and was your baby scarred for life? Please help!

I worked full time - I still do - since DS was 8 months old. No scarring going on here. You can do it if you are super vaguely organised about stuff, such as decide on clothes for you and baby night before, pack change bag for the next day night before, use internet shopping.

Mine seem ok so far . I am less ok - I won't pretend it isn't tough, but I think if you're happy with the child care that makes a big difference. I do all my shopping online and everything apart from food is delivered to the office - my colleagues think I have a huge shopping problem but in truth I almost never go to a shop because I don't have time. We have Google Calendar where everything must be entered or it doesn't happen.

I do my very best to be home by bedtime - it doesn't always work but I try.

Good luck - if you enjoy your job, that helps.

You will find you are much more disciplined about "having" to leave than you used to be. I regularly worked late because I "had to" before, but it would have to be proper life and death to make me miss bedtime.