Going back to work full time - support thread

[gingerbreadlatte]

Hello

I am going back to work full time in 4wks. My work is very demanding and involves a 1.5hr commute each way so its going to be tough.

Anyone else doing the same?

yup - back to work fill time in March. DS will be 9 months. He's my first baby and i'm a single mummy so the guilt's really setting in!

full time

Hi Brandonsmummy

My dd will be 9months too. They seem so little!

Do you have got some nice plans for the next few months?

Yes some nice things planned - staying at my parents for a week or so over xmas and also have 5 days at center parcs booked in Feb just before I go back to work!

Also DS and I will be moving to our new flat in Jan which might be a bit stresssful but on the whole I'm really looking forward to being there!

GBL what childcare arrangements have you opted for?

Are people jumping straight back into full time or "easing" themselves back in? I was thinking I might ask to just work 2/3 days in my first week, then just go for it!

Shiregirl - try not too worry - things will all fall into place! Have you started to look at any childcare options yet? Does your husband work?

i'm in! going back fulltime, stressful job, January. Little ds will be 16 months though so am lucky there. But feel a bit isolated as all my friends with children similar age are SAHM or p/t - I am the only ft I know! And they can be a bit judgy or maybe I am oversensitive as am scared s£itless...

Hello

Welcome Shire and Mud!

Brandonsmummy- sounds like good stuff to look forward too, and a new flat I am using a nursery which DD has been at 1 day a week for a few weeks already to get used to it. She is fine there and Im happier now she is settled.

Shire- definately recommend looking into childcare (not necessarily to sign up) in case you have waiting lists in your area, some popular nurseries do have lists. Also, once its sorted at least you can relax.

Mud- I know what you mean, most of my friends are going back parttime and I feel like weirdo for going back full time, I definately am sensitive but also get what feel like judgey comments from people. Generally when i say full time, whoever Im talking to sucks in their breath and shakes their head. Really doesnt help me very much.
What kind of work do you do?

Ha ha yes the face of shock so much like the emoticon! And 'how do you think you/your ds will cope?' Or 'cant you do pt?' to which I get to talk about priviledge etc which turns around the perception slightly, at least I think so? I work for the council, have changed locations as well so will be getting used to new manager/politics etc. Your commute will be hard, are you on the train at least so you can sleep, read, switch off? And what have you decided or thinking about for childcare? That whole process is difficult enough...

I am starting full time in december and starting to get nervous ~ demanding job long hours and 3 dcs one of whom is ill today and so I had to leave early which is simply not an option when I am payrolled as of next week.

Good luck guys. I was in your position this time last year - went back in Jan. Seems like yesterday. It does all fall into place eventually...sort of

Well well. My job called today, just checking in, it was raining and crappy out, and after doing all the 'creative' and 'fun' indoor activity with my 15 month old, plus having stressed about £££ I said I was looking forward to going back...and meant it! Hope I'm not awful

Hi, I'm due to go back in Feb ft when DD will be 10 months. I have asked to only work 3 days a week for the month of Feb though, using up my accrued holiday days whilst on mat leave. Hopefully this will ease me in gently.

Am dreading it though to be honest, as I'm a single mum and have no fammily or support locally - so if DD is ill at all, I am going to have to keep taking time off :-(.

Hi; yes back for the 2nd time in Jan and DD2 will be 4.5 months (not much but more than I got for DD1). Once upon a time being the main earner seemed cool....

Actually, have to say I am starting to look forward to the odd day at work...just not so much FT!

Good luck all; as RockBird said it all fell into place last time; hopefully we can all get back there.

I am going back tomorrow. 3 months ago I was looking forward to it, but now the time has come, I'm really sad about leaving my DS (even though DH will work from home on the days I work - not FT). Probably have a cry on the train in the morning .

Hi guys, I went back three months ago when DD1 was eight months. I was dreading it but it has been OK. I did two months of three days a week and then went to five. I almost wish I had gone full time straight away, because now I know that, actually, three days is really nice. But it helped a lot with the transition ...

The main thing, we found a childminder who has turned out to be brilliant, and it is so nice to see DD1 thrive with her. And my boss has been fabulously supportive. And it's great to see DH get more involved than it was possible for him to be when I was on maternity leave...

The first few days were HARD, but I settled in pretty quickly.

Hope it works out well for everyone XX

I went back to work full time 2 months ago, my daughter was 9 months old then. In the mornings it's a 20 minutes drive to nursery, than 45 minutes to work and in the evening it takes about 10 minutes longer than that.

My daughter loves nursery. She started stretching her hands out for her key person in the mornings when I drop her off, and comes crawling to me with a big grin in the evenings.

I'm a happier person since I went back to work, as no matter how much I love my child, just being a mother isn't enough for me and after 9 months at home (she was born 3 days after stopping work) I really craved the adult company and using my brain again.
I don't feel like I'm missing out, as my daughter usually doesn't go to bed before 9, so we've got plenty of quality time to spend in the evenings and at the weekends.