That I have to go back to work on the 5th Jan. I have been off on maternity since April, my little boy Harry was born in May, and the time has come for me to return to work. Unfortunatley I have to go back to work full time, as my work will not let me (have been down the correct routes to apply for flexible working, and they are correct in what they have said) drop any hours unless I drop down to 20 and do a job share which we cant afford for me to do. I am absolutely gutted that I have to leave my lo. I know he is in fantastic care, my mum and husband and two days at nursery which he loves and they are great, so I have no concerns that he will be looked after, but im just so upset that ive got to leave him, and that im going to miss so many things, I just realised im only going to see him a few hours a day, and weekends, and that is going to kill me.
Im also starting to get stressed about how im going to fit everything in, shopping, washing, cleaning etc etc.

Does anyone have any tips as to how to make the transition back to working any easier, or can offer any reassurance that it will be ok.

On the plus side things will be easier financially and we will have more free money to do the things we want to do, altho that is no consolation by any means.

That I have to go back to work on the 5th Jan. I have been off on maternity since April, my little boy Harry was born in May, and the time has come for me to return to work. Unfortunatley I have to go back to work full time, as my work will not let me (have been down the correct routes to apply for flexible working, and they are correct in what they have said) drop any hours unless I drop down to 20 and do a job share which we cant afford for me to do. I am absolutely gutted that I have to leave my lo. I know he is in fantastic care, my mum and husband and two days at nursery which he loves and they are great, so I have no concerns that he will be looked after, but im just so upset that ive got to leave him, and that im going to miss so many things, I just realised im only going to see him a few hours a day, and weekends, and that is going to kill me.
Im also starting to get stressed about how im going to fit everything in, shopping, washing, cleaning etc etc.

Does anyone have any tips as to how to make the transition back to working any easier, or can offer any reassurance that it will be ok.

On the plus side things will be easier financially and we will have more free money to do the things we want to do, altho that is no consolation by any means.

the washing and the cleaning is something you can do inbetween times playing with him. Why not try having your shopping delivered? even in the short term until you have adjusted to everything else.

I am going back to work early, i am not due back till april but will be going back february. Really looking forward to it but at the same time not!

Katie1980, just a lil message to say hope your first day back at work is going ok.

I am back on Wednesday so I know how you feel but I have been lucky enough to get 24 hours. Just a little note to wish all the best for this week! x

Awww... that's always tough. Hope today is going OK for you.

Tough one, I only work 16 hours - 2days and struggle to do all the cleaning etc. I tend to wait until my two who are nearly 3 and 20 months have an afternoon nap, usually 1.30 til 3ish and then I do like a room at a time, so one day the kitchen, another the bathroom, another a pile of ironing etc etc. My husband does a lot of our food shopping so thats that sorted, we also don't tend to do 1 huge shop just grab bits and stuff thats on offer when we nip to the local supermarket, we always keep our freezer stocked up so we have something in.

Good luck x

Ah thanks for the support. Actually wasnt too bad, altho had to contend with the snow and then a flat tyre, but wasnt too bad, Harry had a great day at the nursery and didnt seem to miss me at all, lol.

Have just been ordering shopping online.

I went back to work 5 days a week, mum looked after miniwitch, I thought I would miss all those special moments, but I didn't, I found her first tooth, watched her take her first step and heard her say her first word which was mum mum whilst poking me in the eye :hihi: