From Amy N Jake ~ I go back to work in six days. I am really not looking forward to it at all, to say the least! The only good thing is that Jake will be staying with a close older friend. She is like family to me, so I trust her with my baby but still I just hate the thought of leaving him all day, all week long! Does anyone have any tips to help me through the back to work blues?
From jessie ~
- Have everything packed and ready to go the night before so you can get as much sleep as possible.
- Call your babysitter as often as you need to to placate yourself.
- Remember that a young baby like yours does not have stranger/separation anxiety yet so don't be upset if he does not get upset when you leave him.
- Take plenty of pictures to look at during the day!
From meedalicious ~ Can you work part time for a week or a few days to help ease the transition? I only worked 25 hours last week and full time this week. It made it easier for us.
From amym ~ f you can, try to leave him with her for a few times before the big day. Also, could you take him to work to show him off? Sometimes a little shop talk will help you get excited about returning - especially if you like who you work with and what you do.
From Ktyyyyyyy ~ No matter what, the first day (and even the days after that) will be so hard. The most important thing though is to feel really good about the person who will be watching your son. It sounds like you do. This is my fourth week back, and it is still really hard. Some of the things I have done are to change my hours so that I come in half an hour earlier and leave half an hour earlier. This gives me a little bit more time with her in the evening before she goes to bed. I also have pictures of her all over my desk - sometimes this makes me miss her more, but I least I can look at her pretty face all day long. I'm not sure if you are breast feeding or not. I am, and I pump three times a day at work. Although this is kind of a drag, at least I feel like I am doing something for her while I can't be with her. I also put a disposable camera in the bag that I send with her to daycare, and have asked the daycare provider to take pictures of her whenever she has a chance. This way I feel like I won't miss out on quite as much. It will definitely be harder on you than on your son. My daughter was a little bit more clingly the first weekend, and after that, she has been fine. Good luck. Everything will be okay.
From ChristieS ~ I took Mason to work with me for the first two days. It made me realize that I can't get anything accomplished while having him there. His first day of daycare I was sad, but I have had the same daycare mom for the past three years and I know she takes good care of them. I called her three times the first day and eventually stopped; they have to have their time too. I have pictures of my kids all over my office, and before I go to pump, I look at Mason's picture. (It is supposed to stimulate let down) It's not going to be easy so good luck!
From SonjaG ~ I did the part-time thing for the first couple of weeks and it really helped me transition. I'm also using a close friend as a nanny. Toby is her only charge, so she's able to bring him by the office once a week during lunch for a mommy and son date. He's been here so often the HR manager says she needs to get him an employee number, and people ask when he's coming by next. I love the lunch dates - it gives me something to look forward to during the week.
From Michelle_tsb ~ Okay, take a deep breath! Gosh I remember right before I came back to work! Okay let's see: My grandma keeps my son all day which is a HUGE +. Having close friends or family watching him seems to help me a lot! What I've done is I have an entire wall (not kidding) in my office that is COVERED with pictures of Kendal! I have all kinds of pictures of him all around my office. Usually I'll look up and know that it's his nap time and I'll find a picture of him sleeping and look at it. That helps me get through the day! I also call ALL THE TIME! Even if it is just to say hi or hear him in the background! That also helps me get through the day!
Just remember when you're sad, it's okay to be upset; there is nothing wrong with it. When I first came back, I was very upset and I had people tell me that they didn't know why I was crying because he was staying with family..... But I know that it was okay. I just miss my little guy. It's hard the first two weeks. I will say for me, those were the hardest two weeks! I came back to work when Kendal was almost 3 months. He's now 5 months and I'm happy to say that every time I pick him up from my grandma's (after I RACE TO HER HOUSE LIKE A SPEED DEMON!) he greets me with the BIGGEST smile! And he's attached to me for the rest of the day until he goes to sleep. If the housework doesn't get done, DH or I could care less! We spend time with Kendal first, everything else comes second! SO if during the first week you are trying to be SUPERMOM (much like we all do), just relax, enjoy your little one and let everything go! It will get done eventually and if it doesn't it's not that big of a deal. I had to learn that because I would spend all afternoon with my son and then be up unitl midnight cleaning! I no longer do that!! I just enjoy my little one and let all the tedious stuff go!
From Pookie Lynn ~ It was the hardest thing I've ever done to leave my six week old little guy. My aunt sits for me; she has a five year old. My boy was two in June and now he just flies in her front door and says, "Bye mom, go to work." The best advice is to find someone you trust who will do things with your child that you approve of. It will be ok. It is harder on you than your child. Still, I'm due with #2 in January and will go back to work again. I know it won't be easier a second time.
