if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

Did it last once you got back to work? Or did you miss your dc a lot and wish you were home?
I sorta cant wait to get back to work in one way but in others I don't wanna leave them. I wonder if my desire will remain once I'm actually back or am I nuts lol. Tia

if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

Feel the same way. Go back in 2 weeks, I'm so sad abou leaving her but on the other hand I have serious cabin fever and need to get out and get dressed for a change

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

It's nice to be back at work. DD is in daycare, I work nights so after my shift I can run an errand or two, sleep and pick her up. It's been nice to have a little "me" time also. Even the half hour drive to work I'm ALONE! I still love my daughter and miss her like crazy while at work but being at work has allowed me some balance.

if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I wanted to go back so bad. DS cried 24 /7 and I needed time away. It wasn't til he got older and then I really started to miss him during the day. I'm lucky because my daycare sends pics and my ILs do too. Now he talks to us when we call.

You will have days where you won't want to go to work and days you will want to run out the door to get away!!

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

Been thinking about the same question. Going back in 2
Weeks... I get very sad when I think about all the fun things ill miss during the day

if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I love my job and was looking forward to going back, getting out of the house and the adult interaction. I've been back for a month now and I'm still very happy to be back. I do miss my DS but I know being a FTWM is what is best for me.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I have days where I can't wait to go to work and days I just want to stay home and play with them all day. Days where I leave work the second I Am allowed and days ill run errands before I pick them up. The first day I we t ba I was really easy the second day was really hard.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I was really excited to go back. About a month in, I had a little regress. It lasted very briefly. Some days I wish I could be home but I've never wished to be home full time. I love the little bear so much but working is good for me, I enjoy it, (we need me to work too), and it helps ME be a better mama.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I envy all of you, because I'm absolutely dreading going back to work. I still have 5 weeks left, but I'm already getting sad that leave will be ending. Hopefully my feelings change as I get closer to the date, but right now I wish I could leave and be a SAHM. Unfortunately, DH already vetoed that idea.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

With my first I did not want to go back, it was hard in the beginning but got easier.

I just came back to work this week with my 2nd. I was looking forward to coming back. I'm enjoying getting out of the house, but I'm really tired. DD1 was a much better sleeper so it was an easier adjustment last time.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I was both ways. Looking forward and dreading it at the same time. I needed adult time. I remember trying on lipstick before going back and asking my 10 week old twins how it looked on mommy. I was like ok I'm losing my mind.

It was nice to put on nice clothes and fix my hair. I liked that I could actually sit down and have lunch every day. The beginning was tough. Getting us all into a groove. I missed them so much. Cried a lot. But now their little faces light up when I pick them up. And I really feel like I enjoy them instead of picking up toys, doing laundry (which still is done on weekends but week nights are our time). GL!

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

It lasted! I loved it.
Of course I missed her but it was just such a great balance.
I had my adult time, my career time, I had lunches out, I had adult conversations, I had time to shop on my lunch break, meet friends, etc
I had PEACE AND QUIET at my desk.

I was never cut out to be a SAHM- so it really works for me!
The only thing was- she didn't STTN until after 6 months old- and I went back when she was 8 weeks- so I was EXHAUSTED a lot.
But even that I got used to.

Message edited 2/8/2013 8:37:44 AM.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I was very happy to go back! I love my job and I now have a very good childcare situation- at the beginning, I didnt and that made it tough but now that that's been worked out- it really is great.

Don't get me wrong, I still hate Mondays or coming back after a vacation is the worst because I have been with DS non-stop... and there are days that are difficult- but I really am glad that I work for the most part

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

It varies. I wanted to go back. I found being home with DD 24/7 overwhelming. She was fussy, and I was going stir-crazy. I needed more of a regular routine.

It is exhausting being a FTWM, but I still like it. There are days where it is hard to leave her, especially when she is on the verge of learning a new skill, and I want to be there to see it.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

My maternity leave was horrible. Yes, I said horrible. DD was colic, I had PPD...we were just a mess. I could not wait to get back to work. But I cried every single day because at the same time I didn't want to leave DD. I don't think DH was ever more confused. I've been back at work for more than a year. Of course I miss her ever single second of every moment I'm away from her. But I enjoy being a FTWM. Being a SAHM isn't for me and I think working helps me to be a better mother. SAHMs have the hardest job in the world IMO.

But then when I'm not working, I can't leave DD unless she's sleeping. I can't explain it.

You're not nuts. And if you are, well, then so am I.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

Posted by NervousNell

It lasted! I loved it.
Of course I missed her but it was just such a great balance.
I had my adult time, my career time, I had lunches out, I had adult conversations, I had time to shop on my lunch break, meet friends, etc
I had PEACE AND QUIET at my desk.

I was never cut out to be a SAHM- so it really works for me!
The only thing was- she didn't STTN until after 6 months old- and I went back when she was 8 weeks- so I was EXHAUSTED a lot.
But even that I got used to.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I had DS 2 months early. So he was still in the NICU when I went back to work, but I was excited to get back. It hit me harder when I went back to work after the summer off (I;m a teacher). When I went back to work in September DS was home and had grown so much and had such a personality then. It was harder to leave him then instead of when I first went back.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I couldn't wait to get back to work. I was terrified of DD when she was 1st born . I couldn't get away from her fast enough
But, now that she's getting older, it's become harder for me. She's up when I leave in the morning and to see her little face looking at me while I put my shoes or my jacket on...It hurts.

if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I've been back about a month now and am still enjoying it. As others said, there are days i wish i didn't have to go to work, but that's mostly a result of not wanting to work (not because i don't want to leave DS)

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

About 2 months in to maternity I was looking forward to going back, then the last 2 weeks of my leave I was sad and counting down the minutes I had to spend with DS.

I love my job (it's insanely busy and no day is the same - I work in PR) and was glad to be back in the swing of things, but it was a tough adjustment more so than being away from DS. He loves the nanny and had no idea I was leaving or for how long. I didn't cry at all when I came back to work b/c I was too busy to think about it, but working and pumping 2X a day made my day even more hectic. I only lasted a few weeks of pumping for that reason.

That said...

The first day I got home too late to see DS before he went to bed was the first time I cried about having to work. Hopefully that doesn't happen too often.

So my rambling post basically means you'll always have mixed feelings, but you are doing what's best for your family.

Re: if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I was having cabin fever so it was good for me to get out. However, my ideal situation would be to work part time so that I can have the best of both worlds.

if you were looking forward to going back to work after your maternity leave

I go back in 3 wks and although I've been looking forward to it since I went on leave, I'm still really sad to have to leave DD. DH has daycare on site at his job so I will have comfort knowing that he is right there, but I know I will be sad if something happens and I can't be there for her (I work in the city, DH in Riverhead). I'm already convinced I can't wear mascara my first week back. I'm sure I will be fine once I get to my office, but I'm sure I'll be a wreck on my commute in!