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Returning to Work After Maternity Leave – Decisions

I’m struggling to compute that it is almost time for me to be thinking about returning to work after maternity leave again. My third time.  My third time having to leave my little baby with someone else and get back to the routine of going back to work. Hubby going back to doing drop offs and picking up my eldest from school.

I’m not really sure how I feel this time around. I’m officially due back on the 1st February but annual leave will kick in and my return will be more like March. I know this will fly around once Christmas has past. In the past I have struggled a lot with returning, a least for the first month or two. It’s so hard getting your head around being back at work. Concentrating solidly for so long. Re-gaining my confidence after being off a year. Getting over the feeling of leaving my baby behind, when I have been with them solidly for the first year of their life.

returning to work after maternity

When I went back after having Little Piglet, the gremlin was also starting out in reception so we had a bit of a double-whammy of change. She struggled a little and so did I. This time will be a little easier I’m hoping.

Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

I’ve buried my head in the sand for a little while as well, as for a lot of my maternity leave, I wasn’t sure I wanted to back at all. I’ve been in turmoil, talked to family and friends and my husband over and over. We’ve talked money, what I would do, would I blog? How would we cope with three children if I went back to work? Homework, pick-ups, drop-offs and time together. It’s not helped as my eldest has really not wanted me to go back and I didn’t think I would be able to reduce my hours any further at work. I’d even avoided spending much time with my work friend, as felt I didn’t know how to talk about it.

It seemed so drastic. Quitting a job after over 10 years, going to University for this job. A career. I knew my heart hadn’t been in it in the same way since having my first baby. I knew I didn’t feel the same drive and I didn’t feel as confident as I used to at all.  I know I’m one of those women who actually likes being a home with the kids but there were niggles about me not going back and getting back “out there”. Of course there is the money side of things but I was more worried about losing my confidence if I didn’t get back into the adult world! A job I do like. But at the same time there was such a strong pull for me to stay at home with my baby boy; my last baby. And then of course came the worries about him staying at home with me until he was three and being a cling-on!! The girls have experienced nursery since being a year old and I do have to believe it helps with their confidence when starting school.

So many thoughts whirling around in my mind. I’d not even thought about keeping in touch days, steered well clear of my professional social media accounts and felt like I’d stepped into a maternity leave hole!

I knew an email was coming from my boss at some point but what I didn’t expect to hear that there may be some potential to reduce my hours a little further from 3 days to 2. I’ve already written about how we were hoping to choose a childminder this time for the little guy and this would really work for a new work schedule. I’d hope to work at the end of the week, with my Mum looking after the little man for a day too.

judge other parents

It’s all still a little up in the air. Nothing has fully be confirmed yet but I do feel like weight has been lifted off my mind, as I have come to some form of decision that may just work out. Less hours at work, more time at home with the kids. Keep my hand in and keep some form of steady income, as well as the blogging. It may be the best of both worlds but for now I’ll wait and see.

I’ll enjoy the last two or three months I have at home with my babies. I’ll enjoy that time before returning to work after maternity leave.

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5 Comments

  1. January 3, 2020 / 10:53 pm

    I’ve never had this dilemma as I’ve been self employed for over 20 years. I can understand how torn you are

  2. January 4, 2020 / 6:48 am

    It’s so tough isn’t it. I was so nervous going back and I’ve been there for a year again now and they have been so great. I work flexible hours with what works for our family and I have a laptop so I can work from home some hours each week. Always worth asking, good luck!

  3. January 4, 2020 / 10:10 am

    It is a hard decision, but if I am honest I loved going back to work part time as it gave me a chance to be me and not just mum

  4. January 4, 2020 / 11:29 am

    It will always be a hard decision, no matter what you do! But, as long as everybody is happy, that is what counts. A balance of 2 or 3 days a week at work sounds perfect.

  5. January 5, 2020 / 7:51 pm

    I hated going back to work, to a new job, after maternity leave. It didn’t last long.