Returning to your career…

I’m not in the exact same boat as you but I’m about to move back into a management job at a new work place, whilst 17 weeks pregnant. I’m already thinking about what things will be like when I go back. I’ve been wanting to go back into management for so long now, and now I finally have the opportunity but my priorities in life have changed.

In my honest opinion, if you are looking at new jobs daily, you are ready to make the jump and just need to commit. You’ve already subconsciously decided, now it’s just overcoming the hurdle. It’ll be a big change, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll make it work and it’ll be the best thing you’ll do for yourself and your family! 😊 just take it one step at a time. Even if that’s just having a few interviews and testing the water.

I went back to work when my daughter was 16 weeks.. it was hard to juggle everything while also working 55 hours a week. A couple of things I found a massive help and I also know it’s a massive luxury but was a cleaner!! Doing a weekly food shop online and having it delivered between 6-7am before me and my partner both leave for work at 7 so it’s only less job to do in the evening when I have 0 energy. Getting my baby in town strict routine and sticking to it on weekends so we can all have chill time at nap time and having a decent night time sleep too..
it is bloody hard but you’ve got this

Do you know I was talking about a cleaner to my husband this evening!! I honestly think that would help so much as I really struggle if the house is messy 🤦‍♀️ and the online food shop is such a good idea!! Thank you!!!

With a child the house will never be a show room but to help with the basics of changing bedding, cleaning the bathroom, moping / hoovering etc. honestly I highly recommend it

Oh wow, I could have written this post. I’m in a management role and main problem is that if any of my team phone in sick I have to either find cover or do it myself if needs be. It runs 24/7, 365. I’m also a single mum so no idea how I’ll work outside of nursery hours. It’s practically impossible. I could go down a level, get secured hours, but it would be a 13k pay cut. I’m currently burying my head in the sand until the time comes.

I feel you!! ❤️ When someone is sick it falls on me and it’s causing me so much stress 🤦‍♀️ I feel like I’m on call 24/7! My days with my daughter often get taken up with some kind of work thing! Every job I look at is such a huge pay cut I just don’t know what to do!! I keep telling myself it will get better but in all honesty will it?!

I’ve now just realized this post is March 2022 (thought it was my 2023 group) so I’ve still got a wee while before going back to work. But yeah it’s so hard because people say “why not put in flexi working?” Or “if overtime comes up, just say no”. I’m like - say no to who?? It’s legit my responsibility to keep the service running, it doesn’t work like that 🤦‍♀️

I was in a similar position where I questioned my ability to do it all once I returned to work part time. I looked at other jobs that would fit around my husband's, thought about giving up work altogether but deep down I knew I'd be absolutely gutted to give it all up and why should I when I'd worked so hard to get to where I was? Im a year on now from my return to work and it has got easier over time. I don't do as many hours as you but I do 11 hours a day (including commuting) over three days and the amount I had to cram in was overwhelming at first.

Honestly I quit my management role when my maternity leave ended because of the reasons you’ve said.

I was already being guilted because I wouldn’t automatically cover sickness etc when I was pregnant (but I had put my foot down and made them stick to my risk assessment), it was sort of well if you don’t do it you HAVE to find someone else no conversation about it 🙄

Obviously I’ve ended up in a very fortunate position being able to quit but it does upset me that I worked so hard all those years to get where I was just to quit.

It sounds like you need a better work/life balance honestly. You could maybe keep job hunting on the sidelines, maybe speak to recruiters on LinkedIn?