Going back to work

Girl I am having separation anxiety so I’m staying home with my daughter till she is 15 months and I’m dreading when I have to take her to daycare . I will be working at the daycare she goes to so thank god cause I will be hanging out with her on my lunch breaks. So glad I have till November. I’m going to bawl my eyes out when I drop her off

Thankfully my mom is retiring to keep her. So I'm sure if I need her she'll be able to bring her by, especially if I'm able to work remote. But yes. I am going to have so much separation anxiety. I already do and we haven't even been separated yet.

It’s def going to be the hardest thing I have ever done .. so I feel you on that girl .

Im in the same boat! I’m just glad I’m not the only one that feels this way.

I think so many women feel this way that everyone can relate so when you are trying to have some hope it gets better.... no one has that 🥹

I went back to work after 8 weeks, and baby girl goes to daycare 5 days a week. She loves it and does phenomenal.
I do get sad during the day, but I usually pick her up so that helps. She always has a huge smile when I get her, and the staff say she loves everybody and is doing great. She is an extrovert, takes after dad, so daycare has been a great thing for her, and it gives me my time to look forward to seeing her.
Minus the fact 90% of my paycheck goes to daycare/baby food and the like 😜

That's so good! I'm glad she loves it, I bet that puts your mind at ease. And exactly! I feel like I'm going to be working just to pay for childcare 😭

My son has been in daycare since he was 4 months old but I think he enjoys it. He’s always been happy. I’ve been telling him he’s “going to school” and I think that helps me. He’s learning how to socialize and interact with others. And I think he likes playing with different toys. I do miss him but it makes our time together in the evenings more special.

Its going to be hard :/ the first two weeks I used to cry randomly throughout the day but it gets easier. I went back after 6 months. She goes to a home daycare and she’s always happy when I pick her up. Im a teacher so I pick her up early like 3:30 and just make sure I spend the rest of the day with her and honestly because I miss her so much throughout the day we both cherish the afternoon nd evening so much more! She also gets to experience different people, toys, and environment as opposed to being home with me all day. Id say she’s become more social and interactive since starting daycare. i dont LOVEEE working but the extra income is nice and talking to other adults occasionally lol

I feel like a teacher's schedule is pretty nice with early pickup and holidays 🫶🏼 I just hate our evenings will be cut so short too.

I was still in the military when my first was born Jan 2022. She started daycare at 3 months. We started her a week before I had to go back to work just so she got used to the people there and did short hours there. I also needed to work on my separation anxiety too. Over all I didn't like the year left I had in the military due to the long hours I had to leave her in daycare. Dropped her off at 0530 and didn't pick her up till 1700/1730 (12 hr days!! 5x a week) it sucked!! So now with my second born and thinking of going back to school it helps for me to put it in perspective that I don't have to do 12 hour days when I start back to school. Can you do like a trial period of just doing an hour or so? Try to get something done for yourself that you'll enjoy?

I may be an outlier but I found that I was a better mom when I returned to work (I went back after 6 years weeks). I miss my daughter but I was getting so depressed staying at home and that went away when I started working again.

I’m working full time and in school at night.

I work a hybrid schedule which helps A TON. and I am in a career I am pretty passionate about (although not as much as I once was)

I work 2 days at home - my MIL or husband are usually around so I can get stuff done and also while he naps. But I still get to cuddle him during my lunch / nurse if I want to. My works semi flexible so as long as I hit 40 hours it’s not the end of the world.

I try to maximize my time with my son on the weekends; mornings I always nurse; and nights i try to put my phone up from when I get home until his bedtime.

I do think I feel “refreshed” as a mom when I get home from work and even if it’s a bad day he always makes me smile. I miss him like crazy but it’s also a “break”. I will say my MIL or husband (he works a very flexible schedule) are the ones with him while I’m working so I don’t have the stresss or worry of daycare!

Oh no the 12 hour days would be awful! I do think a trial period will be good. I'll probably do something like that so I can take baby steps into the transition. Honestly more for myself than her. I think she'll probably do better than me. I think I just knew I would have a little SAHM experience that would have to end so I have been dreading that end for a while now. But it's so close now. Change has always been difficult for me. I just hope it's something I can get used to and not be miserable every day. I expect I will be miserable initially. I just want to know it will get easier.

also found this for myself!!

I have moments I want to be a SAHM but I think I’d lose my mind. I enjoy using my mind in a differnt way

your job sounds awesome lol. I worked for social services for seven years before my baby. I thought I'd be fine without it but I do miss my work. I'm hoping to get a remote position within social services so I can be around if needed. My husband works remote as well. My mom plans to retire to keep my girl once I start back. I would be a wreck if I had to worry about daycare. 😅

We work different schedules so one of us is always in our home with our son. We have 3 cameras in the house. I’m ALWAYS looking at them to make sure my baby is ok. I will even text my man if I can’t find them on one of the cameras asking where they are lol and I’ve been back at work since he was 6 months

I dont struggle daily... yes, there are times when you would want to soend more time with them but in general... working makes me a better and waaaay more patient mom. I vakue more the time with her and it is high quality time.
Daycare has bee great.. it was a NIGHTMARE at the beginning when she would get sick all the freaking time.. but after that period she has just thrived and thrived and thrived..
She is super social with other kids at daycare even though studies say social is not important for babies under one... pfff based on experience I can tell you otherwise.
We do a lot of quality outings on the weekends too..
And of course my job allows us to give her better opportunities, a good 529, lessons, trips, etc...

Ugh same. My anxiety is eating me up. Trying to look for a remote job so at least I’m able to be around n see her. I’m going though a lot and she’s the only thing that keeps me sane. Sometimes I do want to get out the house and have some adult interactions but seeing her smile and happy keeps me going I’m afraid I’ll spiral even more if I’m not doing what I love the most (being a mom)