The reason I went back to work was ...
I enjoy my job and didn't want to "give up" this part of my life--I think I am a happier person as a working mom. I think I'd be unhappy staying at home. It's also better for my family financially if I work.
For me, the transition back to work was ...
Much easier than I expected. I am actually pretty happy to be back at work. While I loved being with my son 24/7 during maternity leave, I was also kind of exhausted by the long days of baby care and just kind of bored sometimes. Returning to work has given us a really nice routine and I've found that I enjoy and appreciate the time I spend with him even more than before. While the days are still long, they are exhausting in a different way. Work provides a nice "break" for me--it's kind of relaxing to being just focusing on work rather than trying to get things dones while caring for a baby. I am also very lucky because I really like my job and coworkers.
Lessons Learned
- I found it helpful to "practice" everything before I actually came back. I gradually started pumping and bottle feeding more to get both my son and I used to the idea. Beginning about a week before the day I retured to work, I started taking him to daycare for a couple hours each day--I think it helped us both (mostly me) to feel comfortable with his teacher and day care.
- We choose a childcare center that's across the street from where I work. While there are some disadvantages--it's inconvenient for my husband, so I do most of the drop-off/pick-ups--the proximity gives me such peace of mind.
When I went back to work, my oldest child was age ...
3 months
The hardest thing about going back to work was ...
My son got an ear infection during the first month--I felt terrible knowing that he was hurting and I wasn't there!
The most rewarding thing about going back was ...
I love having a routine. I also love seeing my son smile when I drop him off (he loves his teacher) and pick him up (he loves his mama:))
If I could go back and do one thing differently ...
I can't think of anything. I feel very satisfied with the way things went!
