Parenting
By Jamie Collins
Returning to work after maternity leave can feel daunting. I remember dreading the day my little one would start daycare ever since I brought him home from the hospital. I knew it was inevitable, but I chose to ignore it until the last minute. We had meticulously toured daycare centers when I was six months pregnant, weighing the pros and cons before making a choice. Once that decision was made, I tried to forget about it. During my maternity leave, any mention of going back to work or who would care for my baby prompted me to swiftly change the subject. I was deep in denial, grappling with the first stage of grief—the loss of time with my baby.
The night before my return, my mom friends emerged with encouragement, flooding my phone with messages like, “You’ve got this, mama!” and “It’ll get easier!” While I appreciated their support, I was too angry to believe it. I was in the second stage of grief—anger—frustrated about losing precious moments with my son. If only someone had told me these eight things about that first day back.
- You’ll be leaving your baby with someone new. Sure, we met the daycare directors during our tour, but I was meeting the actual infant teachers for the first time that day. “Hi, here’s my 13-week-old baby. Bye!” I’ve spent hours preparing family sitters, but here I was, handing off my little one to a stranger after a five-minute chat. Who does that?
- Tears will flow. I’m not typically a crier. I handle weddings and stressful days like a champ, but once you step out the door and realize you’re no longer carrying that heavy infant seat, the tears will come. We’re talking a full-on scene reminiscent of “My Girl” when Macaulay Culkin meets a tragic end. Seriously, it’s going to be messy. Be ready for it.
- Treat yourself. You just went through an emotional rollercoaster. Before facing your coworkers, take a moment to grab a coffee or your favorite beverage. When was the last time you savored a hot drink by yourself? It won’t fix everything, but it might give you the boost you need.
- You’ll be a rockstar at the office. Planning to slip back in unnoticed? Think again! You’ll be swarmed with colleagues wanting to welcome you back, ask about your baby’s care, and share their own daycare stories. Get your response ready for the inevitable questions about how it felt to drop your child off for the first time.
- Someone will ask if you’re back. Expect a cheerful, “Hey! Are you back at work?” as if you just popped in for a casual visit. Sorry, but yes, I’m back—why wouldn’t I be?
- Bring a charger. You’ll find yourself checking your phone every few minutes for updates from daycare. Plus, you’ll want to scroll through the 3,500 photos of your little one on your phone. (Blame Apple for that amazing camera!) If your daycare has a social media page, you’ll be glued to your screen even more.
- You might snap at your partner. Even the most supportive spouse can be a target for your pent-up emotions. My husband was great—he reassured me and checked in throughout the day. But when I found a pair of his shoes on the floor, I lost it. All that bottled-up stress has to come out somewhere!
- Everything changes when you see your baby. The moment I walked into the daycare and saw my son’s adorable face light up with a smile, all the stress from the day melted away. That moment is priceless, reminding you that you can do this.
As you prepare to navigate this new chapter, remember: you’ve got this, mama!
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Summary:
Returning to work after maternity leave can be challenging. Expect to leave your baby with someone new, shed tears, and crave a comforting treat. You’ll be the center of attention at the office and might find yourself checking your phone constantly. Emotions may run high, but seeing your child at the end of the day makes it all worthwhile.