Getting ready to return to work after maternity leave

Getting ready to return to work after maternity leave

This month is my last full month of maternity leave, where has the past year gone?

I’m starting to feel really anxious as the date draws nearer.  Anxious mainly because to this point I have never left Oliver for an extended period of time.  I have left him for a few hours in the evening, knowing he was either already asleep or would be going to sleep, but never in the day.  (Since writing this for Meet Other Mums I have now spent an afternoon away from Oliver!)

It’s going to be strange, going back to work, spending a whole day away from him.  Probably not seeing him at all.

We are very lucky that in my job I am able to return part time, just two days a week, and these are set days.  This means we knew which days we would need childcare for Oliver.  My mum very kindly volunteered to change her hours at work to help us out with our childcare.  So she’s able to look after Oliver one day a week, she’s so looking forward to spending that day with him.  This left us with one other day needing childcare.  I spent many evenings trawling through childcare sites and various different local nurseries websites.  We decided that we would prefer to send Oliver to a childminder over a nursery, feeling that he would thrive in a home from home environment.

The search for a childminder

One day I received a message from a local childminder asking whether she could help me in my search, as she had seen my profile on a childcare site.  I told her what I was looking for and she said that she had availability coming up in the new year.  She told me I was welcome to come and have a look around her home.

When I took Oliver to have a visit I knew instantly that it was the place for him.  He happily crawled off and started playing with the other children, barely paying attention to the fact I was still there.  He was so at ease with her and I just had the feeling he would enjoy himself there.  The  daily activities include the children spending time caring for animals and she works as part of a forest school.  This means there will be lots of opportunities for Oliver to spend outside, which is his favourite thing to do!

I’m glad that my childcare search was so easy as it was my biggest worry.  Now I just need to prepare myself for the two long days without my baby.  It will be strange at first but I’m sure I will soon get used to it.  Hopefully I will enjoy going back to work and treasure our time together even more.

 

 

This post first appeared on Meet Other Mums where I am a regular blogger, please go and check it out as there are some brilliant other blogs there!

 

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5 Comments

  1. February 12, 2017 / 3:53 pm

    I didn’t go back to work after having my children so never had to endure this anxious time. I can’t imagine how hard it is trying to find the right childcare and going from the intensity of you and baby to not. It’s a big step. Well done for taking it #fortheloveofblog

  2. February 12, 2017 / 7:57 pm

    Good luck with your return to work. It’s tough to begin with but once you get into a routine it’s not so bad! #fortheloveofBLOG

  3. February 14, 2017 / 10:15 am

    I’m so pleased you’ve found somewhere that you are comfortable leaving him, that must be such a relief for you and hopefully make it a bit easier when it comes to leaving him. Good luck with it and I am sure it won’t be as bad as you think. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove

  4. February 14, 2017 / 9:54 pm

    Good luck with your return to work – it’s such a hard time but I think once you are in it then it won’t feel so bad! Thanks for joining us #fortheloveofBLOG

  5. February 15, 2017 / 10:43 am

    Finding the right childcare environment that you’re happy with is such a huge thing, I’m so pleased you’re so happy with yours. Although I was also quite set on a childminder there was zero availability in our area but the nursery I chose I knew straight away when I walked through the door it was the one. It really does make going back to work so much easier. I do two days as well, and I love it, it’s a great balance. Best of luck with it all – it’s never as bad as you think it’s going to be! Thanks for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove

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