I’ll start by saying that it’s OK..
It’s OK that you are returning to work.
It’s OK to secretly look forward to having some adult company.
It’s OK to feel 101 feelings at once.
It’s OK to sometimes doubt your decision to return to work.
It’s OK to be a total emotional wreck one minute and be fine in the next.. It’s normal.. Trust the process.
I’ve been through the process of returning to work twice now and even though I can’t say that the second time was any easier than the first, there are a few steps that I took to prepare myself and my family before and during the transition back to work.
I hope that you find them useful…
Here are my top tips for a smooth transition back to work:
1. As soon as you give notice to return to work, make a list of the top 4 things that you want to do with your little one before your maternity leave ends. For instance, for me, it was to take my daughter to an aquarium, make oobleck for her to explore, take her swimming and to go to a mum and baby cinema viewing.
2. Now pencil these events into your diary. I found that in doing so, it helped me to focus on the positives to come, instead of dwelling on the worries that were building up. Also, by writing them down, you end up creating a record of all the lovely moments and experiences that you had together, so you can look back at them when you’re having a wobbly day at work. I’m sure your colleagues won’t mind you boring them with another story about your little! Haha!
3. Make a photobook for your little one to take into nursery or to their childcare provider. I did this for both my girls so that they could look at their book of familiar faces to support their settling. Their photobooks were simple A5 booklets with photos of their immediate family. Tip: Get a spare copy printed for you to keep in a safe place as it’s likely that their copy will be very well-loved!
4. Ask for photos of your child’s new carers. Some settings will provide you with a transition booklet with photos of the staff and the nursery so that you can share it with your child and talk about the pictures. This is a great way to help your child to familiarise themselves with their new nursery/childminder.
5. Finally, if you live close by to your little one’s new childcare provider, consider taking walks via the route you will be taking. As you walk by, talk to your child about where they will be going, show them the building so that they become familiar with it. Children are very good at remembering places!
If you found this article useful, please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you 🙂
