Mums that returned to work - how is it going for you?

Question

I was made redundant in June 2020 due to the pandemic, I didn't think that could happen in the UK whilst on maternity leave but hey ho it happened.
I was head hunted by another firm, and although I wasn't ready to return back to work, I accepted a part-time role (4 days a week) and started working from home in Nov when my youngest was 8 months old as me and my husband were worrying about money or how easy it would be to find work in March 2021 when she was 1 year old. 
I also have a 2.5 year old son, they're both with my sister in law 3 days a week and nursery 1 day a week and we take pick ups and drop offs in turn as my SIL does not drive. 
I'm just finding it so hard juggling being a mum/wife and looking after a house and making sure everyone has everything they need and they're happy whilst working a 4 day week! My job is demanding and it's hard to take time off...most evenings I work late when the kids have gone to bed so I'm more or less full time. It was hard to get them to take me on part time and my boss is always asking me if I'd consider being full time but I want to spend more time with the kids before they start school. 
We can't survive on my husband's salary alone, well we could but we wouldn't be able to treat ourselves or do any work to the house and it would put him under a lot of pressure. I just don't think a well paid part-time job that I actually enjoy is out there and would rather watch my kids grow up!
How are you guys finding it? Did you return full time or part-time? Does it get easier?! What are work week your routines like? ☺️

Answer

I'm having a really hard time. I see my LO for 45 minutes a day because once I'm home, she's usually already asleep in bed. So we only get the morning, and it's hectic because there's so much to do like getting dressed, make breakfast, walk the dog etc. 
I hate it. I also find the days that I get to spend the whole day with her, I lose patience easily because I'm trying to be there for her but then I have house work, dinner, being a wife and inevitably, I get some sort of work call. 
Yeah, I'm struggling. I feel guilty, and sad and stressed and upset.

Answer

Every ma is different and you should do whatever makes you happy and comfortable!
I’m full time and my 13 month old is in daycare full time. I have a positive spin on it, Theo gets to socialize and meet people and play constantly and I can have my own path and identity outside of my children and then we all come back together weekday evenings and weekends. For me it’s a balance I found to be rewarding. But for the working mom there’s always going to be some level of guilt there I think unfortunately.

Answer

I went back to teaching full time full day full class in Sept 2020. My one and only baby was about 5 months old. Not going to lie, I cried. I cried or got a little weepy or choked up every single day of the school year because I just wanted to be home with her. It’s summer break now and it is so nice to have some time stretched before us to just be together and grow. I’m still trying to leave her with grandparents and sitters a few times a week for a few hours and that’s not so bad. 
It helped that I pumped at work because I’d have that little time to myself to veg out and look at her pictures or plan our weekend etc.

Answer

Im working from home fulltime and my son is 13 months and hes going to dayhome 3 days a week. The days hes home just drain me as i watch him well i work. He loves dayhome and im hoping to switch him to full time in a few months

Mums that returned to work - how is it going for you?

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