Going back to work after maternity leave is not easy. Read about my first week back to teaching after staying home with my baby.
In case you were wondering, Friday went well. Actually, Friday was pretty awesome. Aside from the fact that I cried the whole way to work, Annabelle had fun with Coco, ate from her bottle, and was smiling when I got home at 5 from work.
During the day I received text and picture updates from my mother-in-law. I was never left wondering what she was doing and if she was okay. I felt relaxed and was able to focus on my new job (which I think I am going to love…). I also found this on my table when I got home:
Today I know things will go just as great as last week for Annabelle is home again with my mother-in-law. NOW, as for how I think tomorrow is going to play out… I am not so sure. Annabelle won’t be home because she starts Baby School.
Our Plans for Going Back to Work After Maternity Leave are Mixed
We went to Open House at her Baby School on Sunday. Both B, Annabelle, and I were very pleased after our visit. Annabelle previewed all the toys and left her drool marks everywhere. She smiled and laughed at her teacher – and even hugged her when we were leaving!
Gotta love quality iPhone photos, huh?
My only concern is that she is going to cry all day. She is terrible at soothing herself. Usually, I am the only one who can soothe her when she goes off into her dark place. We made sure to warn her teacher about her crying… that sometimes she sounds like she is in pain, even though she is only just tired or mad.
Aside from her crying because she will be in a new place with new people, there are so many rules she has to follow – such as sleeping on her back and napping without her bunny – that I know will be difficult adjustments she will have to make in the beginning. How do you make a baby sleep on their back without their bunny when they’ve slept the opposite way for 7 months? Poor Bellie… she doesn’t know what’s coming.
How did your baby react to you going back to work after maternity leave?
Ella isn’t allowed to have any of her own toys at daycare either. Luckily, she’s been there since she was 8 weeks old, so she doesn’t know any different. Poor Bellie though! It’ll probably be a rough week, but once you get into a groove you’ll both be happy. It definitely wasn’t easy, but now it’s routine. Good luck!!
Thanks so much Bri! I am definitely thinking she will do just fine, but it is hard to not worry!
Victor does great at daycare, except for napping. And it kills me to look at his daily sheet and see he “slept” for a total of 40 minutes all day. He naps like a champ at home, but there’s just too much going on there for him to fully sleep.
I try to remind his teachers every day that he needs to lay down 2 hours after being up. But they say it doesn’t always work–and I know they try to get him to sleep–but he is just a happy, chipper guy so they don’t always see his tired cues.
I am SO worried about her napping at daycare. She is a nosy Nancy and likes to always see what everyone else is doing. If the other babies are having a good time while she is supposed to be napping we could have a disaster!
Looking forward to an update after today! I always hear that babies do better in daycare than you expect. But I am sure you’re a ball of nerves. Maybe being busy all day at work will keep your mind occupied.
It’s not nearly the same thing, BUT on Wednesday my husband and I are going out to dinner and leaving the baby with a “stranger” (read: non-family member) for the first time ever. So I’m already anxious about that. As I said, it’s apples and oranges, really, but I know how you must be feeling to drop her off that first day.
I’m so happy to hear she did great on Friday though! I love that your MIL sent pictures throughout the day. That must’ve been encouraging. 🙂
Thanks for thinking of me! Good luck with the ‘stranger’ babysitter! I had my neighbor watch her once while I ran some errands and Annabelle lost her mind, haha. She has met her a ton and even lets her hold her when I am around, but for some reason she was not having it.
Most likely it’ll take her a couple of days to adjust, but I’m sure she’ll do great! Beckett’s first two days weren’t too awesome (he was fine, except that he wanted to comfort nurse, so he got mad when his bottles were all gone) and he was exhausted when I brought him home at 5:00. Now? He has better days at daycare than he does at home with my husband (I think the structure & routine are good for him and he naps better there as well).
There are kids who don’t adjust – there was a 7 month old at B’s daycare that literally cried the ENTIRE day unless she was sleeping (she napped in 5 minute increments) or being held (she was a HUGE baby and they couldn’t hold her ALL DAY LONG), but the reason she was like that was because her mommy held her all day long and nursed her to sleep.
I’m sure Annabelle will be just fine! It’ll probably be harder on you than her! You can do it! 🙂
Today we went to baby school and overall, things went pretty well. The teachers say she will adjust shortly – but in the beginning it is definitely challenging! I pray that she adjusts though and isn’t like the little girl at B;s daycare. She took 3 naps today, ate all her food, and only screamed a few times, haha.