Back to work blues

Yes, the moment has come that you’ve been dreading since your baby was born. The day when you return to work. It’s a day that tears the heart out of even the most career-driven of women, but, with a few helpful hints, you can make it a less scary experience.

(Before you actually return to work, make sure that working outside of the home is actually worth your while! Recent research has found that around one in ten mums actually works for nothing, spending all their money on childcare. If you find that you’re falling into this bracket – running just to stand still - take time to consider fully with your husband or partner whether a career break might not be appropriate for a few years.)

Returning to work after a holiday can be scary enough, so returning after a long maternity leave can be positively stomach-churning. Here are some tips for getting through the process:

• Be honest! Tell your friends and family if and how you’re coping. Don’t try and be the heroine and bottle everything up pretending it’s all OK!
• Be organised. Save time by preparing everything the night before. Make your own lunch, have your baby’s nursery bag ready to go and have your clothes ironed for work the following day.
• Accept that it’s only natural for you to feel guilty. Guilt is, unfortunately, part of the territory when you’re a working mum. You can’t escape it, but take comfort in the fact that, over a period of time, it WILL diminish.
• Make contingency plans. In addition to your chosen method of childcare – be it childminder, nursery or relative - have someone who lives near your home or the nursery (preferably a family member or friend), who will be happy to pick up your child and give him his tea at a moment’s notice if you’re stuck on a train or in traffic. It’ll give you peace of mind and prevent you from having a panic attack if you find you’re running late.
• Be open and honest with your boss. Good communication is the name of the game in this regard. Most bosses are only human too (!!), so talk to him or her to find out if there’s an optimum way of working that suits both of you. You may find, for example, that you can do your job by working solidly through from 9am to 2pm every day and then be home for the afternoons.

If you have any further advice that you can offer our followers we would love to hear from you.