https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:22:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419963 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 10:00:38 +0000 peaches1038 2419963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My maternity leave ends feb 1st. I'm so sad to leave my guy, but I really do love my job and my coworkers. So far, the infant stage has been easy for us, but DH is a professor, so we've both been home. I think it's going to be way harder when we are both back at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419852 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:18:11 +0000 Anagram 2419852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It varies for me, and is ongoing. Some weeks being a WOHM just kicks my ass, other weeks I feel okay about it. The hardest part is that I have more work in fewer hours to do when I'm working (all the packing for daycare, packing my pump parts, washing everything nightly). All of that is so much easier when I'm on maternity leave. I also miss my girlies a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419812 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:02:03 +0000 Smurfette 2419812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: same! I know that I am not cut out to be a SAHM but I really don't like my job so I hate being away from her doing something I don't like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419796 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 08:54:25 +0000 wrkbrk 2419796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ValentineMommy: did your ppa start after you went back or before if you don't mind my asking? I'm worried about this exact thing .. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419747 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 08:18:29 +0000 FaithFertility 2419747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was easier then I thought!<br /> With that said our situation was ideal for us!<br /> She is with an at home sitter who I know and trust more than my own self at times :silly: </p> <p>I would be a SAHM in a second but I like our way of living </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419733 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 08:08:00 +0000 looch 2419733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't go back until my son was 2 and even then he was in the care of family for most of the day, so I think it was a lot easier on me than it would have been under other circumstances.</p> <p>The main thing for me is being able to fully "detach" while I am working. I literally don't have to worry about anything regarding my son during the day. If he gets sick at school, for example, my parents will pick him up. I don't have to leave unless I decide to, which take a lot off my shoulders. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419113 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 17:24:33 +0000 daniellemybelle 2419113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't go back until LO was 7 months and it was part-time with my mom as childcare. By then I was very ready. I think I could have gone back even earlier. She was a hard baby and it was good for me to have something of my own.</p> <p>When LO was in daycare when she was older, and my work picked up to where I struggled with balancing everything, I became more and more dissatisfied with our arrangement. Even though my job was fulfilling, I hated missing out on everything during the day with her. She was learning so much and I wanted to be the one to teach her. The first cold/flu season with daycare was tough, too. So it was actually a few months in to being back at work when it got harder, which I hear is usually the opposite. </p> <p>Now I SAH/WAH very part-time and I'm really happy with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419102 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 17:19:57 +0000 Cherrybee 2419102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was easy when she was a baby (she was 6 months when I went back) because I didn't enjoy being home with her at all and she didn't seem to know the difference. But now she's 2.5, I find it really hard to leave her. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419065 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:52:42 +0000 snowjewelz 2419065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pickles: It comforts me that I'm not alone! (well, but I really honestly wish no one has to feel this way!) I sadly am the breadwinner so I must and will continue working, always... So I think the fact that I can't change that, actually makes it easier so I don't have to make a decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419063 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:51:47 +0000 Chillybear 2419063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awful... I could barely function and I went back at 14 weeks. My LO was waking up 3-4 times a night. I was having a really hard time pumping to meet my daughters needs. We were sick constantly, it was one of the worst winters in our area and I have severe (snow) weather anxiety. I felt like I was missing out on everything my daughter was doing. Work was stressful as we were short 2-3 employees when I returned. I would get home and have all these chores to do - cooking, washing and prepping bottles, pumping, laundry, cleaning, baby care and I was exhausted and if i'm being honest probably depressed. </p> <p>It took between 12-15 months postpartum before I felt better about work and felt like DD was really enjoying her school. By that time I was also done pumping and she had finally started sleeping through the night. </p> <p>No idea what we will do when have to go through this a 2nd time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2419061 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:51:00 +0000 Mrs. Pickles 2419061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: this is my feeling exactly, I continually am frustrated that I'm away from my kids doing something that I'm dissatisfied with</p> <p>however, I do know that I appreciate the adult interaction and feeling like I am contributing monetarily to our family unit and that the burden isn't solely on my husband so I have some fulfillment </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418971 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:02:35 +0000 Rocker2014 2418971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first day was awful, but then a little easier than I expected. I was starting a new job (same field, better position) so that really kept me interested and the days went by quickly. I always knew that I wasn't cut out to SAH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418957 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:51:27 +0000 DillonLion 2418957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Better than I expected! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418956 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:50:37 +0000 Alivoo01 2418956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After the first week, not bad at all! That first week though, oh man! So sad and didn't wanna leave him because we had our own lil routine and I knew/understood his needs! Would daycare know/understand the same thing?? They have other kids to look/care for! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418943 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:40:31 +0000 MrsB2012 2418943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first time I thought it was going to be hard, but I really really enjoyed going back. LO was with a rotation of my family during the days that I work. I also work split shifts, so I got to spend a few hours with her in the afternoon. I had a lot of anxiety thinking about it building up to going back, but the whole transition was much easier and enjoyable than I thought it would be.</p> <p>I go back to work this weekend after being off for 13 months. This time the girls will be in daycare and not with my family. We've done a few transition days yesterday and today at the daycare and it's been very very hard on me. I was a complete emotional mess last night and had a good cry. My older girl is having a hard time, but my younger girl is doing well so far. I feel very emotionally tired and stressed about starting back this weekend. I'm sure it will be fine, but again, the build up for it is hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418934 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:36:25 +0000 sapphire 2418934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was about what I expected. It was very hard but got easier. It helped that I was very much in support of going back to work and also daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418916 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:30:54 +0000 snowjewelz 2418916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was easy. The only hard part is that I don't particularly love my job, so even tho I know SAH is equally, if not tougher, it was just hard emotionally to choose to spend all my waking hours at work instead of with DD.</p> <p>Other than that, it was easy since DH and my mom watched her till 10 mo when she started going to daycare and even then only part time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418911 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:28:06 +0000 Dahlia 2418911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Today's my DD's first day at daycare and I miss her so much! But it's so nice to be able to focus on work and interact with adults again. So I guess both easier and harder? I'm sure it will get easier for both of us in a few weeks, but right now I keep tearing up picturing her confused and scared at daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418910 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:27:58 +0000 Autumnmama79 2418910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Easier, but it was only part time. I missed DD but I knew she was in good hands with my mum so I didn't need to worry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418881 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:14:27 +0000 MelisMc 2418881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was tough for me at first. I still feel like I miss DS so much when I'm away from him during the day. But I also feel like my days go by so much faster when I'm at work than when I'm home with him. It has gotten easier, but I do wish I could only work 3 days a week! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418877 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:12:02 +0000 ValentineMommy 2418877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a really hard time after DS1 and had extreme ppa after going back to work.</p> <p>I've had a much easier time the second time around. I'm not sure if it's because it was the second time around, if things were hormonally just different, or because I took an extra month off this time....either way, it was much easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418875 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:10:57 +0000 lawbee11 2418875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think harder for the first couple of weeks but once we got into a groove it was great. It was even better once she STTN and I wasn't a sleep-deprived zombie every day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418874 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:09:45 +0000 yoursilverlining 2418874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was pretty easy to go back to work - but I think a lot of it is mental. If you keep telling yourself how tough it's going to be, or assume that it should be/has to be tough, that you're leaving your kid with "strangers" or feel like you should feel guilty.....well, you probably will have a tough time of it. </p> <p>LO was also a rough, colicky mess as a newborn, so going back to work was kind of a relief! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418867 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:05:56 +0000 catlady 2418867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very easy. I love my job and am a better mom when I am working. The only difficult thing was that I went back during the 4 month regression so I was a zombie. But once that resolved, it has been great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-going-back-to-work-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-2418858 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:01:59 +0000 simplyfelicity 2418858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>...Emotionally speaking? I didn't love (or really even like) SAH. I love spending time with my son but the loneliness, monotony and imbalance was a form of torture for me. </p> <p>Still, I was really emotional at the thought of leaving him with "strangers," if they would love him, etc... I feared it was going to be this gut-wrenching experience. </p> <p>It turned out great! Sure, it's stressful and it feels like there are so many more moving parts but I love having more balance in my life. I feel like the "household balance" with DH is much more equitable (we also have similar occupations.) The time I have with LO is so much sweeter. I didn't realize how much SAH was depressing me until I wasn't doing it anymore. </p> <p>Novel aside, how was the experience for you? Was it better, worse or exactly what you expected? </p>