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I'm not a morning person and I need to have at least a good hour every night to zone out and unwind (introvert over here), so I generally sprint around like a mad woman from the moment I get home until DS' bedtime so that I have some time before bed to relax.

1. I have stuff that I can quickly heat and give DS for dinner as soon as we walk in the door. Even if that means he eats something different from DH and I, it helps me just to know I can put a balanced meal on the table for him in under 5 minutes flat. I keep cooked rice and pasta in the fridge and frozen veggies, organic meatballs and sausages, nuggets, raviolis, potstickers, etc. on hand that can be quickly nuked and plated. I also make sure we have plenty of yogurt and fresh fruit in the house.

2. DH takes care of bath and bedtime routine for DS so I have from 630pm to 730pm to get my act together for the next day. I clean up from dinner and set up coffee and wash our commuter mugs for the AM. Then I prep DS' breakfast for the morning (i.e. fill a sippy with milk, cut up some sausage and pancake on a plate, etc). Our daycare provides snacks and lunch, so I don't have to prep that, but if I did, this is when I would do it. I also pack lunches for DH. Then I lay out DS' outfit for the next day and pack the daycare bag and put it in the car. I also make sure there's a sippy of water and some dry snacks in the car (rice cakes, snack catcher of cereal, etc). Then I will throw in a load of laundry if necessary.

3. After DS is in bed for the night, I run the dishwasher and fold any laundry that needs to be put away. I shower at night as well and pick out my outfit for the next day. I mostly wear black to keep it simple.

4. I tend to cook tomorrow's dinner after DS is in bed for the night and reheat it the next day, instead of trying to cook something fresh each night. I aim to cook 3x a week and plan on takeout one night, leftovers another night, and try to cook meals that can do double duty. So for instance last week I made shredded beef in the crockpot for Italian beef sandwiches, but made extra beef. And today I made sticky chicken in the crockpot and put it in the fridge to reheat for dinner tomorrow night. I'll serve the chicken with rice that's already cooked in my rice cooker and some bok choy that I will quickly wilt in a pan with the sauce from the chicken. On Tuesday, I will take some leftover shredded beef and leftover rice and throw it in a tortilla with some beans, avocado, and salsa for burritos. We'll probably have enough sticky chicken to have again for dinner later in the week and for my 3rd meal, I'll probably boil some pasta to use up the open jar of spaghetti sauce in the fridge and add in some frozen meatballs.

5. DH takes DS for park dates on the weekends so I have an hour or two to relax or run errands. This is usually when I grocery shop. I shop based on my menu plan, plus whatever fresh things and snacks I know we'll need for the week.

Gingerbread has great suggestions.

My advice is cut yourself a break. Don't take on too much socially, since your transition back to work will be an adjustment. Plan ahead: prep lunches the night before, pack bags the night before, shower at night, pick out your clothing at night, etc. Mornings can be crazy trying to get out, so the less you have to do the better! Also, take advantage of daycare. I try to get a few errands run or a quick target shop in before I pick up my DS, or grab a quick coffee once in awhile with a friend before pickup.

Oh, and always have a snack for LO for the ride home from daycare. DS can be tired from the stimulating day, so having a snack is essential.

Good luck!! As much as I liked being home on maternity leave, I loved getting my professional identity back. It's s tough balance, but I love my career (teaching) and get a lot of fulfillment from it!

I went back to work after being home for 2 years as well, and basically, what I've learned is this:

Get your clothes ready for the week. Have at least 5 outfits that are hung together and ready to go so you literally do not have to think or look in the morning. I also put my son's stuff together for my mom, she gets him dressed and to school now, so whatever she needs, I pack in a bag on Sunday night.

Pack your bags at night and put them in the car (with the exception of food, obviously).You're less likely to forget something and you don't have to be a pack mule. I also keep a small laundry basket in the car, it's easier to carry that in and out rather than dealing with a ton of small bags.

We eat dinner twice a week at my parent's home. It was part of the "family agreement" when I couldn't decide if I should return to work or not and seriously, it's a life saver that I only need to think about dinner twice a week (friday is pizza night and we have it delivered).

Expect an adjustment period. It took three months for my son to get settled into his routine at his new daycare. I cried, he cried, we got through it and then, there was an other wrench in the plan and we had to start the process all over again!

Try to streamline and plan ahead as much as possible (like laundry, groceries, meals, snacks for the car, etc., for the week), and then cut yourself a ton of slack. Load up everything you can at night. Rest at night when you can, and just ease back into it. And the best drop off plan (at least in the beginning) is a quick hug and kiss, and saying mama will pick you up this afternoon, and then leave.