And the tears and tantrums were just me! Well I’m three weeks in to going back to work after my 9 months maternity leave and I think I’m coping but then again I have to… ok so I’m struggling a little so I thought I’d have a little blog therapy session where I think about the pros and cons of being a working mother to help get my head around it all. It’s not even as if it’s the first time, it’s my third! I work as a community midwife three days per week and I have two children in school and one in nursery and also with my Mum and Dad (I am so grateful for the help my parents give me).
The first week was great, it was a novelty and work eased me in nicely and didn’t expect much of me, but by the third week we had staff sickness which piled on the pressure and I had my first on call and got called out in the night. The house resembles a war zone crossed with a rubbish dump and a place where odd socks and broken toys live and Baby D isn’t sure who his Mother is anymore (maybe that’s not true but it feels like it). Some adjustment is needed, we’ll get there eventually, right now I need a list of pros and cons for going back to work.
Pros:
- I get to listen to the actual news in the car without interruption or being made to put on the Frozen soundtrack, nursery rhyme CD (from the beginning Mummy!) and can sing along to any song I like at any volume without having to be a referee, pacifier, or drink/snack/toy passer
- I can make a cup of tea and actually finish it while it’s hot
- I get to converse with adults without constant interruption and demands
- I get on with my colleagues and they’re more like friends
- we now have a microwave at work
- I can have lunch when I’m hungry without catering for others first
- I only have to get my boobs out once per day (for expressing, I’m not a glamour model!)
- I get paid real money!
- I am respected for my opinions and people listen to what I have to say
- I get to wear something other than stretchy trousers, leggings and jeans
- I can wear makeup
- I can wear a normal necklace
- I can start a task and concentrate on it until it’s finished
- The time I spend with the children becomes quality time
- I get to go on work nights out
- It’s only 3 days a week and most of the time that’s Tuesday – Thursday
- I can’t drink wine when I’m on call so I save calories and it’s better for me
Cons
- I miss Baby D terribly, sometimes it makes me feel physically sick
- I can’t take the children to school on the days I work
- I feel like I’m missing out on all the little things
- I can’t keep up with looking after the house
- I don’t feel like I’m giving either work or home life enough attention
- Baby D isn’t taking milk from a bottle or a cup
- I don’t have anything decent to wear
- I have to get dressed properly
- I have to work some weekends and be on call roughly once a week
- I can’t drink wine when I’m on call
- I’d rather be blogging
- Baby D doesn’t sleep through so I often feel like a zombie
Well, on balance it looks like at the moment there are more pros and cons which can only be a good thing as I can’t afford to stop work right now, even if I could I would keep working regularly as a midwife to keep my knowledge and skills up to date as they are an integral part of me. I just need to figure out a way to have extra hours in the day and actually do things on my to do list – I’m working my way through slowly – who needs sleep…
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13 Comments
It can be hard. I went back to uni after having faith when she was 5 months old….. Crazy times but it will all balance out in the end xx
September 26, 2015 at 11:04 pmThanks, I’m coming round to it xx
September 26, 2015 at 11:09 pmI love your personal insight about the pros/cons of being a working mom!!
Ursula aka Blueridge Beauty
September 27, 2015 at 2:19 amThank you x
September 27, 2015 at 5:50 amIt must hard to adapt after 9 months off. I think it’s about finding a routine, but that will only come in time. Until then, try and focus on the positives 🙂
September 28, 2015 at 11:35 amThanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes
Debbie
Thanks, I’m getting there x
September 28, 2015 at 11:37 amI think going back to work comes under the heading of things you just have to brace yourself to do, focus on the positives and then get on with whilst not giving too much space to negative feelings. Otherwise you just end up doing your own head in and the guilt monster will never leave #anythinggoes
September 28, 2015 at 12:05 pmThank you x
September 28, 2015 at 12:13 pmIt’s tough returning back to work, my second maternity leave finishes in Jan and I’m dreading it, wahhh, I just can’t believe it I do not know how I am going to fit work in around everything else. How rubbish 🙁 Hope it continues to go smoothly for you! Popping over from #maternitymondays
September 28, 2015 at 4:00 pmIt’s not easy but I think I need to be more organised, also involve the other half x
September 28, 2015 at 4:11 pmOh it is tough. You just have to do what you have to do. I found it got easier after boo.
September 28, 2015 at 9:21 pmIt’s a challenging one, isn’t it. As you said, we have to manage and find ways to make it work. In a few months time, I would have been back for as long as I’ve been off; and I’m still working out how I feel about work. It’s a whole different dynamics, isn’t it. I can’t even imagine how it will be with more than one child. Hopefully, the pros remain longre than the cons for you 🙂 #MaternityMondays
October 4, 2015 at 6:47 amThanks, it’s getting a little easier.
October 4, 2015 at 7:38 am