Going back to work tips

[kittysailing]

im going back to work (mon,tues and Fri) leaving baby A with a local childminder - i'm used to leaving work in a tardy manner and am anticipating the picking up rush stressful - has anyone got any tips for going back - things that made life easier etc. Thanks in anticipation!

[womanofdulwich]

If any one says " can we just have a 5 min chat" and it is 5 mins before you need to leave- say no. My boss always caught me this way!

[Saila]

i pay until 6:30 but have told work i have to pick up at 6pm

it's a white lie but it means i have no heart attacks on the way home

good luck

xxxx

[kittysailing]

Good plan saila! im sure ill miss the little monkey but looking forward to civilised lunch!

[kittysailing]

what about other peoples experiences of first day back?

[crystal7]

I probably sound really boring but I use my daughter's nap time on one of the days I don't work to cook meals for the freezer. Makes evenings after work so much easier if you can just heat something. Also I get everything ready, both our bags, shoes and coats and put them by the door. Plus I lay our clothes out the night before.

This is all a bit OCD but we have to be up, dressed, breakfasted and out of the house by 7.30 so necessary!

Good luck! I wa dreading my return to work, it's been 9 months now everything's going well, daughter loves childminder and I've learnt to say no to extra work!

[crystal7]

I probably sound really boring but I use my daughter's nap time on one of the days I don't work to cook meals for the freezer. Makes evenings after work so much easier if you can just heat something. Also I get everything ready, both our bags, shoes and coats and put them by the door. Plus I lay our clothes out the night before.

This is all a bit OCD but we have to be up, dressed, breakfasted and out of the house by 7.30 so necessary!

Good luck! I wa dreading my return to work, it's been 9 months now everything's going well, daughter loves childminder and I've learnt to say no to extra work!

[womanofdulwich]

not OCD at all-A good rule for life!

I would say if you are working and can afford to get into the habit it is nice of once or twice a month if you dont go straight home from work, but go for a drink with partner/ friends- because you know once you are home you will be too tired to go out later. if you have a carer/ babysitter that will once a month put your child to bed and you don't get back till 8.30 and you have not had to ccok a meal, it is a lovely reward as to one of the reasons you are working. A friend told me this was a good thing and it is extremely good advice for your marraige/sanity.

[Ruth_Baldock]

Aha, you know me ;) I went back three weeks ago and the first day was bizarre. I did the same as crystal7 setting everything up the night before. My husband picks baby s up and he was an hour late picking him up, I nearly had a fit! That has been the only time anything like that has hapenned and the mad rush for me has been getting baby s to my MILs and then getting myself to work. Good luck!

[Fuschia]

I think planning out meals for the week, doing an online shop etc is a great help.

Also a good calendar so you can look at the week ahead (child needs to take cakes into school Weds, need to post card to SIL by Thursday, that sort of thing) and then put in your bag things like bills to pay, calls to make, as lunchtime at work is a good opportunity.

Every night before bed I think of the next day and if there is stuff to remember (kung fu outfit to go to school with DS1 etc) but esp anything one off, I get it ready and put a post it note on the front door to remind me in the morning

[sb]

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[BellendenBear]

1. Learn to say 'no' and get better at delegating to others. I was always hopeless at this so did an assertiveness course a few weeks before going back. Money very well spent. I am now much better at saying no and setting boundaries. Did about half an hour of role play of me saying calmly but firmly and without sounding apologetic 'I have to leave at 6, I have to leave at 6...' while they tried to convince me otherwise.

2. As above - get a cleaner.

3. As above - book some holiday, even if it's just a couple of days here and there over the first couple of months to break the weeks up a bit.

4. It gets easier. Not sure what I used to take so long doing in mornings before.

[esme]

i love the tip on lying about pick up time - brilliant! that def makes sense, like telling your husband you have to be at friends half an hour before you've agreed with friends, so you're not late :)