This page contains affiliate links
We hope you find value in the products and services we recommend on this site. We may earn a small percentage of sales at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through links on this page. Thank you for supporting Hiking Thru Life!
“You are stronger than you think” was the message inside the Pamper’s diaper box. That’s exactly the message I needed to read after the past few weeks. Returning to work has been a journey of emotions, challenges, highs, and lows and it’s a reminder of what this parenting blog is all about. Throughout my maternity leave, I was thrilled to spend time with Rory and cherished every single moment. That’s the ideal maternity leave for most moms probably. However, if you plan to go back to work, there is an end. We are unfortunately living in the United States where a whole year of maternity leave is not paid for like in other countries. We get three months and then need to head back into the working life. Although many people maybe do not need to navigate physically going back to work during this pandemic that is not the case for me. School is in session and this teacher is back at it. Here are some takeaways on my journey so far.
- The first day is hard. I cried pulling out of the driveway the first day I went back to work. I only had to leave Rory at home with my husband but the emotions tied into the fact that I was not going to be there 24/7 for him anymore were setting in. It’s comforting to know that this is normal because when I got to work on the first day I shared my emotions with some coworkers who had been through the same experiences and they knew exactly what I meant.
- I am thankful I am returning to work in a COVID year. That sounds bizarre and shocking to many but there are benefits to it. That benefit is the outdoor classroom. Teaching during the COVID year has been an odd and stressful time. We are encouraged to be outdoors with our students as much as possible. Being outside at work as I navigate the return has been an incredibly huge stress reliever. We do still spend time indoors but the outdoor time is more than it’s ever been and I love it. Plus seeing the benefits I talk about so often on the podcast are being proven to me on a daily basis now.
- Pumping is challenging when you haven’t done a lot of it. I didn’t do a ton of pumping prior to my return to work. I mainly breastfeed. I know some people establish a schedule prior to the return but I’m a figure it out as you go type of person so I didn’t see the value in that. Looking back it might have been less stressful to have a schedule prior to knowing what to expect but I believe in learning through hands-on experience. I was stressing about having no time at work (especially as a teacher) to hook up the breast pump, pump for 20 minutes, and put the milk into the refrigerator. It was a rush and big stress! I’ve realized buying more pump parts is well worth it and that some of the parts actually need to be replaced.
- Pump in the car to save time if you have a commute. A friend shared the idea of car pumping with me and I laughed at first but I’ve realized how incredibly time-saving it is. A good pumping session has been taking me roughly 20-25 minutes. My commute is roughly 30 minutes. This is a perfect use of time. Getting this routine down has been a huge adjustment but pumping has been a huge time saver.
- I now realize the challenges of being a “working parent.” Andy has been doing an incredible job of taking care of Rory during the weeks. He likes to share things with me when I return home each day but I am trying to balance it all out. I admit I haven’t been as excited to hear about Rory’s day or didn’t even want to hold or feed him sometimes. There has been some “mommy guilt” but I also am reminding myself it’s a big change and adjustment that takes time to get used to. It’s a reminder that mental health NEEDS to be at the forefront of parenting in order to be the best YOU.
- Working as a Pre-school teacher when you are a parent is extreme mental exhaustion. The bonding time/activities with my baby have changed. Working with preschoolers all day takes up a lot of energy and to come home to a crying baby can be exhausting. During maternity leave, I sang and read to Rory so often! Multiple times a day! I now come home and all I want to do is have him suck my boob with dim lighting and calming music. My musical capacity is done at the end of the day and my enthusiastic book readings are low. Teachers who are parents…what’s your secret?
- It’s helping me find myself again. Maternity leave is a beautiful and perfect time to bond with your baby. I loved every moment of it. I also think in a way I lost my own identity in those few months, which is totally normal! Having a child and shifting to parenthood is a huge change and if you don’t lose a little bit of yourself in that time….kudos to you. Going back to work has been a reminder and given me a drive for what I love to do. It’s helped me find myself again in a way and remind me of who I was before baby. It’s a healthy shift.
- Be patient with the new caregiver. Especially when it’s your husband! Rory now spends lots of time with “Daddy Daycare!” Even my husband has some differing ways he likes to approach the care with Rory. He’s a little more “regimented” than me perhaps but this is good. Differentiating parenting styles are valuable to your child and it’s part of navigating the parenting journey together. Being flexible about the way other people care for baby is important because you need to realize, especially if you are working, you won’t have control of it all 24/7. And that’s healthy.
- Return to work part-time if it’s a possiblity. Having two afternoons a week off has been a huge relief. It’s given me some good bonding time to still have with Rory. It’s also a perfect way to ease back into the working world when you are pumping. Manging a pumping schedule at work can be exhausting in itself and I am so excited on the days I get to come home and breastfeed instead of pump. Or simply pump in the comfort of my own home instead of a car or my lunch break.
Heading back to work after maternity leave has been a challenge mentally but it is good for the soul. I know it will continue to have challenges because the challenges of parenting never go away. Being a “working parent” is the beginning of a whole new journey. Here’s to all the working mamas out there! We got this.
