Since having my last baby I have essentially been a stay at
home mum for a year or so but it’s now time to return back to work.
Three
children, two jobs … I’m a little apprehensive, the normal feelings I suppose
like will I remember everything, have things changed, how long will it take to
settle in, are there going to be new staff members? But also mum apprehension … is the baby too
young to be put into nursery full time, the older two were not in nursery at
that age and even when they started they definitely did nowhere near fulltime
hours, also how will I actually afford the childcare which is SO expensive, will I disconnect from
the mums not being at the school gates, am I going to be able to attend all the
important school meetings, I don’t want to miss anything important like
mother’s day assemblies where pretty much all the mums are there etc. Some of
these things are miles in advance and I’m lucky to work within environments
that are flexible and supportive so I probably will be able to make the
majority if not all of them and as for the nursery worries I genuinely believe
the nursery I use for my children is the best there is so really I’m probably
being a little irrational!
What I have found, after being back for four days is that:
-
1. Adults. I have found adults again. I don’t even
need to explain further how amazing a conversation about anything other than
cartoons or toys or games actually are when you live with three small children
for a year.
2. I appreciate my children more. I kind of guessed
this would happen and I’m so glad it has … I enjoy the stories of their days
more, I am more paitent, I enjoy my time with them more and I just feel like I
see them with new eyes after a day at work.
3. I am more prepared, organised and find more
enjoyment in routines, especially at bedtime. Being off work I feel should mean
more time to get myself organised. Not in my life. Having the children around
constantly I can honestly say my household was nothing short of chaotic. I
might not of been in work but I didn’t have a minute where there wasn’t one
child or another asking for help with something, where I wasn’t trying to
resolve an argument (believe me there was a lot of shouting and toy snatching
during those long, long, long 6 week holidays!) where I wasn’t chauffeuring
them around to one activity or another or just had time to sit and think or
even write up a list if what needed to be done. I don’t think it helps that not
only are they all young but all at very different stages.
4. I have MORE
time for myself. Ok so I don’t work the standard 9-5 and I’ve dropped a few
hours in one job and also condensed my hours in the other but I don’t work much
less than the average job. I get the kids up and out then I have time to come
home for breakfast and to do my make up. I can’t tell you what a difference it
makes to my day to be able to eat and put make up on without a tiny hanging off
me or being asked to wipe a bum or just having that background noise and
background consciousness of knowing where the three of them are and what they
are doing whilst trying to obtain the perfect wing.
For me coming back to work was something
that I felt I needed to do, yes there are ‘cons’ to it but generally it works
out best for me and my children. I get to spend time doing something that gives
me worth, with adults that are actually more like friends since I see them
everyday and then at the end of the day I get to pick up my children, spend
quality time with them and exchange stories with them about our days.
The perfect ending.
