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So this is my last week of maternity leave. I start back as a full time teacher as of Tuesday. How do I feel?
Well I'm OK about returning to work, I don't think I'm cut out to be a full time stay at home mum although I am envious of those that are and admire how hard it is. I'm going to miss meeting up with my mummy friends although there are three of us returning to work at the same time. I am also sad that other people will be spending more time with Olivia than me and possibly seeing her crawl, walk, talk etc. before me. She has changed so much in the past few months and is an absolute pleasure to be with her smiles and giggles melt my heart and I really am going to miss these.
Going to nursery will allow Olivia to watch and learn from other children. She has been going for one afternoon a week for a while now so she is quite use to the environment and it is a bonus that my sister is her key worker. The other days she will either spend with Daddy, Grandma or my other sister - so she will be cared for by people who love her but it's not me! I have to let go and trust that she will be OK and they will respect our wishes about how we want Olivia to be looked after.
The next few weeks are going to be easier because Mr T has two weeks off so he can look after Olivia then we start getting into what will become normal life. We are lucky in that the nursery will work round Mr T's shifts and also do term time only so I can spend as much time as I want with Olivia during the school holidays.
So I am ready to return to work and get stuck into teaching again how I will cope with the workload as well as being a Mummy I'm not sure but teaching for me now is a job rather than a career. I have to wait until I go back to find out what I am teaching as it all depends on whether one of the teachers is back off sick leave or not. If she is not back I will be teaching her class if she is back I will be team teaching with the great teacher who did my maternity cover. I like the idea of this as I think I could learn an awful lot from this teacher and we could do some great creative projects with the children.
So how am I feeling? Sad, apprehensive, excited, jealous and many other emotions all at the same time - is this normal?
All those emotions are normal. I returned to work fulltime just over a year ago for just over half a term. Obviously I knew that I was going on maternity leave again, but I did find it had it's positives. It was nice to work my brain, have adult conversations and a change of scene. I definately made more of the time I did have at home.
ReplyDeleteOlivia is lucky that she will have family to look after her too and get all that social interaction with different people.
Good luck and enjoy, even if it may be hard at times x
I didn't find it easy going back but I know my two have definitely benefited from being at nursery. Like you I knew I didn't want to be at home all the time and sadly finances mean I have to work full time.
ReplyDeleteIts hard but you get used to it - remember yourself in the middle of it all! The emotions you're describing are very normal.
Good luck x
I hope everything goes smoothly for you. I was lucky to be able to stay home and work. I childmind. But unfortunatly i did have to go back to work earlier than most of my mummy friends what with being self employed.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will all go well for everyone. looks like she has a great bunch of people who know here and love her, ready to enjoy some time with her!
All the best xx