How typical! The sun appears and I have to go back to work! Well we made the most of the long bank holiday weekend as you can see from these lovely pics. If you haven’t been we can highly recommend Hever Castle in Kent, only 50 mins lovely drive through the country...well worth a day trip - Wonderful gardens and lake (can't tell you about the castle as we faffed about outside so long, by the time we got to the castle it was closed for the day!)Anyway, going back to work and how we coped and how I felt...well for one thing the thought of leaving Abi and going back to work was a LOT harder than actually doing it. I cried as I walked away from home the first two days, and did not cry the third day and then felt guilty that I had not cried for the rest of the day! Abi having not yet reached that dreaded stage where separation anxiety kicks in, is typically oblivious to my departure each morning, and just grins inanely at me as I wave goodbye from the door choking back my tears more often than not! When I return is a different matter however, and she seems to genuinely pleased to see me again that the whole day apart just melts away and I feel like the most loved mum in the world!
Lessons learnt:
1) Make sure you tell all your friends and family when you're going back to work so they all text and call - knowing everyone who cares about you is thinking about you on the dreaded day REALLY helps!
2) Have lots of lovely pics of your beloved on your phone so you can gaze at them, whilst looking like you are just a normal person reading a text or something.
3) DEFINITELY where possible ensure you have NOT been breast feeding during the day for at least a week before going back - as boob explosion is not a pretty sight, and will NOT ingratiate you with your boss or colleagues, it's just weird ok!
4) Set a reminder on Outlook to tell you to START getting ready to leave, (IF you are not a clock watcher of course) as if you miss that earliest train possible, you really feel like you're a bad mother who loves being at work more than being at home with your child (seriously even if it is only 15 mins or so till the next train, you are wracked with guilt!)
5) Don't take the welcome home for granted, make the most of the unbiased and unadulterated joyous reaction to your return, without judgement or any questions about where you've been - it's wonderful
2 comments:
Just wanted to say what a blessing good friends are, and your "mum friend" who advised you that things would be "different" when back at work showed such wisdom. I know you have had to make important decisons before, and this is another one, and I am so proud of you.
I love reading your blog, you are an amazing Mum. Just learnt that today in Hebrew Class "Amazing Mum" eemah madheemah.
Mum
"Number One Fan" says the pain,shock and gut-wrench of leaving your gorgeous daughter only makes the joy of reunion each evening the sweeter. But - "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" - True or False? How can a parent's love for their child ever grow bigger, deeper, stronger, wider, richer? This unique and amazing kind of love is there in ALL its glorious fulness from (even before)conception to the utmost end - unchanging and unchangeable. From someone who knows!
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