Back to Work Full Time

Hey Full Time Working Moms,

I am entering the world of full time working mommyhood in Sept with a 16 month old. I have been working a very light part time job since DS was 5 months old and now I will be gone 11 hour days, including commute, 5 days a week.

We have childcare lined up but I am reaching out to other full time working moms to ask for advice on how to make things work with the to-do list, keeping hubby happy, spending QT with my DS when I know I will be exhausted when I get home. How do you all do it? Any advice on how to make life a little easier. I am very scared for the transition and the vast change that is about to happen in our home.

Re: Back to Work Full Time

I think first and foremost, when the going gets tough, remember that you are doing all of this to give your family the best life possible.

When I went back, dd was only 3 months old. We started getting groceries from fresh direct and dropping off our laundry at a local laundromat (we live in an apartment and don't have w/d in our unit so laundry is difficult to do). We buy a few of the ready-to-cook meals at fresh direct. I also try to do cook once, eat twice meals, like making grilled chicken and shredding leftovers for quesadillas or chicken salad later in the week. I try to do veggie chopping on a Sunday for the week, or buy per-cut. It costs more but my time is more important now.

I do a straighten up of the place as soon as dd gets to bed so nothing accumulates mess-wise and have to be ok with the fact that dusting and more in depth cleaning doesn't get done as often. We put in the calendar "family fun days" where we say no to all other commitments and just spend time with one another.

Dh does the bottles, and kicks in a lot more with general housework.

Re: Back to Work Full Time

It is so so so hard to go back after being home. I also had to go back when DD was 3 months. It was a real shock to the system! But, it got easier, although 2+ years later its still tough!

Some things that helped me:

Getting up an hour earlier just to be able to have a quiet cup of coffee, work out, or even have a little "me time".

Getting everything ready the night before, including outfits.

Making a list of what would be for dinner for the week, keeping it as easy as possible on crazy days.

Always make time for DH & You. For us, Friday night is "date night".... we try and make a nice dinner and just hang out together after she goes to sleep.

Good luck!

Re: Back to Work Full Time

I'm actually to the point where I look forward to work because it's a break.

In any event, I always get up at least an hour before everyone else to have coffee and relax.

I also have started going to the gym around 5AM.

I clean and organize and do laundry for an hour every night after I get home from work. That way there's less to do on the weekends.

I also tend to hit the grocery store at odd hours, when it's not packed. I will probably go out tonight in fact to do that.

I buy stuff that tends to be easy to make during the week, like meat to grill and a salad. We don't feel guilty if it's a cold cut night either.

I actually think being a mom has made me MORE productive, and it also makes me appreciate even more having a good job that provides for my family.

It's also great when I hear DS say things like "My mom works at a hospital" or "My mom helps people".

Re: Back to Work Full Time

Do as much prep work the night before.

I have accepted my house will not be spotless

DH does just as much around the house as me.

Embrace a slow cooker and freezer meals

Plan out your meals,

Chalkboard for the kitchen. We write menu and anything else we need to do for the week on it,