WHEN to return to work was a topic of conversation often discussed from the moment I fell pregnant.
Would I take only a few weeks off, a year off, or push it out to two years?
My goal was to return to work after 12 months in the hope of ensuring I would witness all the major first-year milestones: crawling, talking and walking.
All were achieved by nine months and as Grace’s first birthday rolled around I prepared to return to work initially two days a week, building up to three.
After 12 months of being apart for no more than a few hours to then spending up to eight hours apart was certainly an adjustment.
To my surprise, Grace handled the first drop-off a whole lot better than I did.
She settled in extremely well and only occasionally does she shed a few tears in the mornings.
I definitely had mum-guilt for a little while and even now, almost seven months in, I catch myself feeling awful about not being with her when I attend jobs and there are other babies and toddlers.
But I know there are so many benefits of her attending.
She has made friends, there is one friend in particularly she has grown very fond of. Often I will catch her greeting him with a cuddle and kiss.
She has learnt to self-settle and stretch out her day naps compared to the many cat naps she was often doing while at home.
Attending day care has built her confidence and while sometimes still shy when meeting new people, she now warms up to people a lot quicker.
While there are so many positives, the negatives are there too.
More often then not, Grace comes home with a runny nose, the occasional cough or conjunctivitis.
My heart races every time I see the centre calling. Has she hurt herself? Is she sick?
Thankfully she hasn’t managed to be sent home due to any major injuries just yet. Although her dare-devil, no-fear-of-nature has me thinking that is only a matter of time.
The decision to return to work and miss out on three days a week at home with her is a constant battle but, seeing her thrive, I know it is the right decision.
The very best thing about day care is picking her up. Nothing beats having your child run at you at full speed to give you a giant cuddle after they see you walking into their classroom.
Having someone care for your child while you work and get to use the bathroom alone, and in peace, are also perks that shouldn’t be underrated.
