Set your Work Ready Clothes to the Side

A week before I had to go back to work, I sifted through every single item in my closet. I tried on most of it, noticed 4/5th’s of it wasn’t fitting, and gave up on it completely. I was so sad to see that I didn’t have any clothes that fit my post baby body! I like to look good at work, so I went on a mini shopping spree. I ordered flattering dresses on Amazon, checked out thrift stores, and Marshalls/TJMaxx. I had a total of 9 outfits I could wear to work, and I was fine with that until I could start getting back into my normal work clothes. It gave me the confidence I needed to go back to work looking professional and well-put together. 

Check in With Work 1-2 Weeks Before

This can be in the form of going in personally to speak to your Supervisor, meet with your team, or catch up on your emails. Get connected before your first day, so it doesn’t all come at you as a shock.  

Get Yourself Done Up

I was dragged out of the house the weekend before by one of my mommy friends to have a pamper day. She realized how important it is to take care of yourself to feel good about yourself, but all I wanted to do that day was stay in and cuddle my sunshine. In hindsight, the nails, wax, and massage made me more like woman and not just a mama. Are you still not wanting to go out? Try out a new nail polish at home and one of those Korean face masks you have tucked away somewhere. 

Find and Trust Childcare

This was most important to me, because I felt like I was so much more at ease knowing my baby was in good hands. We have grandparents switching off each week looking after her, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I realize that they will not raise my baby how I do, but that is okay, because they will just do it another way. I won’t sit here pretending I am the only with all of the answers. They love her so much, and they will take care of her how they can.  

Prepare Meals Ahead of Time

My family loves to eat, but not to eat out. Eating in has always helped us save money, so we didn’t want to lose on this money saving option. I was hesitant about it though because I didn’t want to cook when I got home. I just wanted to spend it with my baby. We compromised by eating out 2 nights a week and I would prepare freezer, Crockpot, and ready to go meals the rest of the nights. It’s been two weeks, and it’s been going great so far. I’m running low on those meals, so anytime I make a meal from now on, I will make one for now, and one for later. 

Deep Clean the Home

I realize we don’t have time to shower some days, but try to pick up after yourself when moving from one room to another. Tidy up as much as you can because you will not have time to really clean once you start work. Even if you did have the time, you will want to be with your baby. If you are looking for ways to simplify your home, check out this post. Having less items in the home means less cleanup.

Communicate With Your Significant Other

Our lives changed dramatically. We were no longer two people with lots of time to spend on ourselves. We had to discuss what was going to change. Who was going to cook? When would dinner be served? Who would lose sleep on any given day? Who was going to clean? What were they going to clean? How often were they going to clean? Can you tell that I like to give away the cleaning tasks? These are all questions that need to be asked so your transition from staying at home mommy to working mommy go smoothly. If you were doing it all before, then you will have to rethink how you will be accepting taking work from your significant other or people you live with. 

Get Comfortable Saying ‘No’ After Work

It comes with the territory that your friends might change. You may still keep your work friends, but you will for sure add on more mommy friends. It’s only natural to want to connect with people that are going through the same thing as you. Lucky for me I work with some mommies, but that doesn’t mean that I would be able to go to happy hour on Fridays anymore. Once I get over needing to be with my baby on my free time, then I will join my friends back at the bar. Until then, I will just have to learn to say no. 

Bond with Your Family

Take your last day before you start work again and go do something fun with your family. We went to the San Diego Zoo as pass owners, but you can do whatever you want.  If you stayed at home, all you will do is think about work the next day. Go to the park, see a movie, enjoy the beach, walk through a Farmer’s Market. Enjoy it! You and your family deserve it!

Remind Yourself Why You Work

There is a reason you have that job. Do you need the money? Is it a stepping stone for your career? Do you love it? Are you great at it? What is your reason? Take it and remember it. I want to work because I love my career. When my daughter grows up, I want to show her that I love that part of my life because it is my own.