Return to work after Mat leave

MRS_TO_BE_2

I'm working to work 4 days a week on Monday after Maternity and not looking forward to it.

Has anyone got any advice to offer. My son will be in nursery 3 days a week and I have joined childcare voucher scheme.

Any moneysaving tips you can offer? I'm already going to try and park on road to save £85 per quarter parking ticket.

Any tips on organisation. Won't be returning home til 630 each evening.

thanks

Daisydoll

Try and get your clothes etc ready the night before, try and get up half hour before baby if you can so you can get dressed and have a cuppa in peace. Make some freezer meals at weekends for the week so you don't have to spend all evening cooking when you get in. I have worked part time since DD1 was 5 months(she is 5 now and we have DD2 as well now) and have always managed ok, good luck hope it goes smoothly for you!

MRS_TO_BE_2

Thanks Daisydoll. Think I will also do shopping online as i'm the only driver and hate going...esp in the summer when all the shelves are empty cos of tourist trade!

charlies_mum_3

You may be entitled to help with childcare costs from Tax Credits - worth a call to check... 0845 300 3900.

charlies_mum_3

Forgot to say "Good Luck"! It's hard leaving little one to start with but it gets easier with time. Just keep reminding yourself that you're doing this to make a better life for you & your family.

Paparika

charlies_mum wrote: »

You may be entitled to help with childcare costs from Tax Credits - worth a call to check... 0845 300 3900.

sayno to 0870 gives you alternative numbers which i find better as the tax credits one this time of year is busy because of renewals of annual packs 01355 359007
http://www.saynoto0870.com/search.php type in company name and pick a number for you

MRS_TO_BE_2

Thank you for help so far..ideal you have given alternative to 0845 number as need to phone tomorrow as still no renewal pack!

Sadly no help with Childcare from tax credits but am doing childcare vouchers.

DaisyFlower

I definitely agree re getting up 30 mins earlier than baby, I still do this now and my son started school this year. I get to have a cup of coffee in peace and I log on and do any bits of shopping, read the news etc.

Batch cooking is great too, as well as having plenty of simple things in to cook for the nights when you are tired. One of my friends makes sandwiches for the week and freezes them to save making lunches in the morning.

Blitz the house once a week and its easier to keep on top of when your home. Same goes for the ironing as its a pain to iron every morning.

Food shopping on the net is brilliant, especially the late slots as you can put it away in peace without anybody messing or eating it lol.

It can take a while to get into a routine and dont worry if some nights you dont get to do everything.

Js_Other_Half

<hugs>

I found it incredibly stressful going back to work and leaving DS in nursery 3 days per week.

However, it does get better, and now he is happy to be left and happy to be picked up again.

Depending on how old your child is, I would suggest some way of telling him where he is going the 3 days he is in nursery. We downloaded a photo of our nursery and printed it out. The mornings he goes there, we show him the pic and sing a nursery rhyme with the name of the nursery in it. At 11 months he caught on quite quickly, and now at 17 months he takes the pic out of the box (of odds and sods) at the front door and tried to convince us to take him there !
I also make sure I am dressed before getting him up on work days, as another visual cue for him. Oh, and on that note - I've been known to have my proper work top on a hanger by the front door so I can change before we leave...:p


I leave out the clothes for him the night before, and DH packs his nursery bag with nappies, bottles, milk cartons, etc and leaves it by the front door. I bought a little hardback notebook and I write down anything I want nursery to know in case one of us neglects to tell them.This lives in the front pocket of his bag, and the staff know to check it.

I do my own packed lunch before i go to bed, and leave it in the insulated bag in the fridge.

Batch cooking is the way to go if you can manage it - any sort of casserole can usually be frozen.

MRS_TO_BE_2

Thank you everyone for all your replies. Looks like organisation is the key. My OH is going to have get more involved! will have to look up some recipes for cooking as will make life easier.

iceicebaby

MRS_TO_BE wrote: »

Thank you everyone for all your replies. Looks like organisation is the key. My OH is going to have get more involved! will have to look up some recipes for cooking as will make life easier.

Have a look at the old style board, literally pages and pages about batch cooking and loads of recipes on there