Transitioning Back to Work After Maternity Leave

Welp, this is my last full week of my official, self-imposed "maternity leave." Obviously, this is a weird thing to say, because I work for myself and therefore make my own schedule and could make my maternity leave as long as I want it to be, but as mixed as I feel about it, I've decided that I'm ready to start transitioning  s l o w l y  back to work starting next week.

In fact, I've already been doing some bits of work here and there over the past 2-3 weeks, and it's felt good to use my brain in the way that I did before baby. Usually, this work is done while Charlie Mae is asleep in her carrier on my chest, and therefore, I don't feel bad about doing it, but next week, things become more official. 

Before I get into that, though, let me back up: when I got subs for my classes and transitioned all of the in-progress Starr Struck Design Studio business over to Sara back in August, I left things open-ended; I told everyone I would be back in anywhere from 6-12 weeks, depending on how I was feeling.

When Charlie Mae was about 1 week old, I looked at Ben and said, "How am I ever going to go back to work? How am I ever going to get anything done again?" And I meant it. It felt impossible.

But then, we hit week 5 or so, and I saw that I would be able to transition back--and actually, would be able to do so sooner than I had previously thought. I reached out to the childcare provider that we hired back in early August, and asked if she'd be up for starting for just 10 hours per week the week of October 17th--Charlie Mae's 8th week of life. I reached out to the studios where I teach and started discussing return dates, and once I got everything ironed out, felt really good about my ability to inch back into work at my own pace (even if it is also kind of sad and anxiety-producing to do so). 

Curious what my return to work will look like? 

Well, starting this Saturday morning, I'm returning to teaching just 3 classes per week, all at the studio that's closest to my house (5 mins away). When I leave to teach these classes, I'm gone just 2 hours and Ben will be home at all of the times they take place, so it's an obvious fit. 

Then, I'll return to the rest of my classes at the studios that are farther away from my house and thus, involve a commute and a longer time away from my breastfeeding baby (who still eats every 1-2 hours) in November. 

As for my art, design, + consulting work, I'll be slowly transitioning back starting next week, thanks to the help of the aforementioned babysitter who will be coming to the house to stay with Charlie Mae twice per week while I work in the other room (and pop out to feed her as needed). Starting in November, our childcare provider will start coming 3 days per week so that I have a bit more time to work. 

And that leaves the blog! I've decided to ease back into posting regularly here, too. My new "regular posting schedule" will probably be 3 days per week once I'm back to it; for now, I'm going to try and post 1-2 times per week and work up to 3 times per week starting in November (FYI, everyone's favorite, Simple Joys of the Week, will be back starting in November). 

I'm not sure if I'm 100% ready to get back into all of these things over the next couple of weeks, but at the same time, I want to. I'm eager to resume some of the work that I love so much, and that gives me purpose, a creative outlet, and a connection with the world, but I'm also horrified at the thought of not spending almost every waking minute with our sweet girl, and of having someone else take care of her--even if it is in our home while I'm home, too (!!!!). 

S0, to my yoga students: I'll see you back on the mat starting this Saturday and continuing until I'm back up to my full teaching schedule in early November (I did decide to give up one class when I return--you can see my full, updated teaching schedule here). 

To my art, design, and consulting clients: my maternity leave autoresponder will go away starting Monday the 17th, so feel free to reach out with any needs you've been holding off on or any new projects you want to start! I'm excited to get back to it ;) 

And for fellow new moms and/or new moms to-be: I should mention that one of the main reasons I feel ready to get back to work now is because Charlie Mae has been such a [relatively] easy baby. Since her arrival, I have gotten much more sleep than I anticipated and she's been a champion breastfeeder, which I can't take any credit for, but which I am very grateful for. Also, my body has healed quickly from birth; I credit yoga, sleep, having so much help, + all of the good food Ben has been making for me.

I *DO NOT* want anyone reading this to feel bad if they aren't ready to go back to work at a similar time, and want to be clear that if I had to return to a full-time job where I was away from home 40+ hours per week right now, I would not be ready at all. Like, at all at all at all. I can't imagine. 
 
In addition, lets call a spade a spade: I'm not on paid maternity leave. When I don't work, I don't make [much] money. Financially, it's also in our best interest as a family for me to return to work, which definitely plays into my decision to start transitioning back next week. Self-employment, y'all! There are pluses and minuses to everything. 

So I'll stop there for now and go enjoy my last week of no work (my dad is coming in town to help +  get to know his grandaughter better. Hooray!)...see many of you very soon!