Skip to main content

Nearly nine months.... nearly time to go back

 Hey guys its Jess here, 

Today I just want to share a little about where we are now! 


We are nearly nine months old! This is very exciting, but very daunting as it also means it's nearly time to go back to work, I am excited as I am stepping into a new role, but also a little anxious, I've been out of the game for a little while, wrapped up in the cosy bubble of being a Mama, and now i need to tackle the challenge of learning to be a Mama AND a teacher. 

This week we have been doing settles at nursery, he has done so well, of course there were tears, its to be expected, its very different settling in to nursery, even if they have been to lots of play groups, spent time with family without you present or been around lots of new people. It can be a little overwhelming to be in a new place with new faces, smells and sounds and then to realise your Mama or Da isn't there? I would cry too! 

Saying that though, early years educators work really hard to help new little ones settle, find their


favourite toys, give them cuddles and make it a positive experience, so even though we had tears, I know he was okay, and I know he will be fine. 

The last 9 months have been a bit of a whirl wind, I had to learn to be me in a different light, and there was very little training before hand, and even with the info i had gained before bringing little man into the world i still had to learn so much on the fly! 

Navigating nap times, exploring new food, battling boob feeds and learning social skills, it's been a lot, and it will continue to be, just with a few more life balancing challenges thrown in. 

Here are some of my key things to take away from my maternity leave. 

1. As I transition back to work I do feel anxious, and guilty like I have squandered the last 9 months away because I haven't achieved something, but i also know I have achieved plenty, I helped a little boy grow into a little man, I kept him safe, I enjoyed learning with him, I made mama friends, I learned how to be a mama myself, I started to recover and I got some de-cluttering done in between.

2. Being a parent is hard, but so rewarding and so worth it! 

3. Paid maternity leave is not enough! I was fortunate to have enhanced pay at the beginning which gave a boost and hubby had 8 weeks paternity, something that isn't often found, but like many, I had built up a stash of savings to top up my statutory maternity pay to cover my monthly outgoings, and like many I do have to return to work when little man is 9 months because I cannot justify or afford 3 months unpaid leave. It would be nice in future years to see this change so mamas don't have to go back before 12 months without a mass of savings or making big sacrifices, and I would love to see more paternity leave that's longer than two weeks! especially when the first 4-6 weeks are the hardest! 

So here we are, coming up to Christmas, and getting ready to settle into a new year with a new challenge, 

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new year! See you in 2025! 

Scribble back

Lots of love

Jess 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Solo bike ride and Squirrels

 Hey guys,  Welcome back to the adventure blog! A weekly Blog where I share with you my adventures through sports, fitness, life and everything in between! This week I want to share my first solo bike ride, well it's sort of my first solo bike ride.  Okay so background check, its not my first time riding solo on a bike, I use to do it to and from work, and I've been round the park several times on my own, and growing up back home I was always out on the bike, but this was my first solo bike ride that was just a bike ride, not a commute, but a self navigated bike ride, on a road bike, by myself.  I am not as confident a cyclist as i was growing up, but growing up I always stuck to paths or trails and there were a lot less cars, where I live now is busier for cars and I generally try to stay off the path unless its a cycle path, this has meant working my way through building my confidence on a bike.  Chris has taken me out on several bike rides, some long ones som...
Post a Comment
Read more

Wind down week and keeping plants alive......

 Double post this weekend guys! (only just got round to posting my Halloween one)  This week has been a mostly chilled one with a week of lighter work outs and more rest before I kick start my first hard week of three, I'm going to be following a three weeks on one week off system, so 3 weeks of harder efforts and then an easier week, the easier week will still have runs and rides, just a lower intensity.  This week I have also been working on my plants, I dropped a small fortune on plant care stuff, pots and an orchid but I finally have everything i need to complete my indoor gardener badge, so all i have to do now is keep them alive till January.... If you're wondering what i am on about talking about badges, I am working through the Rebel Badge book  a book that gives you tasks to do to earn badges much like scouts or guides but for adults! Its a fun little book with a great community around it.  So one expensive shopping trip and a huge mess later I have all...
Post a Comment
Read more

Where did my baby go?

(contains amazon associates link)  Hey guys, it's been a while!  My last post was a little before my return to work, were are now half way through  2025!  So where are we? Well little man isn't so little, at 16 months he is in full blown toddler hood, we walk, run, climb, scream, babble, and have super sass (gets that from me), we get frustrated at not being able to do things but want to be into doing everything! He has been at nursery for about 7 months now and has fully settled in found his confidence and loves every day! We have had our fair share of illnesses, accidents and art work and we are currently preparing for the transition to the next room.  As for me, I've settled into being a Mama and a Teacher, I've reflected on my life and started making adjustments, I have also had my fair share of illnesses (though not as many as the boy) and I'm surviving, not quite thriving, but getting closer to the threshold.  What have we been up to? Lately? trying t...
Post a Comment
Read more