Maternity leave, 6-8 weeks of heaven…or hell depending on how you look at it. My maternity leave was a little of both, but at the end I did not want to return to work. I found it very difficult to sit behind my desk from 8-5 every day without running out to check on Liam at lunch, just for an hour of play time or rocking whatever he was due for when I arrived. Sometimes I would spend my entire hour lunch just sitting with him while he napped, gone before he awoke, never knowing I was there. One of my best friends and coworkers helped me get through the days with the constant chatter and a amazing gift I cherished—my digital picture frame. The days got easier as I sat watching pictures of my little guy scroll by.
Looking back, I have come to realize that that little device was a life saver to my return to work along with several other items. So, I thought I would share some of what I consider “must have desk items for the returning mommie”.
Must have desk item:
#1: Digital Picture Frame – shows more than just one photo like an ordinary wooden frame.
#2: A large Calendar—your schedule now will be much busier than before with all your infants needs combined with your own. A family calendar will make it much easier to keep up with all yours and baby’s appointments, hospital and daycare bill due dates, check ups and more. (I recommend going to Vistaprint and making a photo calendar; they are always cheap and always on sale. I got mine for free and just paid the shipping!)
#3: Box of Kleenex tissues—even if you think you will be “just fine returning to work” or “actually want to return” trust me at some point you will find your unbalanced hormones working against you to move you to tears at the smallest thing and you will need the entire box (or several) of tissues.
#4: Post-It-Notes--- And lots of them! You will find your forgetful “preggo brain” lasts longer than just the pregnancy and the need to write down quick notes to help you remember the important things will take over!
#5: Snack Drawer--- just like your “preggo brain” didn’t disappear over night; neither will your pregnant appetite. You will still feel the need to snack often until it gradually returns to normal or you wean yourself off of them.
#6: The Number List--- Even if your cell phone has your babysitter, your mom and your pediatrician on speed dial I doubt your place of employment appreciates you answering your cell phone during work hours…I could be wrong but I doubt it. So for the first few weeks, before you have dialed the numbers enough to have them memorized, you will need a number list at your desk so that you can use your work phone (if allowed) to place these calls. (Some numbers I suggest: your OBGYN, baby’s pediatrician, babysitter/daycare, backup babysitter, grandparents, and any specialists your child sees (for us there were several!!).)
#7: Stress ball—when I returned to work I found little things started to pile up on me, from appointments to nursing schedules, to the to do list that was longer than my amount of sleep each night! The stress ball kept me from exploding at my coworkers and relieved a little bit of tension. (Your stress relief could be something different like music or smelly candles too!)
#8: Coffee—for me caffeine was a must just to keep awake at my desk! I kept an endless supply once I quit nursing!
#9: Pictures—(reinforced by the #1 item) be sure to surround yourself with tons of photos of your little bundle of joy; they will help you make it the day go by so much faster!
And that’s my list! I tried hard to think of a tenth item to make it an even ten but could not….please feel free to let me know what I have forgotten!
MEMO TO MOM: Don't call your sitter more than 10 times a day....it will annoy her.
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