Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

I'm going to start this post off with saying that this has been a really big transition and I am definitely not through it yet. It you're in a similar boat, you've got this. I may not have all the answers here, but this is what our family is trying out right now.
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With the New Year came a whole new schedule for our family! I returned to work at the beginning of January, which means Belle also officially started daycare, too. We're still figuring things out and making small adjustments here and there, but I wanted to share where we're at now.

Our Daily Schedule
5:00 – I wake up. Sometime around now, Isabelle also wakes for a short feed and usually needs her diaper changed. I get her back to sleep and then go about getting ready for my day.
6:30 – Isabelle wakes up and Dan gets her started with breakfast.
7:00 – Dan gets Isabelle dressed while I pack bags and get everything into the car.
7:15 – Kisses to Dan and then Isabelle and I are off to daycare while Dan heads to work down the street.
7:30 – Drop Isabelle at daycare, continue on to work.
7:45 – Park across the river, walk into downtown.
8:00 – Arrive at work.
4:15 – Done work, walk back across the river. Dan is arriving home with Isabelle around this time.
4:30 – Reach my car, drive home.
5:00 – Arrive at home. Family time, Isabelle eats supper.
6:30 – Start bedtime routine for Isabelle.
7:00 – Latest that Isabelle falls asleep. Adult time.
9:00 – Bedtime.

As you can see, we have the logistics surrounding Isabelle and her care pretty well figured out. Originally I was going to handle both drop off and pick up, because I'm out and about in the city anyway and Dan works a block from where we live. But it just wouldn't work because it would make Isabelle have almost an hour more away from home, and my day is already long enough as it is. Having Dan pick Isabelle up, while inconvenient, makes the most sense for all of us. It also gives the two of them some quality time together before I get home.

What I need to work on now is getting everything else done. How do working moms do it?! I've already begun meal prepping for lunches, but I quickly realized this week that I am going to need to ingredient prep for our suppers, too. I'm so used to just doing tasks around the house as they're needed, but I'm also going to figure out a weekly schedule and try that out for awhile. But what about grocery shopping? The best time would be on my way home from work, but then that cuts into the precious time I have with Belle before she goes to sleep.

That's just the tip of the ice berg for my questions about scheduling and life and productivity. Any other working moms out there? Do you have any tips?! Any and all advice would be appreciated right now. Please leave me a comment!

What I Have Come to Realize About Daycare

My thoughts and emotions have run the gamut around daycare and its role in the life of my family. For our family, the reality is that I will need to return to work soon and my husband is also working, so our daughter will have to be cared for by someone other than one of us. This being a reality and pretty much our only option doesn't make it an easy decision, though!

My Dilemma with Working
I really enjoy working, but I would also LOVE to spend my days with my daughter and any future children we may choose to have. I look around me, and a lot of the women in my life have chosen and are able to stay at home with their babies. And it makes my heart ache to be like them!

However, as I inch closer and closer to my return to work, I actually feel super excited about it! There is something to be said about having a regular routine that is outside of the house, to have responsibilities that do not revolve around my child or my family, and to have this part of my day that is just for me.

Heading in to maternity leave, I knew that I would have to return to work, but a major goal that I set for myself was to figure out what I truly want in this regard. I was feeling quite conflicted, partly due to the pregnancy hormones, and partly because I didn't actually know what was best for our family, or what I even wanted. For me to stay at home, or for me to work. Even though I knew I needed to return to work this time, I wanted to know if I was returning in order to focus on my career, because that's where we wanted me to be, or if it was for the ultimate goal of staying home one day.

To be honest, I still don't know. But, I do know that I am excited to go back and that is in large part due to my recent feelings about daycare.

My Thoughts About Daycare (For Our Family)
We have all heard the arguments for and against daycare; "your children need socialization," "you don't want someone else to raise your children." No one is right or wrong, because everyone's circumstances are different. But to have all of these opinions thrown at you makes it really difficult to figure out what you think and what is best for you and your family.

I think I fall right in the middle - my perfect situation would be having Isabelle in daycare around 60% of the time, with me working 40% so I have a bit of time at home or in my week to do other things before getting to focus on her. But that's not how it is for us.

Something that really helped me to realize daycare is a good fit for our family right now is learning Belle's personality as she has grown. She is extremely social. I mean extremely. She waves and says hi to any person we encounter; she thrives off of playtime with her cousins and friends; if she is grumpy and sleepy but not going to sleep for some reason, I just need to get her around other people and her mood improves before having the best sleep once we get home; and she can skip naps and not be affected as long as she is with other people. I am so much the opposite. I am an introvert, through and through, and while I can totally handle quite a bit of socializing, I don't think I can handle nearly as much as she actually needs. Enter daycare. She can spend her days playing with other children and learning to take direction from another adult, all while I go to work!

I am super thankful to have found daycare arrangements for Isabelle that I am very comfortable with and confident in. That has been the biggest challenge and stressor for me, so I am happy to have it settled. I would offer to share tips, but I don't really think I have any, and each city seems to have a different landscape when it comes to daycare. However, if you have any suggestions or tips for others, feel free to share them in the comments!

What ended up being the best situation for your family? Or what do you think would be best for you one day?