Had 2 weeks off and I go back Monday. My daughter is 5 weeks old and I feel like I'm just starting to get comfortable with her. I'm terrified of missing milestones or that my wife will feel like I abandoned her when she needs me most. Anyone else dealt with this? How did you handle the guilt of going back? Does it get easier?
Going back after paternity leave was one of the hardest parts for me. The good news is you'll still have weeknights and weekends to be fully present with her. Quality time hits different when you're really focused on it.
That transition back is rough, I won't lie. But you've got this. Five weeks in, you're already bonding with her like crazy. Staying connected on FaceTime with daycare helps too, and evenings are still yours.
The hardest part for me wasn't even the leaving, it was accepting that I was missing stuff during the day. You have to make peace with that fast or it'll drive you crazy. But the flip side is that when you're with her, you're really THERE.
Man, I'm in this phase right now and it's surreal. You spend two weeks just absorbing everything and then suddenly you have to be back in meetings and emails. Five weeks is still so new. Make sure you take some of that comfort stuff back to the office with you - photos, whatever keeps you sane.
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This is such a real feeling. Two weeks feels like enough time to actually start getting into a rhythm and then BAM you're out. Have you thought about what your schedule is going to look like? Finding daycare helped me feel like my daughter was in good hands at least.