Took 4 weeks off after our second was born and those were some of the best days of my life. Now I'm back at the office and the guilt is crushing me. Missed my son's first real smile today and I wasn't there. Boss is already piling on projects like I didn't just become a dad. Remote work 2 days a week but it's not enough. How do you guys handle this transition? Does it get easier?
Man, I felt this in my soul. I'm back at the office full time and some days I'm just staring at my computer thinking about how my kids are growing up without me there. The first week is the hardest though, it gets a little easier as you find your rhythm.
Four weeks sounds amazing but yeah, coming back to work after that is rough. Hang in there - we all feel that same weight. It gets easier, I promise.
That first week back is brutal, man. The guilt fades a bit once you settle in, but I won't lie - it still hits different. You're doing the right thing for your family even when it doesn't feel like it.
Remote work might be worth exploring if your company allows it. Even a couple days from home made a huge difference for me. Being able to pop in during lunch to help with the baby changed everything.
Sign in to join the conversation.
Four weeks is amazing though. I only got two weeks and I'm still feeling that sting. The good news is you'll start to appreciate the work part again once you settle back in. At least that's what I keep telling myself.