Took 4 weeks off when my second was born and it was amazing. Got back Monday and it's like I never left except now I'm checking the baby cam every 5 minutes and I can't focus on anything. Wife is home with the kids which helps but I feel guilty, distracted, and my boss is already asking about a project I'm supposed to lead. How long did it take you guys to get back in the groove?
The whiplash is real. Four weeks of being present every second and then boom back to the grind. Hang in there.
Father of three under ten here so I feel this in my bones. You're juggling a lot right now and that guilt is normal but temporary. Build in one thing each day that's just about being present, even if it's 15 minutes. That helped me survive the transition.
That baby cam checking is real and it doesn't go away fast. First week back after paternity is the hardest - you're split in half mentally. Give yourself some grace while you adjust to the rhythm again.
Dude, those first weeks back are brutal. I felt the same way with kid number two. The good news is it gets easier once you settle into the routine. The constant checking will fade once you trust that everything's actually fine at home.
Sign in to join the conversation.
Four weeks sounds like a dream compared to what I had. First week back from leave was brutal for me too. The kids act like you never left but also like you abandoned them somehow.
It gets easier man. By week two you remember how to work and be a parent at the same time. It's like your brain has to recalibrate.