Took 8 weeks off when my second was born and honestly it went by so fast. Back at work for a week now and I feel like I'm missing everything. My oldest had his first soccer game yesterday and I was in meetings. The new baby doesn't sleep at night and I'm functioning on basically nothing. My manager keeps piling stuff on like I didn't just take 2 months off. How do you guys do this every day?
That adjustment back is brutal. I won't lie. You're going from 24/7 dad mode to trying to focus on work and it's like your brain can't switch gears. Takes a couple weeks minimum.
The guilt of leaving is the worst part I think. But you've got this. It does get easier once you settle back into the routine. Just be patient with yourself the first couple weeks.
Eight weeks will fly by but that first week back hits hard. The good news is you know what you're missing now and you can be more intentional about it. Hang in there.
That feeling is tough but it does get easier as you find your rhythm again. The kids will be fine and you'll get back to seeing them more. Stay strong man.
The mental whiplash is real. Going from being Dad all day to trying to focus on spreadsheets while thinking about your kid at daycare. How are you holding up actually?
This is why remote work would be a game changer for you. Have you had the conversation with your employer about it yet?
We did 12 weeks with our second and I still felt like I was leaving too early. Coming back to work felt like I was abandoning something important, even though logically I knew better.
Eight weeks is such a tease because you finally start getting into a rhythm and then boom, back to emails and meetings. That first week back is brutal.
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Eight weeks goes so fast man. I felt the same way coming back after my second. The office felt so quiet compared to home. Give yourself a few weeks to readjust, it gets easier.