Been full remote for 18 months with two kids at home. Now the company wants us back in the office MWF and I'm honestly dreading it. Daycare costs are going up, I'm missing lunch with my 6yo, and the commute is eating into family time. Anyone else dealing with this transition? How'd you make it work?
That transition is brutal. I'm dealing with the sleep deprivation that comes with it and honestly some nights I'm useless by the time I get home. The daycare costs on top make it feel impossible.
Three days is actually not too bad once you get into a rhythm. The first month I was a mess trying to figure out what the kids needed, when pickups were, all that. Now we've got it dialed in. Give yourself some grace while you're adjusting.
Honestly the hardest part is the mental load of remembering everything that needs to happen while you're not there. Make lists, sync calendars with your partner, automate what you can.
Man, I feel this. I was remote for two years and now it's back to the office 4 days a week. The transition is rough. The biggest thing I did was set up a solid backup plan for afternoons with the kids. It gets easier after a few weeks once everyone adjusts.
The guilt hit me harder than anything else. Like I felt like I was abandoning them even though I wasn't. Talk to your co-parent about dividing up the responsibilities so you're not carrying it all mentally.
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18 months of routine is hard to break. I'd be dreading it too. Maybe it gets easier once you adjust but that first month is going to feel like whiplash for everyone.