Just took a 4 week paternity leave and honestly dreading going back | DadHQ

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Just took a 4 week paternity leave and honestly dreading going back

2w ago·1 min read

Got back from paternity leave yesterday and spent most of today just staring at my inbox. Four weeks with my newborn and wife was incredible but now I'm looking at 47 unread emails and a project deadline that moved up. My manager keeps saying "just ease back in" but that's not how it works when you've got a backlog like this. Anyone else struggle with the transition? I love my job but man, being home with the baby made me realize what I've been missing.

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Comments(6)

RRyan M.Regular2w ago

Dude, I feel this. Coming back is always rough but honestly those memories with your newborn are gonna stick with you way more than any email will. Give yourself a few days to settle back in, you'll find your rhythm again.

TTrevor M.New Dad2w ago

Man, that inbox stare is real. I did the same thing when I got back from my leave with kid number two. The trick is just tackling it in chunks instead of all at once. Those four weeks are gold though, makes it worth the readjustment.

CChris M.Regular2w ago

That re-entry is brutal. You just spent four weeks being fully present and now you're back to the grind. Cut yourself some slack getting back into the rhythm.

LLuke M.Regular1w ago

Four weeks though, that's amazing. Most of us don't get that much time. Cherish it but yeah, the Monday back hits different.

JJosh M.Regular1w ago

I remember that feeling so well. The transition back is harder than people think. Just take it one day at a time for the first week.

TTom M.Regular1w ago

That inbox is going to still be there whether you stare at it now or later. Give yourself a day to decompress. Four weeks with your kid, you've earned it.