Heading to full time work

Hi Snugglebug
Great idea for a thread My DS is 18 months too.
I only work part time (essentially 2 days spread over three) but have done some work (gradually increased it) since DS was 14 weeks old as I have my own business and I couldn't just walk away (as much as I wanted to at the time!!!). I'm lucky with childcare as my DH and my Mum have DS when I am at work.
However, still takes a lot of organisation! I do a lot in the evenings (well try to) - make lunches, put washing on (to hang in the morning) etc. I think the biggest help for me has been getting a cleaner - I know not everyone can afford it, but if you can, even if it is every fortnight, it'll free you up to spend quality time with your DS in the weekends! Not sure on the dinners as I can do them during the day - although I do sort the dinner for the day I am away for a full day, the night before. Maybe you could do a meal plan at the beginning of the week so at least you don't have to think about what you're having! Some girls I know have their kids in daycare that provide food and they give the kiddies a really nutritious lunch which lessens the stress around dinner time. Hope some of that helps!

I think organisation is huge and I'm a bit useless at that). I went back to work three days when DS was 10 months old and went to fulltime when he was just over two.

I find having enough clothes to last the week if you don't get the washing done/dry is a big help - nothing worse than running around at 8am looking for something to wear and my son goes through HEAPS of clothes at daycare (can be two or three changes a day if they're doing messy play).

Packing the bag/getting stuff ready at night also eases stress.

DS comes home starving so I find having a quick dinner option for him essential, especially if we aren't in the door until 5pm otherwise waiting for tea is way too late.

Be prepared to be hit by the winter bugs the first winter in daycare. DS caught heaps that first winter and it was really tough. Having a plan of who can help care for the wee one if they are sick helps. We had no family support here so it was just hubby and I, and I found it quite stressful trying to juggle sick days.

Good luck. That sounds really negative but to be honest, I haven't found the jump from three to five days that bad, and DS thrives at his daycare.

And read this awesome thread here

My girls are 4.5 and these are the things that I do:

- Have everything ready the night before. Bags, lunches and clothes.

- Plan your dinners. I don't do weekly plans, but I always know the night before what we'll be having the next night. Have a few backup easy dinners in the cupboard. Tuna & Pasta is ours.

- Get a cleaner.

- Have a snack in the car for when you pick up DS from care. I have an apple slicer that I bring in the car which is perfect for our 30 minute trip.

- If you have a long commute home then I recommend some audiobooks/childrens music too. Better to listen to The Wiggles than whinging

- Have a set routine in the mornings.
Now that the girls are older we use the clock to set the routine. i.e. They can play before breakfast until 'the big hand gets to 9'. Then when it gets to 2 we go get dressed, and so on for teeth/hair. If we're all ready to leave by the predetermined time (e.g. 7:40) then we all get a sticker.

Wow lots of awesome tips keep them coming if you have any thanks heaps for sharing those who have. I like the idea of cooking two dinners in one go with mince etc as I have gotten used to doing a lot of dinners with mince on a budget hahaha

I am super fortunate that my Mum doesn't work and she is going to look after him full time for 5 weeks until the school holidays to help the transition then in the holidays I am going to visit daycares and he will probably go 2 times a week after that and be with her 3 days, to get the best of both worlds. I am really happy I have my Mum, she is going to look after him at my home some days and at her place some days. She knows my routines as she has been helping me look after him while I worked casually up until now. So hopefully the change is going to be easier on him that way.

I think the cleaner and gardener idea is good too. My main worry is I'm not going to get much time with him and it makes me sad :( luckily with school I can work my hours so hopefully I can get an hour or two at the end of the day before he goes to bed, and have breakfast with him before I drop him off etc.

I am thinking of making Friday nights a night where we all go up to the mall and have dinner together and then he can have a play on the playground etc and spend quality time, I think if we schedule times like that it might make it easier and more fun, having something to look forward to?

DH says he will take DS out on a Sat or Sun morning so I can get any housework and school work done I need to so that will be helpful

To update, I have been at work for 4 days now. Finally starting to settle in a bit and enjoy it, the first few days were hell physically and mentally. I don't think about my DS too much during the day because I'm so busy, but I find myself feeling really sad when I pick him up and realise I missed a lot during the day :( my Mum has been looking after him but she has been struggling so I'm probably going to have to organise daycare a few days a week sooner than I thought, which is making me feel more guilty :( I do hope this feeling passes soon as it is so tough. This has been a really hard adjustment, hopefully in time I will be able to see it as having been worth it

Great section idea!

DH and I both work fulltime and have one child in school (and SKIDS) and the other in daycare.

Things we've found that help are cooking more than one meal at a time (or cooking double amounts so you eat the same meal twice in a row). Or I cook a full meal and the kids get what I cooked the night before - that way I cook after they're in bed.

Lunches made and bags packed the night before.

Superficial cleaning done during the week and Sat morning spent doing the big stuff.

Silly question, but how do you find a cleaner and what does it cost? I'd love to have someone even fortnightly just to do the bathroom and floors!

Oh - I pay $20 an hour.

def look for a cleaner who someone you know is happy using - that'ds how we got our lovely cleaner and she's fab, but I have several friends who have gone through agencies, ads in the paper etc and not had such a good experience.

Azza, for me when I was working full time the time I spent with the family at the weekends because I didn't have to spend it cleaning was waaaay more valuable than the cost of the cleaner.