Any working parent knows that one of the hardest parts about going back to work after maternity leave is having to leave your little ones behind. I have experienced this before with my first-born, and am about to experience it again with my new baby.

This time, my family leave ran right into summer break (I’m a teacher), so I’ve been away from work for 6 months. And I haven’t been going into my workplace with consistency since before the pandemic began.

Let me tell you, preparing has not been easier the second time around.

I have found thorough preparation to be a necessary part of going back to work. It is essential that you prepare as much as possible for your return to the workplace so that everyone is as ready-as-can-be for the big adjustment. Here are the steps I’ve taken to ensure that this transition goes as smoothly as possible.

How To Prepare to go Back to Work After Maternity Leave

Plan for Childcare

For working parents, childcare is obviously a huge factor in returning to work. Before you can head back to the workplace, you must have a place for your kids to go.

In my case, my husband and mom take the bulk of the childcare responsibilities during the school year. I am so grateful that my husband has a flexible schedule and my mom works from home, so they can both be with the kids most of the time I am away. My toddler also goes to preschool a few days a week, which lightens the load.

For parents who don’t have another parent or family members to take care of the kids, decisions have to be made. Will you send your kids to daycare? Preschool? Or what about hiring a babysitter or nanny? Depending on your area and how many kids you have, there is a lot to consider as far as costs and convenience go.

Communicate The Plan

Once you have childcare figured out, it important to make sure that everyone is on the same page with the plan. It is necessary to know who will have the kids when, which parent is responsible for pick up, and all the details about how kids get to appointments and activities during the day.

It can get really confusing when kids spend different days at different places (like my boys, who will be at home with Dad some days, and with Grandma on other days), so it is a good idea to sit down with everyone involved and figure it all out together.

Get Ready To Pump

If you are a breastfeeding or pumping mom, this is a big one. Pumping at work is no joke. It is not for the faint of heart.

To be successful at pumping at work, you must plan carefully.

It is essential that you talk to the appropriate contacts at your workplace to make sure they accommodate your needs. This includes providing a time and space to pump. If you don’t already know the laws about supporting pumping moms in the workplace, make sure to educate yourself so you can be your own advocate.

It is also necessary to make sure you have everything you need to pump at work. Check that you have all of the parts for your pump, as well as back up parts. Make sure you have a way to clean and sanitize your pump as needed.

Make sure you have containers to collect and store the milk in, and a refrigerator to keep the milk in once it is pumped. Also, be sure to have a cooler bag to transport the milk home in.

Pumping at work can be a challenge, but it is totally doable if you plan well and know your rights!

Print Pictures For Your Workspace

Okay, so this one isn’t really a necessity. But when you return to work, you will likely miss your family quite a bit.

For me personally, I find that having pictures of my family in my classroom makes me happy. I love seeing their faces during the day as a reminder of what I get to go home to.

It is easy to print a few photos and put them in cute frames, or to even get a digital frame for more options. Whatever you chose, it can be nice to have reminders of home in your workspace.

Prepare Your Kids

If you just have a baby, this isn’t really something you can do well. But with older kids, its a good idea to get them used to the idea that you will be heading back to work.

I have had conversations with my toddler about the transition, and have tried to make it sound as fun as possible. I’ve said things like, “I’m going to go back to work, which means you get to spend more time with Daddy,” and, “You are going to go to Grandma’s house more, can you help her take care of your baby brother?”

Every kid will handle the transition differently, so it is important to consider your child’s specific personality and needs when thinking about how to approach this. But I truly believe that addressing it directly is important for any kid. That way they aren’t shocked at the big change.

Hold Your Kids Close

Last but certainly not least, spend some extra time loving on your kids. Get all the extra baby snuggles in. Eliminate the distractions and just enjoy the moments being with your kids.

This period in life goes fast (man, I sound old saying that). It’s cliche, but also so true. It’s easy to get sucked up in the busyness of life. It’s easy to not take the moments we get to truly appreciate what we have. So before transitioning back to work, take it all in.

You’ve Got This

Being a working parent is no easy task, and it can be stressful to even comprehend how it will all work out. But it will. If you prepare yourself and your family, your transition back to work can happen smoothly. As always, remember to give yourself grace in the hard moments. You’ve got this, mama!

If you feel working mom guilt start to creep in, check out this post for ways to overcome.