10 Hardest Things About Maternity Leave

Most of us have been there, sitting around on maternity leave, the baby just went to sleep and you start to think... what have I done today? You took care of a baby thats what! Here are some things you might find difficult about maternity leave. 

1. Watching the clock.
I took 12 weeks off, the most I am allowed by law to keep my job. And I did start to watch the clock when I had about 3 weeks left. And I started to hold her a little longer when I could because I knew I would never get those moments back. I love the feeling when she falls asleep on me.

2. Trying to cram too much in.
I didn’t try to cram anything in except maybe a workout or two. I didn’t try to craft or cook or anything. Heck, it was a good day if I made it out of my pjs!

3. Worrying about what’s going on at work (or the fact that you’re not).
I was in a position at work that I was unhappy with so I didn’t really worry or care with what was going on at the office. I am happy to report that I have moved to another position within the company and it seems like a better fit.

4. Getting anxious about missing milestones.
This did happen to me. My mother-in-law was able to watch her for 3 weeks when I first went back to work. She would take pictures all day and post them Facebook and I loved that! We do get pictures from daycare but only a few a week so it's just not the same.

{you can see just how small she was in the far left picture}

5. Trying to squeeze into your old work wardrobe.

Yeah…I didn’t even try this because I knew it wasn’t going to happen. I spent a pretty penny buying a new work wardrobe. To be honest, I hated it! Before I knew my exact size at all my favorite stores and now I had to spend hours trying on different sizes and seeing what worked and what didn’t. Shopping is (at least for right now) not fun since I am still a bigger size than I was.

6. Envying your partner.
While I do envy how quickly he can get up and get out the door I did not envy him getting out of the house while I was on leave. Like I said above, I wasn’t happy at my job so staying home was fine with me.

7. Feeling isolated.
I did feel a little isolated at times since I really couldn’t take her anywhere (at least until she got her shots). But when my husband came home from work he was on Daddy duty and I was able to go for a short walk or bike ride.

8. Agonizing about child care.
I think having my mother-in-law there really helped me transition emotionally. Although I am sad that I don’t get to spend the day with her, daycare is a part of life and it's just what we have to do. I need to socialize and be challenged as much as she does.

9. Not being able to say where the time goes.
Feed, sleep, repeat - that was reality. People would ask how I was and I would just reply, "You know, busy taking care of a baby." I don’t know what else to say?! I mean I am fine and doing well but my life revolves around her right now.

10. Embracing the chaos.
Parenthood pretty means having a messy house for the rest of your life! With 2 dogs and a baby to take care of things get a little crazy! I keep her room cleaner than any other room in the house!