I’m several months back from mat leave and have recently started to feel so off being at work. My mind is totally checked out and it feels wrong to be at work instead of home (LO who is coming up on 1 yr). I feel like I can’t focus and concentrate and just count down the hours until I can be home. I don’t love what I do but definitely do not want to be a full time SAHM and just feel so stuck, not sure what my options really are. Is anyone else feeling this (or made it out the other side)?

The first 1-2 years, I felt like a zombie. But it gets better! My LO didn’t sleep through the night, so i gave in and started co-sleeping with him at about 18 months, which i really didn’t want to do but needed to out of necessity. I immediately started regaining my sense of function. Also, if you are still breastfeeding, just know that I felt like a completely new person after stopping. Something about those hormones made my mind so hazy. My son is 3.5 now, and I’m about to do it all over again with our second baby.

I'm feeling this. My LO just turned 15mo

I’m not sure if I’ve ever settled into this career but I’m 8 years in and started my legal career right after my first was born. My youngest is almost 5. The first 3 years for each kid is extra rough because it’s more physically demanding. It gets easier but it has also just given me more time to question whether I even want to be a lawyer. But I agree that we are privileged and so many would give a lot for what we have. It keeps me frozen where I am, unable to think of anything better.

Yes, feel free to dm if you want to chat

I feel the exact same way. Head/heart not in the game at work but do not want to be a full time SAHM. My ideal situation would be to work 2-3 days a week and then do childcare the other 2-3 days but it just doesn’t make financial sense at this point since we’d still need daycare. I also know that stepping away from a firm job now all but guarantees I’d never be able to break back in (not impossible, but highly improbable). I will say that being on a part time (75%) schedule helps a lot.

(Also adding, I am very lucky to have my job and know so many would wish for this, and generally do love my firm and colleagues!)

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I feel very much the same. I like my set up a lot — reduced hours so I take Friday off, Monday-Thursday we have a nanny (who I love) come to the house and I work from home 2-3 days a week so I can pop in and say hi, take lunches with the baby, etc. But I’m still not really settled back into work and the little things that used to roll off my back bother me so much now.

Yes and I honestly want to leave.

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