Eimear Hutchinson; After eight years at home I started a new job - here's how it's going

I AM currently three days into my new role as a part time-working mother after eight years at home minding the girls, and already I know this was the right decision for me.

While the role itself is relatively new to me, I am not (yet!) overwhelmed by it and that has certainly made my re-entry into the workplace thoroughly enjoyable thus far.

While the closure of my stay-at-home mothering era brings a tinge of sadness, I find solace in the fact that I was ready for a change.

I loved being at home when the girls needed me, but since the youngest lady started school in September, I had found myself a little bit lacklustre about filling the hours that stretched out ahead of me once I drop them to school.

I can’t believe I actually typed that, knowing how much I craved that headspace when they were really young and needed me constantly! The mind works in mysterious ways though and I knew I was ready for a new challenge.

I had three weeks for myself between Christmas and starting the new role to mourn the end of one era while wisely channeling that energy into making practical adjustments at home.

I spent time sorting out lunchbox drawers, organising shoes and coats, and decluttering my own clothes; small yet impactful changes that would prove useful in the days ahead.

Recognising the importance of my hobbies as a form of self-care, I ensured my craft room was an organised haven ready to embrace snatched moments of creativity. I also treated myself to an afternoon at the spa, knowing that such a luxury will be well down the pecking order of priorities going forward.

I did a lot of mental preparation too. I was, perhaps understandably, nervous about how my return to work would affect the girls.

Returning to work after a hiatus spent nurturing and caring for children is a momentous and emotional journey for many. My decision to re-enter the workforce was accompanied by a myriad of feelings, ranging from excitement and anticipation to guilt and anxiety.

This emotional upheaval is a natural part of the process, and acknowledging and addressing these sentiments was a crucial element for me to ensure a successful transition.

On a day-to-day basis, my being at work doesn’t really affect them because I only work four hours in the day while they are in school but it’s the holidays from school and the sick days (of which we have already had one!) that I will find hard to juggle. I have had to make peace with any feelings of guilt I had around that. I do take some comfort in the fact that it’s not often they need me and we probably all need a little independence from each other.

I had fallen into a habit of going to bed late and getting up late, previously safe in the knowledge that I just had to escape out the door for the school run and the chaos we left in our midst could be tidied upon my return. I have made a pact with myself that I will go to bed earlier and get up earlier.

I thought the change in habit would be harder, but I think the enthusiasm I have for my new role is helping me bounce out of bed at the crack of dawn - so far anyway! 

My days are significantly more mentally challenging and already I can feel the tiredness creeping in – I fell asleep as a passenger in the car on my first day on the way home from the conference we were attending.

By the end of my second day, a sense of reassurance enveloped me. Returning to a workplace I left almost exactly eight years ago felt like coming home. While the faces and systems were familiar, there was a freshness about me that I hadn’t experienced during my previous tenure. The role, my manager, and the team around me had all evolved, creating the perfect environment for a comfortable yet challenging return.

As I settled back into the rhythm of work, an unexpected realisation surfaced - I missed the interaction with other people more than I had anticipated. I was very contented with my own company in the last eight years, living within a relatively small bubble, but I’ve already come to realise the camaraderie and energy derived from planning and organising as part of a group has brought a new pep to my step.

Engaging with others, bouncing ideas off them, and seeking advice added a dynamic dimension to my work that I hadn’t fully appreciated before.

In the multi-faceted journey of returning to work, each day unfolds with new lessons, challenges, and moments of fulfillment. The emotional tapestry woven during this transition reflects not only the end of one era but the beginning of another - I hope what lies head is a chapter where personal and professional growth intertwine hopefully harmoniously.

It is a journey that will undoubtedly have its ups and downs, but as I navigate this period, I am reminded that the beauty lies not only in the destination, but in the evolution and self-discovery that unfold along the way.