On getting back to work after having a kid

Baby Lyra helping us get our work done...sorta.

New parents, we see you. We know your sleepless nights, your endless uncertainty, how your phone is now 100% full baby photos, how your world has changed dramatically. It's awesome in every sense of the word.

Whether your time away from work has been two weeks or two years, the process of returning to work after welcoming a new kid into your world can be rocky. We want to help make it smooth.

Here at Office Nomads we've had our fair share of new parents in the space and we've learned a thing or two about what works when it comes to getting back to work. We recently asked the parents of Office Nomads what they wish they'd known as they got ready to leave their compounds and return to the working world. And they had some really great things to say:

Alex and one of his newest additions. Awwww.

"Take it easy on yourself."

Application engineer and dad of three, Alex reminded us right off the bat that the most important thing is to be kind to yourself. "It'll take a while to catch back up to everything that's going on at work and to be able to contribute like you were before. That's not only ok, but is really expected."

It's easy to forget this in the haze of new parentdom, but you are not the first person in the world to go through this process. Many of the people you work with, whether a teammate or a client, have been in your shoes. They remember those first days and weeks back at work and how disorienting they can be. Try to take it easy and give yourself some time to get re-acquainted with your work and your new schedule. You don't have to set your expectations of yourself at "superhero" level.

One great way to help you take it easy as you get started? Express your gratitude to your teammates, your clients, or your colleagues who stepped up in your absence. This will help in two ways: first, they'll feel great that you recognized their efforts. Second, expressing your gratitude can help ground yourself in the process, and remind you that you are note alone.

Susan's little helper for catching up on bookkeeping at home.

Working from home? Set some boundaries.

For many of us, the reality of getting back to work with a new kid in the house will likely mean working from home for some or all of the time. If working from home wasn't easy for you before, it won't be any easier now. So it'll be even more important to set some boundaries so you can get back in the game.

"Set a timer for yourself so you have a clear boundary around some work hours," says Susan, mom of two. "During your allotted work hours – you know, during nap time – it's important to let the house work go. You have to let the dishes and the messes wait. I found that working in short "sprints" let me get just enough done before my kid woke up or I needed to go change the laundry."

Sick kids require cuddles.

"Plan for more sick time.”

New reality alert: your sick days are not just for when you are sick. They're also for when your kiddo gets sick. Roberta, freelance science writer and momma of one, shares: "have a plan for your kid's sick days: build in extra days off for yourself, have backup babysitters on speed dial, and figure out if/how you and your partner will trade off child care during the day."

Coordinating how you want to handle sick time before the sick days arrive can save you the stress that comes with "OMG what am I going to do?!?" And maybe, just maybe, it'll make those sick days a little less scary.

Slow and steady.

"If you can, start slow."

Finally, if you have a choice in how you return from leave, take it slow. If starting back part-time is possible, give it a try. Ask for some flexibility as you get used to your new schedule. And remember that your new schedule will feel different every day, depending on how well rested you are.

Our Nomadic Parents all told us that if one day feels totally overwhelming, it can be really useful to remember that it all might feel completely different in one week. Giving yourself some time and patience is the best gift of all.

As a special bonus for coworkers of returning parents, Bill has a great practice to share: "we start a re-boarding document for [the new parent] (like onboarding) that is meant to track important changes in work while they are out." That way a returning parent has a snapshot of what has been going on during the time they are away. Pretty great, right? If your team doesn't do this already, it's never too late to start.

You can do it, we know you can!

If you are a parent heading back to work after a new addition to your family, you can get two months of coworking at Office Nomads (at any level you'd like) for the price of one. Because we know that in those early days especially, things usually take twice as long. We get it. Just drop us a line and let us know when you’d like to come in.

See you soon.

2020 UPDATE: Exciting news in Washington State! All WA employees now qualify for Paid Family and Medical Leave. Learn more on the State’s website.