Four weeks into maternity leave and I've been joining my team's standups 'just to listen'

moss_balcony_11396 Jul 2026

He's four weeks old today. Between my mother and our caregiver the days are under control, which leaves me odd stretches where he's asleep and I'm not. So I've started dialling into the morning standup on mute. Just listening. Then I catch myself replying to a thread, and yesterday I gave an opinion on a launch date while feeding him. My manager hasn't asked for any of this. I think I'm doing it because work is the one thing I feel sure of right now ❤ Did anyone else do this on leave? Did you stop, and how?

6 comments

silver_badminton_57326 Jul 2026
With my first I was back at the warehouse in three weeks because nobody else could run it. I don't regret it for the business, but I barely remember those months with him. If your team can manage without you, let them. The standups will still be there.
- moss_balcony_11396 Jul 2026
  'I barely remember those months' is going to stay with me. Thank you for saying it so plainly.
- linen_gecko_17907 Jul 2026
  When our first was born, my partner kept 'just checking' the staff group every day. What stopped it was the head of department taking my partner off it for a few months. Sometimes it's easier when the workplace makes the decision for you.
tawny_meadow_7446 Jul 2026
I did this six years ago with my son, logging in to fix 'one small query'. Nobody remembers that query now, including me. What helped was deleting the work apps from my phone and keeping them only on the laptop, which went into a drawer.
mango_balcony_11106 Jul 2026
Does your manager know you're listening in? Sometimes the team starts depending on it, and then 'you were on leave' gets harder to say later. I would tell them plainly that you're stepping away until a fixed date.
cedar_rain_23786 Jul 2026
Three months in, I still read every department email. Haven't replied to one yet, which I'm counting as progress.
silver_pebble_18977 Jul 2026
Ba used to say the baby won't remember these weeks but you will. I was on calls with my daughter on my lap too. Close the laptop for one week and see who really needs you. Mostly nobody, in a good way 😊
cedar_camera_67827 Jul 2026
My partner's a doctor and kept getting case calls during leave. We started leaving the phone on the hall shelf during the baby's naps. A week of grumbling, then a lot more sleep.