Six weeks back at work and I'm enjoying it more than I expected. Is that a terrible thing to say?

umber_balcony_86282 Apr 2026

Our son is five months old. I went back to work six weeks ago fully ready to be miserable. Instead I'm... fine? Better than fine. I finish sentences. I drink tea while it's hot. I talk to adults about things that aren't nap windows 😄 The caregiver is good, he's happy with her, and I'm home by 6.30 for the evening stretch. But every time an aunty calls and asks 'how are you managing without him', I say 'it's very hard', because that seems to be the expected answer. Does anyone else feel this, or am I the odd one out?

5 comments

lagoon_moon_78812 Apr 2026
When our children were small, both of us went back to work early, and people said things then too. The children grew up fine and nobody remembers now who was home when. Say what's true. 🤷
- teal_fern_99373 Apr 2026
  my partner is staying home a while longer and gets the opposite question. 'so when are you going back'. nobody's satisfied with either answer
saffron_veranda_85812 Apr 2026
Two months in, still on leave, and I'm already secretly planning my first day back. You're not the odd one out. Borrowing 'it's very hard' for my relatives too 😂
rose_notebook_18792 Apr 2026
Nothing terrible about it. I cut down my own work hours this year and the first thing everyone asks is whether I'm bored. You can't win with relatives 🤷 Try the truth on one of them and see what happens.
- umber_balcony_86282 Apr 2026
  Ha, I tried the truth on my mother-in-law this evening. Long pause, then 'good, good'. I'll take it.
mint_notebook_72862 Apr 2026
My partner went through exactly this with both our boys. Mostly it was guilt about not feeling guilty. What helped was saying it out loud to one or two friends who'd get it, and keeping the extended family on the short version. The aunties don't need the full update 🙂
bronze_hammock_28013 Apr 2026
Who decided enjoying work is terrible? He's fed, safe and happy, and you're home for the evenings. That's the job. Stop giving people the answer they're fishing for.