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So after the first year of parenthood, my wife has returned to work from maternity leave and my laddie has gone into nursery this week.
All that time I've been fortunate enough to work from home in the study where I could close the door and get on with work. But now... silence. It's eerie, No crying, No laughter, No giggling, No sounds of playing reverberating around the house.
Not sure I like it.
Aww, that's so sad. Here, why don't you try playing this really loud:
TBF, you have been lucky to get to spend a full year at home – for many dads (certainly pre-Covid), they went back to the workplace after a couple of weeks of paternity leave.
I bloody love it! September is awesome when the wife and the boy go back to work/school.
Enjoy the peace and quiet! As soon as laddie is mobile he'd be wanting to come and see what daddy is up to. He won't understand that you need to be left in peace, and you'll feel guilty for not giving him the attention he wants.
I mostly work from home and have done for the last 20 years or so. It definitely has it's upsides - walking them to and from nursery/school, having breakfast/dinner with them - but there are many downsides. My two are teenagers now and instead of wanting cuddles or playtime they get home from school and immediately start asking when dinner will be ready, whats for dinner, can I have a lift, can I have a fiver, ......
Don't get me started on school holidays, at least these days I get some peace til about noon as they don't surface until then if there's no school. I'd kill for an office 😀
I'm 4.5 years in but experience/experienced the same feelings. I've put it down to a sense of isolation (granted, not unique to a parent in this WFH-era) and am trying to address by connecting more with friends, seeing if a neighbour who alsso WFH fancies a walk and getting into the work-office a bit more (they downsized at xmas, before that there wasn't much point going in as I felt more lonely there than at home).
I guess what I'm saying just because your concerns aren't as great as others, they're still as valid so take time to consider them before they grow into something harder to handle.
At least you only have to wait a few hours until normal service is resumed, wait until they bugger off to uni/leave home - that takes some getting used to!
after a couple of weeks of paternity leave.
a day in my day. But as my wife said after they'd all left home "what was that all about?" Takes about 5 mins to get used to having a bit of peace.
instead of wanting cuddles or playtime they get home from school and immediately start asking when dinner will be ready, whats for dinner, can I have a lift, can I have a fiver, ……
Had to laugh! 'What's for Dinner?' That is the first thing that comes out, well before any hello's, thanks for picking me up, etc, etc. The bonus is that quite often he'll actually offer to cook dinner if it's something he likes.
"a day in my day."
Wife gave birth at 5am, I was back at my desk at 11am ( the joy of target driven sales roles)
I have 5 little ones at home... coming home after work until they're all down by 9ish can be a little... busy! During the holidays my wife went to visit a friend for a few days taking everyone along but I had to stay behind because of work. The evenings were so still and silent it was almost creepy!
Bliss 😎
So after the first 35years of parenthood, my wife has returned to hybrid working and two more of our children have finally* left home.
For 26yrs I’ve been fortunate enough to work from home in the study where I could close the door and get on with work. But now… silence. It’s eerie, No crying, No laughter, No doors slamming, No sounds of drum and bass reverberating around the house.
Not sure I like it.
* They're 29 & 30yo
Are the micromanagers here today to extoll the virtues of in office working?
Are the micromanagers here today to extoll the virtues of in office working?
I much prefer working in the office, but wouldn't want to force it on anyone if it is less productive for them than being at home.
Unfortunately, civil service hybrid working policy is being led by the Torygraph and the Heil.
Time to get a dog. Or two.<br />At today’s prices, it’d probably be cheaper to get another child tbf.<br /><br />
Several times it’s been suggested that I get a dog or a cat to keep me company, but most of my friends and family have had/still have cats or dogs, and then they tell me what their vet bills are! No sodding chance is my answer. Then there’s needing someone to look after them if I wanted to go away - I feel guilty enough about feeding the wildlife if I went away for an extended period!
TBF, you have been lucky to get to spend a full year at home – for many dads (certainly pre-Covid), they went back to the workplace after a couple of weeks of paternity leave.
That's what I had. 2 weeks stuck at home in a brutal heatwave then straight back to work in the middle of lockdown. 40 hours a week in an almost completely empty building while all the hybrid workers were on furlough.
Bastards.
My wife took an extra 2 years with no2. I'm now outside in my office/shed and miss the constant interruptions.
Youngest starts nursery in a few months and missus goes back to work. I'll miss the noise and distractions when I come in for a drink / loo break.
As for the office... Spend all day with my colleagues, I'd rather chew off my fingers. I spend enough time with them on teams.
I won't miss iggle bloody piggle though or Shane the chef.
Blippi and Gecko's Garage can do one too.
Enjoy the peace and quiet, @scruff9252. I’m also fortunate to work from home, no kids yet, but I have a furry friend who keeps me company until my wife gets back home from work. I much prefer working from home than in the office, as I can get more things done this way.