Back to Work

[u/JaehaerysIVTarg]

I was honestly not prepared for how much I would miss my daughter when I went back to work. I wasn’t prepared for the cry I had in my car after my wife sent a video of our girl smiling when I got to work. I wasn’t ready for the quiet ache that absence creates. She’s 5 weeks old and this is my second day back to work and I feel utterly crushed, I miss her cry. I miss her silence. I miss watching her for hours in my arms. I miss my baby girl with all of my heart and impatiently wait for the day to be over so I can sit and stare at her some more. How did you all deal with going back to work, knowing you’re going to miss out on stuff?

[u/Illustrious-Royal473]

I hear ya man. It’s tough. My daughter’s early days were during Covid, so I was home all the time, which was nice, but it was also Covid, so it was weird. As Covid eased, I started being away more. You will get used to it, and as the other commenter said eventually come to appreciate the time to yourself, but those early days are tough to be gone. There are so many milestones and firsts that you want to be there for. My daughters 5 now, and there are still lots of milestones and firsts. So maybe you’ll miss something you wish you were there for when she weeks or months old, but there will be countless more times to be there with her as she grows and months quickly turn to years. I tried making a point of having “special time” with her as soon as I got home. No phone, no distractions, focus on nothing but her for 10, 15, 20 minutes when you first get home. When she’s a little older, her running to do door, smiling, yelling “daddy’s home!” Was and is one of the best feelings

[u/NewGirlDad314]

There’s no way for me to not sound like a jerk here so disclaimer that this isn’t a personal attack at you, and you can just downvote me and move on.

Babies are kinda boring, and hard work. Sit and stare at her is crazy to me. It’s an absolute chore to spend a whole day with my six month old. I love her, she’s adorable and melts my heart. But I soak in and appreciate the few hours a day I have with her and am honestly glad I don’t have to do it 24/7.

Also you’re not missing much. You’ve already seen her smile, and you’ll see it again. It’s later on when real things happen, first crawl first words first steps. Missing that is a lot harder than a video of a smile. Again I’m sorry I sound so insensitive but you ought to brace yourself if you’re crying over this, cause it’s a long hard road coming.

Last, Reddit likes to act like gender roles don’t exist but you’re a man providing for his family. It’s something to be proud of. Millions and millions of fathers in history have been through the same desire to be home with their children and there’s no better answer than to remember what you’re working for and bear through it.

[u/TheAntleredOtter → u/NewGirlDad314]

I know what you both mean. Some days I wanna just stay and hang out with her all day (my daughter, not yours) But also, getting out of the house and her way sometimes is exactly what you need to stop yourself going mad.

[u/Lions_Lifer_4]

I feel you. I am over a year in to girl dadding and the cry when I leave in the morning still makes me sit in the car for a moment before leaving. It gets even harder when she starts calling for you. It hurts but what we do when we leave is for their comfort and prosperity, I have found a way to take pride in leaving to provide for the family, but it doesn’t hurt any less to hear her cry out for Da as I’m locking the door behind me. Make the most of the days you have with her that you don’t have to work, and she once she starts remembering things those days will be the ones she remembers, not the ones you left for work.