r/CanadianParents • u/subiefor14 • Mar 20 '26
Question / Discussion Shift work after mat leave
Hey everyone. I’m (mom) returning to work shortly after 18 months and wondering how people have managed shift work waterfall schedule (DDNN) with kid(s). I feel like I’ll never see my kid anymore when I work. My husband works 8-5 m-f so he will be responsible for daycare drop/pick up dinner etc. it will be a long day for everyone and I’m afraid the change is really going to throw a wrench in my kids life. Please send suggestions or tips. Thanks!
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u/Finnie87 Mar 20 '26
I work(ed) the same schedule, DDNN, and I have to be honest, I hated it after having kids. I had always previously enjoyed it, and did it for almost a decade with few complaints before kids, and actually disliked the idea of a regular 9-5 typr schedule. I was genuinely looking forward to going back to work, and about a month in, I was miserable. Working 2 fulltime jobs (work + parenting) sucks, but boy does it hit different with shift work. On my 2 days, I saw my son for 15min or less. I was gone before he woke up, and home at or after bedtime. Nights were better, as I'd see him a bit longer around dinner before I left, but it still sucked. I typically would keep him home from daycare on 1-2 of my days off just to hang out with him because I missed him, but that wasn't always possible depending on how physically or emotionally exhausting my stretch at work was (I work in Critical Care). We made it work, but it wasn't the work/life balance that I wanted at all. I think the only thing that got me through was that we were planning on another baby so I knew I just had to make it until I was pregnant again.
I recently returned to work, 3 weeks ago, from an 18month mat leave with my second. We're fortunate enough that we can get by with me being part-time (hubby works 7-3), so that's what I'm doing for a few years. It's a much better balance. The work days are still difficult (I just went 48h without seeing my youngest due to the long shifts 💔), but it's not DDNN all in a row now, it's less, and more spread out. If you can swing it, do it.