Back to work

Going back is logistical and emotional at once, and people are usually prepared for the first and surprised by the second. Sort the practical parts early: what childcare you have arranged, what your hours will be, and how the handover works on an ordinary morning. Then plan the first week deliberately, because it is the hardest one. Whoever stays home longer often absorbs the invisible scheduling work by default; naming that early saves a great deal of friction later. Expect a settling period rather than an immediate return to normal.