My office hosted a big breakfast the day I returned. It was a total surprise and so sweet of them. It was also a good chance for me to say 'Hi' to everyone all at once and tell stories about the baby and maternity leave, instead of people popping by my office all day.

I remember scarfing my food down like a prison inmate only to realize that there's no baby about to scream and cry at me! I loved that time to reconnect with other adults after being cooped up with a baby for three and a half months. I had a hard time with maternity leave.

If you want to keep it simple, bring her a hot cup of coffee. I'm sure it's been a while since she had one.

Space. Let her have space on day one. Maybe drop a few water bottles and a nice treat or card by her desk. She may be overwhelmed and hormonally its weird the first few weeks to be apart from baby, especially if nursing/pumping. Save funny or irreverent for spontaneity later. I will say having a good laugh when I wanted to cry was cathartic, but timing is really critical to that. Just be there with her and let her be part of team.

I would have flowers at her desk, maybe some nice snacks and a nice lotion. If she drinks, one of those tiny wine bottles are always cute and funny

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get out of her face for a few days. Be nice, be gentle, READ THE ROOM and see how she is doing before you pounce.

Cookies and a nice note are always appreciated, left on her desk so she can read the note in private. DO NOT do anything public.

I had a hard time going back to work after my second (though not after my first, oddly) and a colleague who had her kids a few years before I did wrote me a very sweet note. Something along the lines of welcome back, we know it's tough, but you are a valued member of the office and you will do great balancing work and the kids. This was a couple years ago and I still have it.

This is so nice. Very thoughtful. I’m glad you had someone who really acknowledged you.

I think it's nice you want to welcome your coworker back, although I'd caution you against assuming anything about how she feels about it. Rather than a grand gesture, I'd go smaller - offer to grab her some lunch or coffee (since if she's pumping, that will eat up any flexibility in her day), maybe leave a note genuinely expressing how glad you are to have her back as part of the team on her desk before her first day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? No. Geez, keep everything normal and professional.

This.

You could broaden your definition of normal and professional. Live on the edge.

I think funny is a terrible idea for welcoming her back from maternity leave. My coworkers made me a sign that says “welcome back” and hung it in my office. I still have it two years later. That’s what you’re going for. Not funny.

Anonymous wrote:I would give her a plant for her desk, her favorite snack (if you know it) and a simple note saying "welcome back."

I would have loved that. Definitely no cow.

No cows. OMG

I would give her a plant for her desk, her favorite snack (if you know it) and a simple note saying "welcome back."

Anonymous wrote:Get out of her face for a few days. Be nice, be gentle, READ THE ROOM and see how she is doing before you pounce.

Cookies and a nice note are always appreciated, left on her desk so she can read the note in private. DO NOT do anything public.

I had a hard time going back to work after my second (though not after my first, oddly) and a colleague who had her kids a few years before I did wrote me a very sweet note. Something along the lines of welcome back, we know it's tough, but you are a valued member of the office and you will do great balancing work and the kids. This was a couple years ago and I still have it.

NOT A COW.

Jesus.

My coworkers decorated my office with fake cobwebs and a skeleton. It was funny.

Digital photo frame. What helped me was having several pictures of DC in my office.

Snacks, flowers, water bottles, and lots of space are the best!

I was so busy when I got back to work, between catching up and pumping three times a day. I could barely find time to have lunch. Even spending 10 minutes by the cooler chit-chatting was something I couldn't really afford to do.