Because returning to work isn’t just a “snap back.”
1. What did work look like for you before having a baby? And what did you think it would look like after?
Before my baby, I worked longer hours—lots of late nights and early starts. (I’ve always done my best thinking early in the morning, which is now a lot harder with a little one!) These days, I’m really strict with what I can get done in the time I have. It’s helped me not only prioritise work tasks but also rethink my broader priorities, especially around career development.
2. How did you approach returning to work—meticulously planned or make-it-up-as-you-go?
Honestly? A bit of both. My workplace had a return-to-work plan in place, which was great. But juggling breastfeeding, pumping, and all the emotions that come with it meant I really had to go with the flow.
3. What were the biggest challenges in balancing your career with a baby? (Be honest—the juggle is real.)
Balance meant learning that I couldn’t juggle everything. I had to decide which plates were plastic (the ones I could afford to drop) and which were glass (the ones that would shatter if I did). I also had to reframe what success looked like and stretch out some of my career timelines.
4. How did you land on BubbaDesk as part of your setup?
I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of dropping my baby off and not seeing him for eight hours. I wanted to keep breastfeeding and stay close. Someone in my mother’s group mentioned a BubbaDesk nearby. After a tour with the amazing Mish, I was sold. We even had the chance to spend time in the space with our baby before officially starting, which gave us so much confidence.
5. What was a day at BubbaDesk really like—for you and your baby?
A breeze. The carers were so supportive of the time I wanted to spend with my baby, and they were always proactive with updates. My one request was that he wouldn’t be left to “cry it out”—I wanted to be there for him, and I could be, 100% of the time. My husband and I shared the care schedule, so I still had office or WFH days too. That flexibility was incredible.
6. Did having childcare on-site change the way you worked? Or the way you parented?
Not really—and that’s why it worked so well. It slotted naturally into my work life. I could stay deeply connected to my baby and still support my team at work.
7. The daycare transition from BubbaDesk—smooth sailing or emotional rollercoaster?
Emotional, but smoother than I expected. I was used to having so much visibility over my baby’s day, and getting just one or two photos at daycare felt like a big shift. But because I’d seen him thriving at BubbaDesk, I knew he was ready. That reassurance from the carers really helped. I still miss my lunchtime hangs with my little man!
8. Do you think your baby’s time at BubbaDesk made that shift any easier? How so?
Absolutely. I felt really connected to how he was doing when I left him, and how he was growing socially. I knew he was a confident, social little guy who could handle the move.
9. Looking back, is there anything you’d tell your past self about returning to work?
Lower your expectations for what’s possible. Toward the end of parental leave, you start getting excited about all the things you’ll do once you’re “back.” But in reality, it’s a lot harder to perform at that same level—especially in the beginning. Going with the flow is the only way.
10. What would you say to another parent weighing up their childcare options?
Think outside the box. I thought daycare was the only way—but I’m forever grateful that BubbaDesk exists. The way we work and parent has changed, so it makes sense that our childcare options should too.
Katy uses BubbaDesk Wollongong.
