Management role + new mom

Looking for some perspective/advice from folks who have been in a similar situation. I’ve worked in a leadership role for a few years, and just before my maternity leave for my first baby began (literally two weeks), I was promoted to regional manager, overseeing the integration of teams across two sites. I’ve been back to work for almost 4 months, and I feel like this job is slowly sucking the life out of me.

There’s some typical workplace politics that are annoying, but I think the primary driver behind this feeling is the people management portion of the job. I feel so mentally drained having to be “on” and monitoring other people 24/7. I’m itching for a moment to just think for myself and the work in front of me. I feel like I often see other working moms say that work feels like an outlet for them to feel like something other than a mom, but for me right now, it feels like I take care of a team at work all day and then go home and take care of a baby, and there is no moment where I’m just focusing on me.

I guess I’m just looking for advice on if other moms who have worked in management also felt this feeling upon returning to work, and if it got better with time. Additionally - my husband and I have always wanted multiple kids, and I worry that this is just going to get harder if/when we do expand our family. Looking for any perspective or advice this group can provide!