MummaBump

Will you all be returning to work after your maternity leave?

My Son and Daughter are 8 & 6 now. When i left for maternity leave after having my son my company went into liquidation so i never returned and didn't go back to work until my daughter started full time school 2 years ago...

I will be going back part time after maternity leave....

The reason i'm curious is that my family (well my mum and dad) have mixed veiws about "working Parents" My Dad believes children need their Mum around during their first years and that they learn quicker and are happier children as a result... whereas my Mum believes it makes no difference at all and that children become more social and less clingy with working parents...

What are all your veiws?

MummaBump

Well I guess no one has any veiws on this then lol

Noodles

I will have to go back to work for financial reasons but I would love to be a stay at home mum for a few years. I think both have their good point and bad points.

Fluxuspoem

If I could afford to stay home for the first few years I think I would. I still remember the marvellous years I had with my mum and grand parents ( I didnt see my dad much he was always at work)

I wouldnt though, consider staying home for good, it would be too boring once the children start going to school etc.

But my financial situation doesnt allow me to stay home, so I am afraid I will have to go back to work very quickly.

MummaBump

Im the same i have no choice but to work to keep a roof over my family's head and that is the way it is for the majority of mothers nowadays... I am however extremely lucky that my company pay well and i can "just" afford to go part-time!

Fluxuspoem

Thats great, you are lucky!

Part time can be a really good solution!! when the time comes I may have to consider something like that myself, if my company agrees and the money is enough to keep us going.

Especially the first few years, I would be gutted to be at full time work.

caz81

i'm not going to be going back to work for a while, will return to part time work when little one is older - maybe when they go to school

Seraphim

We'll do whatever it takes.

Hubby's job means he is often at home during the day... so we're hoping to get into a routine of joint care.

My inlaws assumed I would give work up - but that's cos MIL spent 16-18 years enjoying being 100% mum.

A big motivator in me going back is to take advantage of hubby being available, and to give him the opportunity to enjoy being a daddy. 12 months mat leave is quite a lot if you can make the pennies stretch.

I don't think there are rights and wrongs, just whatever you can manage.

I would hope we can keep childcare in the family... but I would say even that is an ideal.

jen1604

I originally planned to go back to work after my first and did go back for a little bit but to be honest it just killed me.I missed her so much and couldnt stand the fact that someone else could be seeing her first milestones.We could definitely use the money from me working but we get by and luckily I have a brilliant OH who works his little butt off for me to stay at home
But I dont think there is a right or wrong with whats 'better'.There are massive pros and cons to both.I know that if my little one was in a nursery or with a childminder with other kids she probably wouldnt be as clingy and would be happier to let me leave her with a babysitter when I want to go out.
I plan to stay home for a couple of years atleast after Cupcake is born and then hope my job (which I love) will take me back!
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Jolinar

Right now I don't know if I can go back to the same company.

I work shifts, it's a small place and they expect huge flexibility re working hours which obviously does not fit in with childcare responsibilities. DH leaves at 7 am and comes home at 7pm so he can't really help with dropping off or picking up.

If I ask for flexible working I doubt I'll get it as it would have a signicant impact on the business same with DH. I think after my ML I'll be handing my notice in and trying to find work that I can do from home or go part time. Shame really as I like my job and the people I work with. That said I'm not sure I want to put my child in day care.

Too many unknowns right now arrghhh!