short leave

[poorlittlefish]

NAK

I have a short maternity leave this time around-6 weeks unpaid plus 7 days of vaca that I saved up. I just spoke with my boss and requested 2 additional weeks. he said no.

I am just so heartbroken right now. I knew that my leave would be short but now that it is half over I just feel sick. She is still a newborn!

I don"t know why I am posting this....sympathy and comssieration maybe?

Anyone else have a short maternity leave? I had 12 weeks with DD1 and it was hard to leave her then. What did you do to make the most of your leave and to get your mind off going back?

[marinak1977]

[MamaChicken]

Sympathy and hugs here! I had to go back at 6 weeks with DD and 5.5 weeks with the twins. I could not financially make it any longer.

[BlueLeaf]

I took 8 weeks for my leave, and it was hard to come back. I treated it like jumping in the pool - plugged my nose and tried not to think about it.

Do you qualify for FMLA?

[poorlittlefish]

Thanks. It is nice knowing I am not the only one going back early.


No, I don't qualify..been there less than a year and this division has only 25 people in it.

[RollerCoasterMama]

The only time I ever complained about my leave, my mom shut me down. I had 8 weeks paid plus a week of vacation. I couldn't afford 12 weeks total.

With me (kid #1) she had 2 weeks of leave.
With my brother (kid #2) she was working from home, so it was a bit different.
With my sister (kid #3) she had 1 week of leave. By this time she was teaching and the fall semester started up a week after my sister was born. I have trouble even imagining!!!

I decided to be grateful for what I had. And really, I had about as good as it gets in the U.S.

It's tough, but 2 more weeks won't really make it any more easy if you know what I mean. It is too bad your boss won't let you do it though.

Would your boss let you ease into it half-time? It will still be hard, but it will help you transition. Your baby will be fine. At that age, they really transition pretty easilly as long as they will accept being fed by their caregiver. I firmly believe that it's hardest on the parents!!

Good luck! You can do it!

[Alyantavid]

My maternity leaves were 6 and 7 weeks. It is hard, but I think it's hard at any age really.

Good luck!

[*MamaJen*]

I only took four weeks of maternity leave (all paid, basically it was two or three weeks of vacation leave and the rest was my boss continuing to pay me because she's a decent human being and valued me as an employee). But I took my baby to work with me, so it was a LOT easier going back at four weeks than it would have been if he was in daycare. He started going to a baby sitter part time at five or six months, then basically full time around one year. I did some working from home and flexible scheduling.

[cakemama579]

My heart aches for you. Hugs to you, and hang in there. You'll get through it, and just make the time you have together really count!

[laurabfig]

I only had 6 weeks with my 2nd, since I had started the job when I was 2 months pregnant. Honestly, it was all a blur. I barely remember being back at work in those early days, besides having to pump in a sort of semi-private office where anyone could just walk in at any time. How do you feel about your childcare situation? I think it can help to go back early if you feel good about the person caring for your baby....even though in general it is just hard and there is no way around that.

Remember: NO ONE can replace you as mommy- no matter how early you have to leave to return to work.