Back to Work?

[radiogirlgr]

Hi girls-

I'm just wondering if anyone is already back to work or will be going back soon and how things are going if you've returned. I start on November 6th.
It's bittersweet for me of course-I enjoy my job, but have enjoyed my leave so much.

Anyone working already?

[marymamma]

I go back on Nov. 8th and am not looking forward to it However, a friend called this morning and said he knew of a company that is hiring that would pay much better and allow me to work from home. So, I may go back to my job just to put in a 2 week notice, ha! Oh well, they have survived without me for almost 12 weeks, so I don't think they will miss me too much.

[Tofu the Geek]

Oh my mommies, going back so soon? I hope everything goes well for you and your babes! I am not returning until September '07, and don't miss work at all so far!

[marymamma]

Originally Posted by TechnoGranola

Oh my mommies, going back so soon? I hope everything goes well for you and your babes! I am not returning until September '07, and don't miss work at all so far!

I am so jealous! I wish the US would do a 12 month maternity leave instead of only 12 weeks. Is yours a paid leave? I am only getting 1/2 my salary and we are definitely feeling it financially.

[magpiedee]

I've been going in for 2 or so hours a day for the last 2 weeks, and it's been lots of fun! My boss is an old friend, and I work in a very family-friendly environment, so I just fill up Cleo's belly and take her with me. I've really missed making my own money, but I'd much rather be at home. I will probably continue in this vein, doing 10 hours or so a week, as long as I am able. Which I guess is until Cleo starts crawling and walking, huh? :

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by marymamma

I am so jealous! I wish the US would do a 12 month maternity leave instead of only 12 weeks. Is yours a paid leave? I am only getting 1/2 my salary and we are definitely feeling it financially.

Most working people (if you work for yourself you likely don't pay into the fund) pay into a government fund called "EI" (Employment Insurance) and the money in it is used for if you get layed off work, maternity leave, sick leave etc. On maternity leave you are able to receive 55% of your salary UP TO a max of $413 per week (so in many cases, much less than 55% of your salary) for 15 weeks of maternity leave and 35 weeks of parental leave. Then they take tax off of that as well.

My job "tops" up the 15 weeks of maternity leave to 95% of my salary, then they give me nothing during parental leave (but I continue to get the government benefits). Not everybody has a job that "tops up" the government benefits and some people have jobs that top up for longer than 15 weeks. The goverment also has this 2 week "waiting period" at the beginning of your leave where you don't get any money (and most employers don't pay you for the 2 week waiting period either).

So, it's better than a kick in the pants, but in reality you need to be prepared as dropping to 30% of your salary, for example, really changes how you live! Lots of moms I know can't afford to stay at home for the entire year and end up having to go back to work much sooner. We are going to be really broke for the year but will do our best to survive so I don't have to return to work sooner.

[Glittergal]

i go back next week too - so sad. i'm barely working though, just one office day on thursdays and call on saturdays. dh will have the kids. i feel really lucky i don't have to deal with childcare and working full time, just need to make my dratted student loan payments. i'm dreading the possibility of being gone for 24 hrs and am hoping for some fast births for these first few months of call. for now, i'm enjoying my last week totally home and working on getting some milk in the freezer!!!

[Sailmom]

I go back on Nov 5. I am a nurse and will be working 3 12 hour shifts a week. I did it with dd, but I was working the nights then and she was sleeping through. DH usually only gave her 1 bottle while I was gone. Now I am working days, and will be gone for 15 hours with commute etc. I am VERY apprehensive about keeping up with the pumping. Sometimes things were so crazy on nights, I was lucky to pump twice. I really need to be pumping 4 times and I just don't see it being possible. I can't imagine having to supplement with formula, but how will I keep up? I probably have 5 days stashed in the freezer... Maybe I need to go post in bf'ing

[peilover010202]

Well, I'm sitting here at work right now : Considering I've done this once before, I thought it wouldn't feel like my heart was ripped from my body as I walked out the door. But, it still hurt just as bad.

I'm so thankful that we managed for the 12 weeks, so many of my friends can barely make it 6 before needing to go back because of financial concerns.

[SummerTwilight]

I started yesterday but Aria will come with me. I will only be working 2 days anyways. One half day and that day she will stay with my mom and gram who will be at my gram's house (less than a mile from the school I am contracting at) and the other long day is a more relaxed day so Aria will come with me for a while...maybe six months or the whole school year.
My public school job (the other three days a week) I have off till March 1 and if we aren't drowning financially I will extend it the whole school year and start back end of August when she is a year. I am stressing about going back even as far away as it is. I just want to be Aria's mom right now, I don't care about being a professional. Does this change? Will I ever care again about my other identities?

[coop_mom]

I'm a new person...I assumed I'd be happy to go back to work, but baby Simon has changed everything.

I am starting work this week, and Simon will come with me (I work at a small public library). It will be a little tricky, but it's such a small community, most people want to just come in and play with the baby anyway

I thought I'd be chomping at the bit to go back, but really I'd rather stay home with my sweetie. This is a shocker to me! I'm quite ambitious and feel like things have been a bit derailed, but I'm happy about it.

DH and I are relocating soon, and it looks like we've both found work we can do out of the house, so I'm thrilled.

Such big changes, but so fun...

[radiogirlgr]

Well, I've got some good news and some better news. The good news is that I don't have to start back until the 13th-YAY! One more week to hang out.

The better news is that our childcare costs are going to be about $400 less than I had estimated, which is a huge savings for us. I'm so relieved!