Less than 2 weeks until I go back to work full time ~ IM NOT READY!!

[Kte]

Having a bit of a wobble day today, its my penultimate week off this week and it has gone too fast. I have a few plans for next week so I can see that flying by too. I'm not ready to do this I want a few more months. I'm even floating the idea in my head to go back 3 days a week, if the mortgage company will let us take a break. Haven't even suggested it to OH yet, he will most likely show me its a no-go but I'm hoping that things could be different now as we looked at the possibilities just after the dating scan so you can appreciate how long ago that was and some financial things have changed since then.

Chloe isn't even 4 months yet, I feel rubbish that I have to miss out on things like weaning her because I have to go back to work. I am already back one day a week at the moment but the thought of missing out on so much of her for five days a week purely because of money makes me feel sick. I can request to work flexible hours for a few more months, say 3 days a week until the beginning of September, then I will be happy to go back full time.

It just feels so unfair that I get to pay a childminder to do things I want to do for her!

Am I just being neurotic? I feel like its reasonable to ask for a few more months with her before going back full time.

I'm not even sure if I would be entitled to anything if I did, I look at the direct.gov website but one pages takes me to another and I get no answers!

I'm not sure what to do, there is a huge clock ticking and I'm starting to panic and get really sad about this.

 

[AC81]

I came back to work when Erin was 6 and a half months old and I really struggled too (and I still do!). It was such an awful feeling knowing I had to leave her. I have only returned to work part time (3 days a week) but I still miss her while I'm here.

Could you afford to go back only part time? What about compressing your hours so that you start earlier and finish later but on less days a week? It helps obviously if your employer is flexible and there are other working mums in your company. Are you going back purely because of money - because you can take up to 12 months off (9 at SMP and 3 unpaid). And some mortgage companies do give mortgage breaks for maternity leave - if you've not already used it up that is. I'd find out if you are entitled to a mortgage break first of all and see if you could take extra time off.

Good luck and I hope you can sort something out. xx

 

[Kte]

Thanks,

I am not longer on Materitny leave as I couldn't take a pay cut when it came to it, I lasted as long as I could and now I am using up all of my holidays for the year to get a bit more time.

I think your right, I need to check about the mortgate first and then with work to see about my hours. I have to make up 37hrs a week so I think it would look like I need to reduce my hours if possible. Work can be quite flexible but i just worry I have left it too late to sort all this out