Melody74
New Mum to little Darcy
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2009
- Messages
- 378
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Hi there. I'm fairly new to the forum and wanted to open up my main burning question just for comments really - I'm interested in everyone's opinion. Apologies if this has been asked before many times!
I work full-time and am a senior manager, I am also the main bread winner as my partner has just invested in his own business, but until the business loan is paid off and the revenues improve it only breaks even. Therefore currently I pay the mortgage etc... My company is very male dominated. I'm the only female manager. I'm proud of where I have got to and I could go further if I wanted. However the company only offers statutory maternity pay, i.e., 6 weeks at 90%. To take such a drop in salary after the 6 weeks would absolutely mean not being able to afford the mortgage as it is stands. All my savings/salary went into the house at the time.
Whilst I planned for a baby, the timing has been forced due to health issues and so we probably would have waited a few more years while the business was stable and I could take some time off. But once we knew we had to make a move, I got pregnant pretty much straight away. We're delighted but we don't know what to do re childcare and the mortgage.
Financially, I could only afford to take a little time off - i.e., a phased return to work over 4 months. Job share, working from home, or perm part-time isn't an option. However flexible start/finish hours are, for both of us. I also considered apporaching my work and asking for them to support me with extended maternity pay in return for some keeping in touch days during the earlier weeks... was just a thought but may give me longer at home.
I have no idea how I will feel once the baby is in my arms. Will I emotionally and physically be able to go back to work after a few weeks, even if it is just part-time initially? How will my baby be affected if I do? To have 2 working parents inevitably means an element of nursery, pre school and after school clubs and some summer clubs over the years. It sounds awful to me, but unless we have a drastic change of life I'm not sure what the options are. We don't have any family in the area.
Although obviously everyone's situation is different and opinions vary greatly on this subject, I wondered what people's thoughts were on returning to work after giving birth and babies/children being in childcare/school clubs. For those working mothers out there - how do you handle the childcare and balance family life? For those that gave up careers/mortgages to stay at home - any regrets?
Melody..xx
I work full-time and am a senior manager, I am also the main bread winner as my partner has just invested in his own business, but until the business loan is paid off and the revenues improve it only breaks even. Therefore currently I pay the mortgage etc... My company is very male dominated. I'm the only female manager. I'm proud of where I have got to and I could go further if I wanted. However the company only offers statutory maternity pay, i.e., 6 weeks at 90%. To take such a drop in salary after the 6 weeks would absolutely mean not being able to afford the mortgage as it is stands. All my savings/salary went into the house at the time.
Whilst I planned for a baby, the timing has been forced due to health issues and so we probably would have waited a few more years while the business was stable and I could take some time off. But once we knew we had to make a move, I got pregnant pretty much straight away. We're delighted but we don't know what to do re childcare and the mortgage.
Financially, I could only afford to take a little time off - i.e., a phased return to work over 4 months. Job share, working from home, or perm part-time isn't an option. However flexible start/finish hours are, for both of us. I also considered apporaching my work and asking for them to support me with extended maternity pay in return for some keeping in touch days during the earlier weeks... was just a thought but may give me longer at home.
I have no idea how I will feel once the baby is in my arms. Will I emotionally and physically be able to go back to work after a few weeks, even if it is just part-time initially? How will my baby be affected if I do? To have 2 working parents inevitably means an element of nursery, pre school and after school clubs and some summer clubs over the years. It sounds awful to me, but unless we have a drastic change of life I'm not sure what the options are. We don't have any family in the area.
Although obviously everyone's situation is different and opinions vary greatly on this subject, I wondered what people's thoughts were on returning to work after giving birth and babies/children being in childcare/school clubs. For those working mothers out there - how do you handle the childcare and balance family life? For those that gave up careers/mortgages to stay at home - any regrets?
Melody..xx
