returning to work

[BabyMamma93]

Just looking for peoples advice, experiences etc..
im currently working in a letting agents, i will be taking my maternity leave (all being well) a week before i am due to have my baby..
i will be returning back to work, but im not sure when to return, i know you are allowed 9 months paid mat leave, but im thinking of only taking about 4 months!
my partner doesnt currently work due to problems he has, he is tacking them now by attending work programmes and is hoping to get back into work but this wont be until after the baby is born, as he is at home i dont have much problem leaving my baby with him, he is his dad of corse so why would i..
the only thing is i HATE my job, its boring, going no where/dead end, and the people who work in the office look down at me, they are asians and talk in their own language ALL day!! i always think im going to be sat here, missing my baby being annoyed and patronised by people in a place i hate.. let me just say i spend most of my day sat on forums, google, facebook and refreshing my emails as there is literally NOTHING to do, unless i need to write a letter or receive some rent, that is it!
when i return im thinking of lowering my hours anyway either lowering by 2 hours a day, or taking a day off a week, but i still feel that returning to work after 4 month maybe too soon i feel by then i may not have bonded with my child properly, but on mat leave i will be losing money, money i need.. i was debating leaving work all together and going on benefits, but, no offence to other people, i dont want to be a 'full time mummy' i want to work, but i also want to spend lots of time with my baby!! not only that, if i decide to leave work i wont be entitled to benefits like income support and housing benefit, bcos i left work from my own choice, ill have to wait a few month to be able to receive them, and even then they can say i dont need to claim because im able to work.
I just really dont know what to do, and im stressing my self out almost daily worrying about it!!

 

[hayz_baby]

Why not look for work whilst on mat leave?
Ur feelings may change once u have had lo as well so alsobear that in mind or your oh work situation may change so u may only need a small p/t job. Maybe wait till ur off work to have this think? X

 

[weebubba]

I agree with pp. Enjoy your leave and look into the possibility of a new part time position somewhere else. There is also education - perhaps a college course would suit you, learn new skills or expand the ones you have, this could maybe lead to employment in a whole new area!

Good luck and best wishes.

 

[BabyMamma93]

i was looking for new jobs before falling pregnant, something in a care home. But after falling pregnant i put this on hold until LO is a bit older, the best thing about my job is thats its 5 mins walk, its conveniant, yeah i hate it and i feel like im wasting my days but it costs me nothing to get here. I was thinking of just staying at this job until my OHs work situation changes, when it does it will then be my turn to stay at home with LO maybe just get a part time night job, i have to think of it financially, i have done apprenticeships in the past, and although we managed to survive on such a little income, we didnt have a baby to think about then, now we do, i know you can claim child benefits which is a bonus, but even that cant cover the costs of having a child, so putting my needs aside, id rather be able to provide for my child, than have a fulfilling career!
i know for certain i wont want to return to work at all after having LO its easier knowing hes not going into day care and instead my OH is home, bt i know ill miss him, like i said to my OH i dont want to miss his fisrt smile, sneeze, laugh, his first word, crawl steps etc, and i feel if im at work i wont get to enjoy play times with my LO but at the same time i need to work, my wage and my OHs benefits is just the right amount of money for us to get by, getting a different job with lower hours means a lower wage, which will then mean more of a struggle