BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

Sorry this is long!

Background: I have 2 weeks off prior to EDD & 12 weeks after LO’s birth. I will have approx 25 vacation days for the year (excluding 3 personal days) and I am considering a couple of options once the baby arrives… Because I have a larger # of vacation days next year than usual I would like to use them to spend time with LO. I should add that my mom will be watching LO 2x a week and we will be using daycare/babysitter for the remainder of the week.

Option 1: Stay home for 3 additional weeks after maternity leave is over (using 15 days, 10 remaining for vacations, time off, etc…)

Option 2: Return to work once maternity leave is over, take off every Monday for 15 weeks to be with LO (leaving 10 remaining)

** I also have the ability to work from home once a week but I am not confident that I’ll be able to watch LO & work effectively, I think it may be too stressful. We currently have 2 moms that do this. However If I go with option 2, I don't want to have 1 day off & work 1 day from home**

As a BTDT what makes the most sense???? All opinions welcome!!!!!!!!!

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

I just want to comment on the work from home thing.
I have that option too.
And before I had the baby I was so excited about it.

Then she was born. And I tried it.
And it was AWFUL.
I was clueless before she was born about what taking care of her would entail. I pictured her sleeping peacefully in her pack n play next to me while I worked.
Um no.
Phone calls were a nightmare- she'd be screaming all the time. I'd run into the yard or the bathroom to answer my work line. Nothing got done. I would up in tears by the end of the day every single time. I once called my sister and begged her to come over for an hour because I had a work emergency to deal with and DD was screaming.
And now that she is older- it's worse. You have to watch her every minute because she is running all over the house!

I just wanted to throw that out there to you- because I wish someone would have for me- the work from home thing sounds great in theory- but in practice- it is way too stressful!!!

Message edited 9/21/2011 1:01:25 PM.

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

I'd go w/ option 2.

I wanted to work from home 1 day a week. My boss told me to take a pay cut and have Fridays off instead. Best decision ever. My boys were great babies so I could have worked from home when they were newborns, but there is no way u can get work done once the baby is 6mo+.

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

I'd go with Option 2. I've worked both FT and PT since having kids and its really nice having a day off with them during the week. I also try to get some errands done on that day so our weekends aren't as hectic.

Also, I do not like working from home. I don't mind it occassonally, but whenever I have to, I always get a babysitter. There is no way I could get my work done while watching the kids.

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

I think it depends on your child care situation - if you are paying someone (a nanny or daycare), I would take the extra time tacked on to your leave since that is time you don't need to pay for child care. If you do not need to pay for child care, I would take one day off each week, since that will make the transition better. I would kill to work only 4 days.

And as others have said - working from home sounds better than it is - you still need someone to watch the baby or you will get nothing done.

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

I did something similar to your Option 2 when DS was born and I think it saved my sanity!

I came back to work after 12 weeks. For the first month back, I only worked 3 days/week. Then for the 2nd and 3rd month I was back, I worked 4 days/week. Worked out to about an extra 15 or 16 days total that I took unpaid, but it was perfect and I felt that I eased back into work and felt less stressed.

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

I'd go with option #2. It will be nice not to work full weeks and have a day with your LO too!

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

Option #2.

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

I think it depends on your child care scenario too, but for slightly different reasons.

First, I had DS in a FT daycare. I would have had to pay for that 5th day whether he was there or not.

Second, with a DC in daycare the first year, I easily went through 25 days of vacation due to illness, doctor appointments and other things (one or two snow days that daycare was closed). I wish I had taken more of my leave unpaid and left more vacation time on the books when I returned to work. I was totally unprepared for how many days I would have to take off that first year.

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

Thank you everyone for your input! It is pretty clear to me that I won't be able to work from home and be LO's sole babysitter. I think I'm going to go with negotiating 4 days a week.

Re: BTDT Moms- Maternity Leave/Returning to Work

Option 2

Honestly….

I took SOOOOOOOOOOOO Much time off that first year for doctor appts. I am glad I had all my vacation days. That first few months you are in the doctor constantly, shots, check ups, sick visits, etc.

I would personally go back after maternity leave (or maybe just take an extra week off) and keep those extra vacation days for time you may just spontaneously want to spend at home, days you have to take off, etc.

JMHO

Until this year, I would actually BUY 5 extra days on top of my 15 just to have in case I needed them. We are only allowed to roll over 5. So I’d stay the year with 20 and add 5 to get 25 (excluding personal 2 and sick days 10). Those extra days gave me breathing room I needed. I have been able to still pull over 5, but its easier to have extra days than to be scrambling on unpaid days, in my opinion.

PS: I only stopped doing the extra days because she's older, she's well past the sick at school stage and the tubes in her ears solved a lot of issues.