going back to work

just curious about what you all have done.

after having twins - did you go back to work? if so - how long did you take off?

im thinking of how impossible and how miserable i would be, but the lack of a paycheck for my family is scary. DH hasnt shown a bit of concern (which is positive, i guess) and DS will be in nursery school (which he NEEDS to still go to esp with having two new babies in the house) and that alone will be 700 a month! and a car payment and double of everything..

and please tell me all these worries are normal.. geez - i cant get them out of my mind and just enjoy the fact that im having twins..

HELP!! thanks

Re: going back to work

I have twins and a toddler - i went back to work when they were 12 weeks old. My initial plan was 8 weeks but i am really happy i took the max amount i could.

By then they were only waking up once a night and only for about a month. -I would get up and nurse themin the middle of the night but any other reasons they woke up my dh got.

I am the primary earner in our house so no choice but to go back and i love it. We hired an amazing nanny so i don't worry about my kids at all - she does so much with them but also helps with their laundry and picking up toys

it is tough not getting tons of sleep but it can be done. My dh and I both try to get a little extra sleep ont he weekends - one sleeps late/ one takes a na during the day.

I had my older son in daycare and loed daycare but a nany is more cost effective for us and easier. We hired the nanny when i had to start working from home at 32 weeks this way i slowly got used to it. And i had someone around to help witht the twins or my 2 year old during the day

Re: going back to work

I am going back to work on Monday and I have been off since September and had the twins in November. It will be hard and a dreading it but I have to go back to work. We need two paychecks in order to live. We are sending the girls to day care 3 days a week and with family the other two days. I am going to change my hours at work to work 7:30-3:30 and be home by 5-5:30 (I work in the city).

Re: going back to work

I had the same fears!!! Don't worry too much it all works out.

I had to go back to work because we couldn't live on just DH's salary because right now we are paying 2 mortgages

I went back when they were 7 months. I work monday thru thursday. I have a sitter at my house on mondays and they go to my parents tues-thurs.

I dreaded thinking about how it would be getting them out of the house in the am and it is NOT bad at all. I get up at 6:15 and get ready. I am ready by 7. I wake them up change them and get them dressed give them some milk and we are out the door by 7:20.

Re: going back to work

I went back to work when my were 15 months. We got an amazing babysitter that comes to our house.
My husband is off every Fri and Sat and I have a rotating schedule, so sometimes we need our babysitter only 2 days a week( 5 hours per day- Noon til 5 pm) but then some weeks we need her 4 days per week- and on some Sundays.
We pay her $20 per hour and two weeks paid vacation-$500 per week.
My hours are 6:50am til 3:50, Im usually home between 4:15 -4;30. My husband work 2:15 til 11pm, so we really dont need a babysitter too often. To be completely honest, I'm much happier since returning to work, I love the schedule that it gives the entire family.

Re: going back to work

I have been out of work since September. My OB took me out of work at 26 weeks (strictly precautionary, I was very lucky and had an uncomplicated pregnancy). I had my boys end of November and went back mid February.

I'm not gonna lie, it was really hard to leave them that first day. I cried at work! But it got easier. I am also very lucky that my MIL has them Monday and Tuesday and my mom has them the other 3 days, so they are with family.

I think I am a much happier person since going back. I shower every day, put on makeup, and actually get to have lunch!!!! Not to mention it is nice to talk to adults during the day.

We didn't have a choice. I had to go back because of mortgage, car payment, etc. but I know I am doing it for my which makes me feel a little better.

Re: going back to work

I went back to work when the boys were 3mo. I changed my hours so I only work 7-3 and took a big pay cut to have Fridays off. At first, DH stayed home w/ the boys on Mon and Tues and we sent them to daycare Wed and Thurs. We were paying $1000 a month for the 2 days of daycare. We need my paycheck to pay our mortgage, so being a SAHM was never an option.

If there's any way you can tweak your hours or cut back your days, it's def a good idea.

Your worries = normal!

Re: going back to work

I work p/t. my older son is in preschool 2.5 hours and my mil picks him up and watches him until we get home. the twins go o daycare 2 days per week... that alone is $1400 per month. i work 2 days ~20 hours (some hours from home) or 3 days if there is a meeting or deadline.

Re: going back to work

thanks girls..

no tweaking the hours - im a teacher so its either 12 weeks or the rest of the year (which i think i will do) but we will be POOR!!!

Im going to enter a lottery for DS to get into pre-k (my district has a lottery) then reg pre-k for him next year.. its worth a shot!!

all your input has def helped - all the unknown is so scray