Hi Canary

There is a work forum but the mods can move our posts.

I won't lie to you, it is hard. I went back to work full time when DS was 6 months old. I was so upset on my first day back I cried on the bus on the way to work, cried when I got to work and every time somebody looked at me or asked me anything about my baby. I was very pleased to be back to work but at the same time felt I was abandoning my son.

After a while I made the decision to work 4 days a week so that I could spend time with him going to mothers group or a playcentre or anything else. I wanted a day that I could devote to him without being caught up in all the rushed weekend things. For me this is a good balance of home and family.

Almost 18 months on, and 3 weeks off having my second baby, I have no regrets about my decision to return to work when I did and I honestly believe that my son is more confident and sociable because of his attendance at daycare. He does so many more enriching activities at daycare than I would ever do with him. There are days or stages that he goes through where there are tears when he is dropped off at daycare, but the older he gets the less often they occur or for a different reason (like his favourite trike is being used by another kid LOL).

In the end it is an individual decision what you end up doing that only you and your partner can make. If it doesn't work out you can always quit work and pick it up again at a time that you are more comfortable doing so.

HTH