Hi Lestypuss

Congrats on your promotion!
I feel for you and understand exactly what you are going through.

I also won a promotion while I was on maternity leave with DS1. I had planned on taking a year off but had to return to work when he was seven months old. At the time I was really stressed about him attending childcare at his age, but looking back it was probably a good age to start childcare as he was a bit too young to be at the clingy stage and to experience separation anxiety. He slotted in quite well to childcare and I feel that for us childcare has been such a positive experience as DS1 is quite social and interacts well with other children.

Good luck with your return to work and I hope it helps you hearing some positives outcomes from an early return to work. I can honestly say it worked out well for us and DS1 did not suffer at all, in fact it was a positive as it allowed all of us to have a good balance between family and work.

Take care
Jem
In saying all of this I am was quite upset that I had to return early and felt ripped off that I didnt get my full year off from work to spend time with DS1, but like you said you have to take these opportunities as there are bills to pay and futures to plan for.

Good luck