How to deciede whether to go back or not

[tan32]

Hi all I am after some input on how you made the decision to return to work or not.

I am due back to work in June, I do however have the option of working part time, or extending my maternity leave for up to another 12 months.

I have no family that are able to look after my children, I start work at 7am and finish at 4pm so i would need full time care for Lachlan and before and after school care for Emma and Hamish. The cost is crazy before ccb its $550 a week for all the kids.

I am unsure what hours or days work will allow me to work part time so I still have to look into this, I am also looking at perhaps getting a different job where my hours are different.
I really dont want to put my kids through having to get up at 5:30am and being dropped off at childcare at 6:30 am. Then them having to go to school.

Just wondering what things you considered before making the choice.

Tan
xxx

[KimmyF]

I only have one child so my decision was a bit different as i only have one to consider. I am due back at end of April but financially need to return sooner so i am going back part time at end of January three days a week.
Have you considered FAmily Day Care as a care option for the kids, sometimes it works out cheaper and get be a lot less "busy" for the kids i.e. less childen and the older ones might be able to kick back and watch tv before school or afterwards like they might at home etc.
when i made the choice to go back part time we worked out what i would bring home what bills etc my wage would cover (to see it was worth it) i chose to go part time as it meant DS still spent more time with me than in care but i was still able to bring in some extra cash.
Sorry im not more help just wanted to say i feel for you being in this position and hope you can work somehting out to suit your family xxxx

[PinkPalace]

i have and have had 9 months off each baby.
my circumstances r a little different as i work in a profession that is 24hrs a day. so i work weekends or night shifts when dh can have the kids

if i didnt and had a 9=5 i would prob pick up some work on the weekends somewhere else to help out with $$ then when the kids r at school resume my original career

[ss_storm]

I guess one of the major factors to take into consideration, is are you going to be bringing in any extra money, or will you be spending the majority, if not all, of your pay on child care, so is it financially going to be worth going back to that particular job? Or will they let you do some work from home so you don't have to worry so much about child care, or let you work school hours, so from 9-3 so you only have to worry about care for one child?

If you need to work, could you look at finding a part time/casual job where you can do night hours or on weekends when your OH will be able to look after the kids?

It's not an easy decision to make, but I think firstly if it is not going to be financially worth it, then maybe extend your maternity leave for another 12 months, at least then you are still leaving your options open.

[PinkPalace]

remember if you are working you also get 50% of the gap back every quarter

it turns dd's fdc into about $15 a day which makes it much cheaper

[tan32]

The cost of the child care is about $50 less then what i earn a week, so i would be working 40 hours a week for the first three months for $50. Then will get half back each three months.

I work in a gang so my hours have to be set its just the numbers of days that can change. I am also not able to do this job from home as it is an on site job.

I must say i am leaning towards either extending my leave or finding a different job.

[mybabylove]

Im not sure if I will go back either as you can only do my job full time...
Monday to Fri 8.30 - 6pm its a full day/ week which can not be done part time
Its great money but thats not what having children is about, id rather spend more time with my bub then less
(just my opinion_)