Hi everyone.

Well, I've just recently won a promotion and will not be going back to the job I left when I went on Maternity Leave. I will now be the manager!! This means I have to go back earlier (was slated to return in Jan 2008). But it also means that I don't have to work as many days, I'm now working in the same town and there is no lose of income due to my reduced hours.

Previously I was working 5 days a week, but I will be going back on the 3rd September 4 days a week. Monday/Tuesday working, Wednesday off, Thursday/Friday working. The people at day care told me that if I do it this way, Daniel will only have two day blocks where I'm away and he can have his "mum time" during the week.

Daniel has just turned six months old and for the last couple of weeks has been doing two half days at day care to get used to the people there. He seems fine with it all - it's me..........

I am having a massive guilt trip about going back. Ideally I would love to stay at home and breed 'til the cows come home and never go back to work, unfortunately I must go back to work. DH and I have got a mortgage and of course we will have school fees and all that stuff to look forward to. So we have to keep the roof over our heads and the steady money coming in. Here I am justifying my reasons for going back to work again. Work is just part and parcel of life. *sigh** Hopefully I will be able to show Daniel that working is important and DH and I will lead by example.

I've told DH about my "guilt trips" but all he seems to say is, "Well, I've been back at work for the last six months. At least you'll have the Wednesday off with him. I won't even get that." He's a great DH and a great father, but he doesn't appear to have much sympathy on this issue - which is odd. There's no doubt he misses Daniel a great deal during the week and has felt as though he's missed out on a lot. I reckon there'd be a lot of dads out there that feel like that. Oh to win Tattslotto!!

Is there anyone else who had to go back to work when your baby was about Daniel's age? How did you feel about it? How did your baby handle it? and if your baby is older now; Do you think it has scarred them in anyway or do you think it assisted your child in learning social skills?

Just some questions buzzing through my head at the moment. Thanks.