Why did you return to work?

[OceanPrincess]

Hi all,

This question is directed at the mums out there who have returned to work post-baby. I am genuinely interested in your motivation for doing so!

Was it because you love your job? Maybe it was purely financial? Were you going insane at home with just the baby to talk to all day???

I'm interested because I am contemplating my options for 2009/2010, once bubs is born - at the moment the only reason I can consider for returning to work is financial!!

Would like to know what others think!

Not sure how to do a poll so please, responses welcome!

[Laranna]

I haven't returned to work yet. I'm still on maternity leave (12 months). We are fortunate that I don't *have* to go back so we are just seeing how it all goes. I don't want to go back as I'm having too much fun with my little bubba But I guess I'll probably go back part time once the 12 months are up to have some 'me' time and have some adult interaction, but then again I might just be a SAHM. It's way more fun and rewarding

[satya]

I'm on mat leave now and the only reason I'm going back is financial. If we were not paying a house off I would not be going to work. I really do not want to go back to work at all.

[OceanPrincess]

Satya I hear ya! DH and I would love to buy a house but would that then put us under even more financial pressure??? Definitely!

Its such a tough decision - and so difficult for us in this day and age when buying a house is so expensive!

[Sueby]

Hi,
I have three bubs well DS1 5 DS2 3 and DD 6 months. I am a nurse and have just recently started casual work again to help out financially. I also like the me time even though I am at work. I will go back to work in January when my maternity leave is over but I only work two days a week so its not that bad!

[briggsy's girl]

i've not had a kidlet yet, but my intention is to go back to work part time to retain my job more than anything! i'm in the public service, the conditions are fantastic, flexibility is amazing, so as much as i'm fighting tooth and nail to get pregnant and have a child, i will still return to work as i know, when that child is at school, i would go stir crazy without working - and my job is one i'd return to everytime... (flexibility means i can basically drop kidlet at school, go to work, be at school to pick them up so it's worth it for me)

[~mamaspice~]

Hi Oceanprincess.

The reason for my return to work was purely financial
Towards the end of my pregnancy DH transfered to a different department which mean't he no longer got overtime or penalty rates (a lot of which we were relying on for me to have time off work after bub was born). I returned back to work 3 days a week when bub was 3.5 months old and in June I increased to 4 days a week.
it is kind of nice to have a little adult time but I would much rather still be at home with my little girl.

[Willow]

With DD it was purely financial, we'd just brought a new house. This time around we are in a much better position financially, but I have to (guiltily ) admit that I'm looking forward to going back for a bit of a break and time away from home, something I don't get much of at the moment. Feel so bad saying that because I always said I wouldn't go back after #2 but things change I guess...having two has been more challenging than I thought it would be and we have very little family support, DH works 12 hour days so it's really just down to me for the most part. The other thing is, having done it once before, I know it's not too bad and that I WILL actually survive leaving my beautiful baby

Having said all that, I only work 2 days a week and wouldn't consider going back more than that any time soon, I want to be at home most of the time. Maybe when the kids are both in school, unless we have another before then.

[Toomanytoomany]

Hi all,This question is directed at the mums out there who have returned to work post-baby. I am genuinely interested in your motivation for doing so!

Returning after dd#5 was purely monetary that I had to go back when she was four months old, part time. I found a dream job, full time, when she was eight months old.

After this one is born, I will have to go back to work as well - I'm hoping to manage at least six months off, and then hopefully just part time for the next six months. I don't know how my boss is going to manage with that. I can easily see how my job can be split.

I was a stay at home mum for the first ten years of parenthood. I enjoyed it and it was important to me, but it was great to get my career started too, and I don't want to lose that.

[Cally]

I'm going back full time in 3 weeks and will have had just over 12 months home.

Part of the reason is financial, we have an investment property with a large mortgage, but I am also looking forward to having more grown up time. I'm going full time as I work in a construction related industry with a lot of deadlines and feel that part time would be too difficult to manage.

Probably the biggest reason is that it took me 15 months to get this job, I'm in the public service so have great benefits and I would hate to lose all that. So even if we didn't have the mortgage I would be going back to work, although may negotiate more with work re part time.

The main things I am going to miss about being at home is spending time with DD, but am concerned that she may miss out on things ie swimming lessons which we currently go to each week as there aren't any on the weekends.

[AliBaby]

Hey OP,
I am going to have to go back to work and am hoping to do a 5 day fortnight. Will be going back when baby is 6months old for financial reasons. I do like my job and work good hours so that works. What are you thinking your plans will be?