Working Mummies Support Group

[purplepixie1978]

Hullo,

I have been back at work for 4 weeks now. DD was 8 months old at the time. I'm only working 3 days per week, but as I'm a teacher I can't just leave it there... a pile of marking is looking at me accusingly as I type.

We didn't do the sums before I went back to see if I actually needed to go back. I thought I would want to go back and be ready to, so when school started back this year I said I'd be back Term 3 for 3 days per week. I wasn't ready to go, and I certainly wasn't ready to leave DD at daycare. But... she loves it there. She's become so social and is learning so much! I'm glad because if she didn't like it there I would have packed it in by the end of the first week. The cost of daycare is ridiculous, but we don't have the option of family care. And we earn *just* over the threshold for any childcare rebate. So once we have another one (hopefully next year), I will definitely be doing the sums. Can't see myself wanting to go back at all after that...

I'm with Ocean Princess, I just don't know where I'm going with my career. I used to be so ambitious and now my priorities have totally changed.

Organisation is key... and look after yourself. If the housework needs to go to hell for a bit while you get settled so be it, and go to bed early on "school nights". I've been using Aussie Farmers Direct and planning meals around that. If you don't already have a slow cooker, invest in one.

Hope you're all getting a handle on things.

[nickle730]

Oh, the slow cooker... working mumma's best friend!

I started back to work this week. I had some retraining that last three days but from now on I will only work on weekends. I have agreed to work during the day every Sunday and every second Saturday. DH and I decided this was our best option as it means I can do all the school pick ups and drop offs during the week (I have two older kids as well as Miss P) and he will be home to look after the kids when I'm working. I also get 10 weeks holiday each year. I'm concerned about how my working weekends will impact on our time as a family, but I simply can't bear the thought of sending Miss P to childcare and the other kids to before/after school care. DH starts early and is usually home by the time we get home from school each day so we all have evening together... and ultimately, if it doesn't work we'll figure out something else!

I enjoy my job and I actually like having the opportunity to go to work. I go to work and talk about grown up stuff! Then I come home and appreciate what I have there. I have really missed Miss P the last few days but DH took those days off to care for her (we don't have much family around to help with child care) and the two of them have really bonded.

I have worked really hard to BF and I have no desire to stop so I expressed in the middle of the day and that seemed ok. I work in a very male dominated environment so I managed to frighten several of the blokes by pulling out my pump and asking for a quiet room!! No one used my bottle of expressed milk for their coffee so all was ok...

Hope we can all find 'the balance', it's nice to have others to share the experience with.

[purplepixie1978]

How is everyone managing? DD has been really unwell and we're running through our sick leave looking after her. I worked one day of my three last week and missed yesterday as well. It's so hard to strike a balance.

[chody47]

Hullo,


I'm with Ocean Princess, I just don't know where I'm going with my career. I used to be so ambitious and now my priorities have totally changed.

This is me exactly at the moment. I too am a teacher and, even last year when I went back to work at 6 months, I was still thinking about advancing in my career. I was even thinking about going back full time this year as I hated sharing my class and thought things would be better if I just did it all myself. This year, however, (I think especially after the Christmas holidays, entirely spent with DD), my priorities have started to change. I'm now thinking that working part time in a classroom roll might be ok for the long term and I don't really care about advancing at the moment......I can't believe I"m actually saying that lol!

[MantaRay]

I find it challenging even with both boys now in primary school. I think the biggest challenge with older kids is juggling time - how to be away for around 50 hours a week (including travel time) and still have enough time with the kids, making sure homework, practice etc is done, and still having "me" time. Honestly my social life has been very neglected and I do feel the lack of friendships after a few years of not having time to keep them up.