Working Mummies Support Group

[Beautiful Disaster]

I know I'm coming back after 6 months for 2-3 days a week. They have to approve this though.

A plus for them is that I would be gone for the quiet period and back as it ramped up again.

I don't know it sucks. I feel so deceitful

[wysiwyg]

What if you didn't know you were pregnant, then you could only tell them when you knew which could be after already had job talks. Ok you do know, but not everyone would - so really just because you do happen to know you shouldn't feel deceitful. It is fairly standard not to tell anyone till 12 weeks, so I don't see why employers should be different (some I know are because of health and safety implications they need to know as soon as you know - exposure to certain chemicals for example).

I only have one day of work this week and seems like I might not get the full three days for a couple of months so have bitten the bullet and enrolled in an online course - is just a Cert IV in Training and Assessment, will be a benefit to my CV and seems meant to be as getting some down time. Continuing to look round for something else, but not hopeful for part-time, boss last week seems pretty confident that they will have plenty of work for me come October - so fingers crossed. Getting a full day pay tomorrow for only half day as all going out for lunch with some big boss man, I offered to just work a different day so could do a full day instead (working tomorrow doesn't suit me the most as have a do with DH in the evening so would have rather not worked) but they were insistent that I am part of the team so must go to lunch - so I suppose that is a good sign.

[wysiwyg]

Double Post

[wysiwyg]

Haven't had any work for a few weeks which is depressing me - online course is dull and seems I don't enjoy studying much these days. Might have more work at old place in a couple of weeks - hope so. Got turned down for a job yesterday I would have been perfect for and they were desperate and wanted immediate start but apparently not interested in part-time. :-( Is a joke would rather have no-one than 3 days a week full days plus extra hours in evenings.

Need something by end of Oct or I am going to have to reassess childcare -sound familiar ????? - sounds very like me last dec/jan :-)

[Mumma T]

Haven't had any work for a few weeks which is depressing me - online course is dull and seems I don't enjoy studying much these days. Might have more work at old place in a couple of weeks - hope so. Got turned down for a job yesterday I would have been perfect for and they were desperate and wanted immediate start but apparently not interested in part-time. :-( Is a joke would rather have no-one than 3 days a week full days plus extra hours in evenings.

Need something by end of Oct or I am going to have to reassess childcare -sound familiar ????? - sounds very like me last dec/jan :-)

That sucks. You think they would have considered your offer of part time. I hope you find something soon.

AFM - I have my 3 month probation finish next week, shouldn't have any issues but you never know with this company. They could just as easily say nah not keeping you. I had to turn down an interview with the Police Force last week Really hoping another opportunity comes along

[Mother Goose]

I'm
Really struggling with being back at work. I'm finding myself slip into a dark hole and I don't like it. I don't like the working mummy me.

[Astrid]

wysiwyg - not considering part-time is sucky, hope something comes up

Mother Goose - Is it just working in general that is causing the struggle or the job itself?

[MummyNaomi]

wsyiwyg - makes me so angry on your behalf. My boss has said often that he feels his working mothers are his hardest workers (part time and all) as we can balance and multitask better than most (and appreciate our flexible work arrangements so pay him back in loyalty and dedication). Sucks that other employers cant see these potential benefits too. I hope something perfect comes up soon, must be a bit stressful and annoying

MG - I've been there, although I'm not quite sure what aspect is troubling you, at times I've felt a failure at home and at work when I've been tired/run down and trying desperately to keep on top of everything and not succeeding. Like Astrid, I wonder what it is specifically? Or is it just everything in general?

I go back to part time week commencing the 23rd. DH has finished his parental leave. I know he's sad to leave the kids but I am so happy to be going back to part time - I am exhausted and I miss my kids. I'll be in the office Mon/Wed/Fri, working from home Tues and RDO on Thurs - I cant wait! Two extra full days with my kiddies! Yay! The last few weeks have been a struggle but I have been working hard to get a really good work routine happening so I keep on top of everything as part time as my work load wont really change.

[Mother Goose]

It's everything. Going to work. I hate leaving my girls.
My job. They didn't follow my instructions and now I have to try and salvage my program. And explain why the stats didnt improve. I have to rewrite the training component. I feel stressed about every aspect of my job. I used to love teaching but not any more. My replacement is pushing to stay on but the increase in hours are for me and I financially need them. I don't like how short I become with my big girl. I resent dh works long hours and I'm left running the house on my own plus work. I don't like that returning to work has made me become sad and slightly depressed. I keep hoping that its just me settling back in. I don't remember feeling this way after returning to work after dd1

[MummyNaomi]

MG it's much harder with two. The limited time you have you are now trying to spread between 2 children and it feels like there is not enough hrs in the day. It's hard to keep everyone happy.
Is it possible to outsource some stuff to help give you a break? Even temporarily? Eg get a cleaner, offload some ironing?
It probably feels like you are going non stop with every aspect of your life and it feels unappreciated I'm guessing. Been there. It does take a little while for everything to fall into place

[Mother Goose]

I can't afford to get a cleaner at the moment but will be next year. My outlaws are here at the end of the week for a few days and will hopefully help a bit. Then I'm going to my dads next week in Adelaide and hoping he will help me out as well. I just need a break.

[peanutter]

DH and I are considering using our Christmas prezzie money to hire some of the beautiful people from the melbourne asylum seeker resource centre's cleaning team to do every nook and cranny of the house ...

Can't afford to do it generally, but maybe, maybe for Christmas!

[wysiwyg]

It's everything. Going to work. I hate leaving my girls.
My job. They didn't follow my instructions and now I have to try and salvage my program. And explain why the stats didnt improve. I have to rewrite the training component. I feel stressed about every aspect of my job. I used to love teaching but not any more. My replacement is pushing to stay on but the increase in hours are for me and I financially need them. I don't like how short I become with my big girl. I resent dh works long hours and I'm left running the house on my own plus work. I don't like that returning to work has made me become sad and slightly depressed. I keep hoping that its just me settling back in. I don't remember feeling this way after returning to work after dd1

I was talking with some other mums who have returned to work yesterday and we all reckoned you need to give yourself 6 weeks to get into the groove, and 6 weeks to work out how you really feel - as most of us had struggled the first few weeks but had come out the other side so to speak after about 6 weeks. Hope it is slowly getting better.


MN- What is really annoying is they are still advertising for the job they won't consider part-time for, is only a three month contract so is not like they need to make sure get the right job fit long term. I could have been working their for 4 days by now.

It is stressful, we are ok for money for a month or so due to tax return but it isn't sustainable is the problem, plus can't plan anything. Fingers crossed next week will find out if they want me back at old place. Otherwise I am giving myself till end of October and if nothing by then will have to go down to one day a week at childcare and decide not to work for the rest of this tax year. Last year I was looking October till end of Jan before found anything, so I know that is a bad period, and I can't just keep paying for daycare with no income - is just too expensive (even with the CCB/CCR). If I write off working for this tax year - we will be ok, but isn't really what I want and brings up new complications like what to do about kinder for DD - plan was for in daycare kinder but 1 day a week isn't sufficient really is it? If I manage to get her in somewhere else then I will be ok with the hours for first two terms but really would want to try get them back in at childcare for the next financial year and get some work (by that time I might be able to suck up a more full-time like role as will only be for half a year with two in childcare as DD will start 2015). Not really that keen on the idea of pulling them in and out of childcare/kinder, but if I have too then I will just enjoy the extra time will get with them.

I have to say that if the government do bring in the ability to have in home care applicable to CCB/CCR for everyone, then it would certainly make it easier for those who are in and out of work - if I could only have daycare for the times when I have contracts it would make a massive difference, and would probably save the government money because then people would be able to work and earn tax when there are jobs available to them not be dictated by keeping or losing their childcare places. Nannies or in home carers whatever they want to call them are bound to offer more flexibility than childcare centers.

[wysiwyg]

It's everything. Going to work. I hate leaving my girls.
My job. They didn't follow my instructions and now I have to try and salvage my program. And explain why the stats didnt improve. I have to rewrite the training component. I feel stressed about every aspect of my job. I used to love teaching but not any more. My replacement is pushing to stay on but the increase in hours are for me and I financially need them. I don't like how short I become with my big girl. I resent dh works long hours and I'm left running the house on my own plus work. I don't like that returning to work has made me become sad and slightly depressed. I keep hoping that its just me settling back in. I don't remember feeling this way after returning to work after dd1

I was talking with some other mums who have returned to work yesterday and we all reckoned you need to give yourself 6 weeks to get into the groove, and 6 weeks to work out how you really feel - as most of us had struggled the first few weeks but had come out the other side so to speak after about 6 weeks. Hope it is slowly getting better.


MN- What is really annoying is they are still advertising for the job they won't consider part-time for, is only a three month contract so is not like they need to make sure get the right job fit long term. I could have been working their for 4 days by now.

It is stressful, we are ok for money for a month or so due to tax return but it isn't sustainable is the problem, plus can't plan anything. Fingers crossed next week will find out if they want me back at old place. Otherwise I am giving myself till end of October and if nothing by then will have to go down to one day a week at childcare and decide not to work for the rest of this tax year. Last year I was looking October till end of Jan before found anything, so I know that is a bad period, and I can't just keep paying for daycare with no income - is just too expensive (even with the CCB/CCR). If I write off working for this tax year - we will be ok, but isn't really what I want and brings up new complications like what to do about kinder for DD - plan was for in daycare kinder but 1 day a week isn't sufficient really is it? If I manage to get her in somewhere else then I will be ok with the hours for first two terms but really would want to try get them back in at childcare for the next financial year and get some work (by that time I might be able to suck up a more full-time like role as will only be for half a year with two in childcare as DD will start 2015). Not really that keen on the idea of pulling them in and out of childcare/kinder, but if I have too then I will just enjoy the extra time will get with them.

I have to say that if the government do bring in the ability to have in home care applicable to CCB/CCR for everyone, then it would certainly make it easier for those who are in and out of work - if I could only have daycare for the times when I have contracts it would make a massive difference, and would probably save the government money because then people would be able to work and earn tax when there are jobs available to them not be dictated by keeping or losing their childcare places. Nannies or in home carers whatever they want to call them are bound to offer more flexibility than childcare centers.

[MummyNaomi]

Wysiwyg - so annoying! I can honestly say that I get 5 days if work done in my 4 days. Employers need to be flexible, I know from my experience in the workplace who I'd be hiring. I hate the misconception that parents take lots of carers leave etc when kids are sick. We have more issues with unplanned leave with the younger single people using sick leave as an entitlement to have random days off rather than for genuine sick leave. I honestly thing our most reliable workers are parents. Work is impprtant to them for the financial security for their family. Anyway my point is that these potential employers are really missing out ( and therefore so r u)

[wysiwyg]

Apparently they will now consider part-time and have been offered the job - only downside is a bit of a commute and would have to do in the car (otherside of West Gate bridge from me for those who know Melbourne) - oh well money is good and a job is a job so I expect I will accept it tomorrow to start next Wednesday.

[Mumma T]

Yay congrats on the job!! I have a bit of a commute too but I listen to podcasts the whole way and it goes much faster.

AFM - Well 3 month review went well so looks like I am staying here til I have another baby or get a job with a Gov agency I am trying to get into. Really struggling with Mummy guilt at the moment with working full time as DS is so unsettled at night and I am completely strung out from lack of sleep. I feel like if I wasn't working then I would be more patient at ridiculous O'clock every night

[MummyNaomi]

Excellent news Wysiwyg Congrats!!