Working Mummies Support Group

[Mum2SweetCs]

Joining you ladies. Back to work full time after 17 months mat leave. Girls getting woken up at 5.30am to get dropped off at grandmas.

The little one still getting breastfed so mega sooky which aint good for grandma.

When i get home she latches onto me and doesnt want to let goooo!!

So tiring yawn!

[Amy_jellybean]

I suppose I should join in here. I started my own online baby shop in July and it's gone nuts! Obviously i'm stoked that it's bringing in money but I need to sort out some kind of work/life balance because i'm feeling exhausted. We are looking into opening a shop in the next 6 months rather than just online. With a 1 year old in tow that should be interesting x

[Beautiful Disaster]

I'm still here just growing away. Only 22 more work days then it's leave for me.

[Doing my best]

Sticking my head back in here.. I am really struggling with extra hrs of late.. We have had lots of people off and thankfully my turn next week.. I am so looking forward to going back to my 2 days a week after a family holiday next week.. Warning, long whinge coming, but am sure it is better here, than actually walking out, even though I do voice my frustrations at work, and am supported..

I have been dealing with people who are acting like kids, and it frustrates me to no end using the same questions I use with my 4 & 6 year olds with grown adults.. The most general being 'despite what x doing, do you think it is the right thing to do?'..

And to have someone insult me enough, that even despite chasing numerous times in working hrs to turn around with 'sorry I was out with my kids' um, yeah , like I really want to log on during my kids time to do something for you, but only consider doing it cause it would create more hassle than the 15 mins it takes me to do it... Grrr..

[Starfish]

I just found this thread and thought I'd join.
I went back to work full time when DS was 6 months old 6 months ago. DH looks after DS during the day and brings him in to me at lunchtime so that I can breastfeed, which is going well.

Whinge/Vent/Advice bit: I haven't read the whole thread yet (I'm at work atm so can't), but can some of you share your experiences coming back to a long term job after maternity leave. I have been having a super-sucky time and I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this too, e.g. I feel like I am not being looked down on and looked over for work that needs doing whereas before I had a lot of responsibility. I feel like I have been demoted... Blah. It sucks, but someone's got to bring in some money and I am way more suitable to do this than DH.

[wysiwyg]

Whinge/Vent/Advice bit: I haven't read the whole thread yet (I'm at work atm so can't), but can some of you share your experiences coming back to a long term job after maternity leave. I have been having a super-sucky time and I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this too, e.g. I feel like I am not being looked down on and looked over for work that needs doing whereas before I had a lot of responsibility. I feel like I have been demoted... Blah. It sucks, but someone's got to bring in some money and I am way more suitable to do this than DH.

Sorry can't offer any advice from being in a similar situation as haven't gone back to a long term job - just contracts. Maybe you need to mention the way you are feeling to someone, maybe they think this is what you want (e.g. less responsibility, as that might suit some people) rather than being looked down on - perhaps if express it explicitly that you want the same as before, hopefully is just a communication issue.

Last week was only week have been happy to drive to work - car lovely and cool! A week in the city on a course this week so I can take public transport all week, which will make me very happy. (The kids are in daycare all week instead of 3 days and are so excited by that idea, they just love it there - thankfully. Happy the course was in Jan, as outside of Dec, Jan would have struggled to get 2 extra days x 2) Trying to get the kids to daycare and myself ready for work last week without being a sweaty mess was a bit of a challenge though, especially as there wasn't much sleep had in the heat - hope that the heat is over now.

BD - time seems to have flown!

[Frangipani Lou]

Starfish, I agree with Wysiwyg, they may simply be assuming you want less responsibility now. I know when I returned to work in October last year, I certainly didn't want to work at the same level that I had before maternity leave. My priorities had simply changed.

You could chat with someone about it or come at it from a lighthearted angle...

Jokingly say " come on folks my brain needs a good work out after all the goo goo ga ga talk I've been up to at home! Bring it on!"

[Starfish]

The main problem I think is that there is no one that I can talk to. My manager was always super useless, but at least he let me get on with things. When I came back from leave, there had been a restructure. Now my manager refuses that talk to me directly and I have to go through someone else. The problem is that he doesn't talk to her either, so anything that I tell her goes into a black hole. And the fact that I don't get on with this woman at all doesn't help...
Today is the first day that DH is not bringing DS in to me for a feed. Feeling blah...

[Jaycee]

Huh? Your manager won't speak directly to you? How bizarre. If you're not getting any joy with this woman I'd go further up the chain, regardless of whether he "feels the need" to speak to you or not, you obviously need to!

re not seeing your bub today, that sucks

[peanutter]

How goes?

[Mother Goose]

I've been asked to consider going to a conference interstate in a few months. I'll be gone for almost the whole week. Feeling very conflicted about it. Great opportunity - but how do I handle being away from the girls
So long? I've never been away from dd2. Ever.

[Mother Goose]

How are you peanutter?

[chody47]

Joining back in here. Just heading back to work. Tomorrow is the first day back and doing the childcare drop off with two kiddies. I'm a bit nervous!

[Mother Goose]

Good luck Chody!!!!!

[Beautiful Disaster]

14 days of work to go. I'm starting to really struggle with sitting 8 hours a day so hope the days go faster than than the last 2. Sucks having no work to do.

[peanutter]

Ok, thanks work had been a bit quiet. Really not sure what to do with myself!!

[wysiwyg]

BD - is the 14 days up now - are you happy to be finished?

MG - what did you decide about interstate trip? I did a couple of week away trips middle of last year (DS was about 18 months) , I got my mum in to help with the kids and that made it easier because I knew it would be special for them being with her too. I did miss them but also was just so busy I didn't think much about it and did enjoy eating evening meal in peace :-). It also sort of connected me to the past a bit, because I used to travel a fair bit for work so it reminded me of that, and I think that was a good thing.

I have 17 more days left to go on my current contract, I have left work so many times the past few weeks going to pack it in that I had to count the days to see whether I could do it. I have told them I not renewing it and why - partly the travel but also because it is a complete disorganized mess and they don't listen to me or plan anything properly - and I need to enjoy my work. They wanted me to stay just one more month - but I told them no because I don't believe the extra month will have them anymore sorted - I know how things work - I would do an extra month and they would beg me for another (but only be prepared to contract me month by month).

I have worked 4 nights this week plus the usual three days and will have to work tomorrow arvo/evening - I get paid for it but that is not the way I want my life to be, I don't mind extra hours under certain circumstances but not when it is just the result of poor planning and resourcing, and they expect you to be able to drop everything at their command.

I am hoping I can find something permanent next even if means more days a week, I am not suited to these short-term contracts at all.

I am currently doing a submission for productivity commission on childcare - they want to hear opinions from parents - these are the types of things they are interested in hearing about -
"Are problems with access to, or the flexibility, cost or quality of ECEC preventing you from undertaking work or study (or the number of hours you would prefer to work or study)? How
should any problems be addressed? Would, for example, extending childcare centre hours or the length of the school day make it easier for you to work?

I am a bit late doing it but I think is still worthwhile.

[Beautiful Disaster]

Sure am finished yesterday. I'm happy and sad at the same time. I will miss people and the money but not the company.

Hubby is starting a new job next week and will be on 12hr days so it's going to be tough but the money is good