Working Mummies Support Group #2

**Kazbah** · May 28th, 2014, 06:57 PM

Sounds like you're doing well then WYSIWYG! er yeah about the dress code ... thankfully (for me at least) Target does some quite nice basics these days!

I don't get the whole childhood ending thing ... seriously, anyone's who's been into a prep room knows they are still kids! Although it may be that the kids themselves think they are grown up.

Morning snacks ... I give a drink of milk and that's it. Number of times I've dropped the kids off and they are screaming for food makes me a very bad mummy- but they tend not to with milk. Although toast fingers are quick & easy with some vegemite.

Congrats MN!!! I hope it works well for you!!!

Jaycee - wow, great hours ... I'm kinda jealous.

Me - so chatted with my boss ... and I don't need to work from 830-5:30, just till 4ish is OK!!! Guess that means I need to be on the 6:40 train though... yerk

**wysiwyg** · May 28th, 2014, 08:29 PM

Sounds like you're doing well then WYSIWYG! er yeah about the dress code ... thankfully (for me at least) Target does some quite nice basics these days!

Yes although even Target is really more shopping than I like. Clothes to just magically appear in my wardrobe is what I would like :-)

My two get toast when they get to daycare - so I don't like to do toast at home - a couple of dried apricots / alternated with bananas are seeming to do the trick at the moment. Or an apple but they take way too long with apples and want to nibble them right up to daycare door, and two kids, two bags, on the tram is bad enough without adding two half eaten apples into the equation (reminds me tomorrow is show and tell day so will have a bag of some other creation as well)

I felt really bad one day because they only run breakfast till 8:00 and I wasn't at work but the plan was to get them there for breakfast - well the kids dilly-dallyed on the walk there so we missed breakfast. They only had to survive till about 9:10 when they have early morning snack but I hate it when I miss breakfast so I did feel a bit guilty.

**MummyNaomi** · May 28th, 2014, 09:09 PM

I was also very annoyed that she kept equating school with "the end of childhood" - childhood does not end when school starts, there are still many years of fun filled childhood ahead - putting that idea into parents heads all the time, is not going to do their children any favors at all.

Agreed - I link most of my childhood memories to school age - what a stupid concept

Yay Jaycee, that is awesome!!

Found another very suitable internal role to apply for, doesn't close until next week so have set up a meeting with the hiring manager. Putting my fingers in a few pies now. Both roles I can easily do, but my interview experience is so rusty, my boss will help me with some mock interview practice........ Fingers crossed one of these roles works out!!

**wysiwyg** · June 8th, 2014, 08:24 PM

How did your chats go MN?

Two weeks down, I am enjoying new job - going to try different commute methods from now on. Nice to have a long weekend (apart from the loss of days money - as now haven't had any pay since beginning of May - starting to notice it)

**peanutter** · June 8th, 2014, 09:45 PM

Super glad it's going well

**MummyNaomi** · June 9th, 2014, 09:10 PM

How did your chats go MN?

Great! Waiting on interviews now, neither have gotten to that stage yet. One was supposed to then the hiring manager got sick. It's hard waiting! Fingers crossed something pans out as both roles are really interesting.

**Frangipani Lou** · June 9th, 2014, 09:26 PM

Good luck MN. Waiting sucks!

There is big positive change at work in a few weeks and I'm really excited about it. Feeling more optimistic already after a stressful time so far this year.

**OceanPrincess** · June 9th, 2014, 09:28 PM

So. I'll be joining you ladies here on Monday. One more week to go then back to work for this little black duck.

**wysiwyg** · June 9th, 2014, 09:39 PM

hello OP, not sure if welcome is appropriate as I know you were not so keen on returning to work. Hope it goes better than you expect, for what it is worth - the thinking about going back to work I found worse both times than actually doing it.

**OceanPrincess** · June 10th, 2014, 08:58 AM

Lol thanks wysiwyg. I'm finding lots to look forward to already plus the benefit of REGULAR INCOME!!!!

It was just a huge mental shift for me and took ages to get myself used to the idea but I'm pretty good now.

You're not in the CBD, are you?

**wysiwyg** · June 10th, 2014, 09:11 AM

Lol thanks wysiwyg. I'm finding lots to look forward to already plus the benefit of REGULAR INCOME!!!!

It was just a huge mental shift for me and took ages to get myself used to the idea but I'm pretty good now.

You're not in the CBD, are you?

No unfortunately not - I am working in Broadmeadows - I come up your way and round the ring road - when I drive to work - it would be a good commute for you :-)

I am finding this job is having positive affects at home - I am in a sorting mania and getting far more organised round the home. I think I get in a real slump when am just at home (it would be different I think if I knew I was at home long term, but at home and job hunting I think is not a good combination for me).

Daycare fees are going up though :-( - DS will now be 115 a day and DD 110 a day (when paying full fees) - from July. It used to be the disincentive to work kicked in at more than 3 days a week - due to the CCR limit, but is getting to be more like after 2 days a week now. The place they are at is fantastic, but the limit on the CCR is a killer.

**~TT40~** · June 10th, 2014, 10:07 AM

Yea we can only afford 2 days a week care max. Our is going up...but only by $2 a day, and still heaps.cheaper than the big cities (will be 85 a day here).
Spock has only in the last few months started enjoying care tho, took months for her to not cry at drop off and pickup, all the photos they took of her she looked so miserable =( bit now she is happy to go and is laughing and smiling in all the photos =) deffinently makes it easier.
Whats happening to master B qhen you go back OP?

**Astrid** · June 10th, 2014, 12:31 PM

Vacation care has gone up as well. Just trying to sort out what we are booking these holidays. Thankfully DH is going to take a couple of leave days and a friend will help out on another, so they wont be in care the whole time.

Found out some interesting info on the weekend, the main trouble maker at work, also caused trouble at her last place of work. Does not look like my boss did his proper resume and reference checks. So now we are all suffering and he is too blind to see it

Anyway, today is a sick day. DD1 is not well and I am coming down with a cold. Bad timing for work, but these things happen.

**peanutter** · June 10th, 2014, 08:53 PM

CBD, FTW!!!

We should bump sandwiches sometime soon

Enjoy your last few days at home though, love. I feel for you

**MummyNaomi** · June 10th, 2014, 09:21 PM

Welcome OP - hope the return to work does well, for you and the kidlets!!

WYSIWYG - crap, thats expensive. I think we have it very good here. Daily rate is $84, I opted to have my CCR taken in half fees so it certainly takes the sting out. Helps that DS is at School (even private school fees are cheaper then 2 days of childcare). DD has just gone to 3 days of CC so its a bit more, if I land one of these jobs she will need to go 4 days

Hoping that once I am established I can organise a work from home day again - IF I land a role, and if it pans out. If I end up external f/time she'll definitely be stuck with 4 days. Time will tell

**wysiwyg** · June 10th, 2014, 10:07 PM

Welcome OP - hope the return to work does well, for you and the kidlets!!

WYSIWYG - crap, thats expensive. I think we have it very good here. Daily rate is $84, I opted to have my CCR taken in half fees so it certainly takes the sting out. Helps that DS is at School (even private school fees are cheaper then 2 days of childcare). DD has just gone to 3 days of CC so its a bit more, if I land one of these jobs she will need to go 4 days

Hoping that once I am established I can organise a work from home day again - IF I land a role, and if it pans out. If I end up external f/time she'll definitely be stuck with 4 days. Time will tell

Apparently ours is one of the cheaper centers round here too :-) When CJ first started at daycare in 2010 - the rate was about $84 - so that is a 37% increase in 4 years! If you work out the hourly rate and leave them there for the full 11 hours it doesn't sound so bad.

**Frangipani Lou** · June 10th, 2014, 10:17 PM

Welcome OP xo

Our FDC is going up too from about $89- $92 and that's for up to 10 hours. It's more expensive than others in the area which are as low as $65 a day before CCB and CCR.

I have a swollen throat :-( I think I caught if from one of the children at work today. I hope I won't need time off as ive only got 7 sick days left until may 2015.

**Teeki** · June 10th, 2014, 10:36 PM

Wow, I'm shocked at some of the childcare costs! Ours is $85/day part time, the daily rate is a bit lower if the kids are there 5 days a week.

Good to read that you're finding things to look forward to about Monday OP. I'm nowhere near that stage yet lol.

Still unsure how many days I'll actually be working. I had a few options and have let my old boss know what I'd like, but I don't know yet what they can do for me. The waiting sucks!