Sorry to hear that bd. It always sucks the big one when the decision is taken out of your hands, even if it was what you were planning anyway.

I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with returning to work for a few weeks before going on a second lot of mat leave. My situation is as follows. First child just turned one on the weekend and I'm due with number 2 in 8 weeks. The original plan was for me to extend my mat leave for number 1 for three months then go straight to mat leave for number 2. This was the best for me and my company as my replacement was going to extend his contract so it was going to work perfectly from a continuity perpective. My replacement has been told his company won't extend his leave of absence and he is unwilling to give up 11 years of service for a temporary contract. Understand completely. I also understand why my company can't 'make up' a full time position for him. It was a great situation gone completely pear shaped. So... my dilemma is do I offer to go back for four to six weeks part time as I can't get care for my daughter. My issue with this is I'm likely to be then classified part time and paid mat leave at this pay as well as only being able to return at the same rate... I also think it might be a little unfair on my daughter who doesn't get the concept that a baby will be here in a couple of months, taking up a chunk of my time. I don't know if I did one day a week in the office as well as a couple of hours a day during her naps would help prepare her or deprive her of our last few weeks together.

I'm quite ready to do something with my brain and I would have been back at work if number 2 wasn't imminent.

I'm completely befuddled on what to do so if anyone has any experience or opinions, please throw it out there.