Community› The Bump Message Boards› Working Moms
Working Moms
New Discussion

opinions wanted esp. from moms of 2 re: mat leave

potbellypigpotbellypig member
in Working Moms

*Also posted in Feb 2014*

I haven't posted on this board for a few months at least :( but I intro'd way back when :)

Background:

I work 8-4, M-F at a very easy desk job that pays really well. I live in Canada and get 52 weeks of mat leave paid out at $400 per week. I get top up from my work for 17 weeks which is about equal to $1800 per week. We aren't hurting for money as DH has a good job, but money is money and it's always nice to have more than not...

DS is due February 15. DD will be 2 when he is born. She goes to daycare but my daycare provider is pregnant and closing shop December 20. I was originally planning to leave in mid-Jan or early Feb. I don't have alternative care for DD yet and so far have no prospects for care. I can probably get MIL and different friends to watch her for a couple of weeks but DD's schedule is very sensitive (she's a terrible sleeper and JUST started sleeping through the night, any little thing throws her off) and I don't feel like dealing with the fallout of having her bounced around from place to place right before baby comes home. With DD I went back to work after 10 months as I don't *love* being home full time.

WWYD...

  1. Leave work December 20? Less stressful daycare wise but I don't love being home and in the long run less smart financially.
  2. Piece together care for DD until mid-January? Stressful to find childcare, may mess up her schedule but smarter financially.

Financially of course it makes more sense to keep working for as long as I can since then more of my time off is paid at the higher income. I probably won't go back to work until next November regardles of whether or not I leave in December or February. At the same time, is it worth screwing up DD's schedule if I can't find one person to watch her and need to bring her somewhere different every few days? Would I regret not having a few weeks at home to prep freezer meals/enjoy DD etc? How much time did you moms of 2+ kids wish you would have had at home with #1 before #2 came home?

Sorry for the rambling, I need to figure this out by the end of the week so that I can tell my work what I'm doind and I don't know what would be best.

Report Reply to Post

Re: opinions wanted esp. from moms of 2 re: mat leave

  • TheBorg7of9TheBorg7of9 member
    Since your leave is so long and money is not an issue, I would just leave work December 20th.  Finding temporary care seems like it would be a pain in the butt. Also, your DD might not like the inconsistency.  You can find fun places to go, like museums and stuff, so it won't be as boring as your first maternity leave.  If you want a break, you can have MIL come over once a week or something. 

    Personally, I will probably not be able to have any time at home before DS#2 comes, but I'm okay with it.  Most people work up until labor and do fine with or without freezer meals. :)
    My TTC History:
    2009: missed miscarriage #1 at 9 weeks (trisomy 16)
    2010: Infertility
    2011: Diagnosis and treatment (low sperm count, anastrozole for DH, clomid for me + IUI)
    2012: Baby #1
    2014: Baby #2
    October 2015: missed miscarriage #2 at 11 weeks (trisomy 22)
    March 2016 BFP#5, due November 2016.

    My Charts since 2009

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • mexicolombianamexicolombiana member
    My personal experience was that I had zero desire to be at home before I actually had the baby- BUT that's because I only got 6 weeks paid ML so I was not wasting a second of it WITHOUT a baby.  I understand everyone is different though and your situation is extremely different. .  

    It sounds like you're not hurting for money and it would be fun to stay home with your other child.  Not sure what's best here, but if you can swing it financially then stay home! 

    Also I can't even fathom a world where I would get one year of maternity leave even partially paid. Very happy for you.




    Pregnancy Ticker
    Report Reply
  • potbellypigpotbellypig member
    mexicolombiana said:
    My personal experience was that I had zero desire to be at home before I actually had the baby- BUT that's because I only got 6 weeks paid ML so I was not wasting a second of it WITHOUT a baby.  I understand everyone is different though and your situation is extremely different. .  

    It sounds like you're not hurting for money and it would be fun to stay home with your other child.  Not sure what's best here, but if you can swing it financially then stay home! 

    Also I can't even fathom a world where I would get one year of maternity leave even partially paid. Very happy for you.
    Move to Canada :) mat leave almost compensates for winter, lol!
    Report Reply
  • potbellypigpotbellypig member
    mainerocks said:
    Have you looked into a more consistent care provider for the gap? A temporary nanny or similar?  Maybe a local SAHM is looking to make some short term cash?  Just another option to consider... you might be able to find something more consistent than family here and there.
    I'm trying but because the gap starts right at Christmas not very many friends/daycares are looking for new kids!
    Report Reply
  • jf198400jf198400 member
    potbellypig said:


    mainerocks said:

    Have you looked into a more consistent care provider for the gap? A temporary nanny or similar?  Maybe a local SAHM is looking to make some short term cash?  Just another option to consider... you might be able to find something more consistent than family here and there.
    I'm trying but because the gap starts right at Christmas not very many friends/daycares are looking for new kids!


    This actually sounds like the perfect timeframe for hiring a college student on their winter break, they would be going back to school mid jan right when you are ready to go on leave. I'd try to find someone and if you can't then just start your leave early. I think starting your leave a month before your due date will give you plenty of time with your DD and also to prep meals etc.

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • mexicolombianamexicolombiana member
    potbellypig said:
    mexicolombiana said:
    My personal experience was that I had zero desire to be at home before I actually had the baby- BUT that's because I only got 6 weeks paid ML so I was not wasting a second of it WITHOUT a baby.  I understand everyone is different though and your situation is extremely different. .  

    It sounds like you're not hurting for money and it would be fun to stay home with your other child.  Not sure what's best here, but if you can swing it financially then stay home! 

    Also I can't even fathom a world where I would get one year of maternity leave even partially paid. Very happy for you.
    Move to Canada :) mat leave almost compensates for winter, lol!
    I love Canada I just might!




    Pregnancy Ticker
    Report Reply
  • djm31012djm31012 member
    i would 100% stay home from december 20th. you get some 1 on 1 time with your child before their life flips upside down with a new babe, plus you still get boat loads of time at home with the new baby. you are so lucky!! as long as money isnt a problem which it sounds like its not...i would stay home from dec 20 and enjoy the holidays at home.
    Report Reply
  • michaelaskedlaurenmichaelaskedlauren member

    I think I would definitely plan to stay home as well. I know that mentally for me "going out early" would be hard as well, but as PP have said, if you can afford it both financially and maternity leave wise, you might as well.

    It sounds like the extra stress of trying to find temp care would cause more of a headache than anything. Good luck!

    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie Pregnancy tickers

    zachary happens! | little fish :)

    runtri

    Report Reply
  • LoCarbLoCarb member
    I'm throwing in option #3. I would want DD1 to be in some kind of care p/t while I was on ML (especially in NB phase) for multiple reasons: socialization, 1:1 time with LO2, sleep exhaustion,etc...  So I would find alternate care who can take DD1 f/t until due date and then p/t after.

    If this doesn't work than probably option #1. I was always tapped out of work during the end of my pregnancy and you can manage financially.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"