Give up looking for a new job and try to get pregnanrt instead? Irresponsible?

[hel9a]

I have been unemployed since September and am struggling to get a new job. I am beginning to think that I could use this time to have babies instead.

I am 38, we want to do it soon and maybe this would be a good time to do it because we could survive on benefits, with mortgage holiday and then I could go back to work in a couple of years when the world gets back to normal (my husband would be happy to give up work and take over childcare and I am our main breadwinner when I'm working).

When I was working, I was only entitled to 6 weeks' paid maternity leave so would have been looking at a long period on benefits and with a mortgage holiday anyway. Am I being totally irresponsible?! and would this be career suicide?

[Lauriefairycake]

I don't think you're irresponsible - it's not like you're getting any younger (sorry )

Sounds like a good time to me and i presume you've been working for the best part of 20 years.

[MrsMattie]

If you don't have any children but want them and you're 38 - have them!

[BouncingTartan]

That's what I'm thinking about doing! Am leaving my job (they won't let me work part time!) so may end up TTCing in the summer if I can't find anything else. It would be ideal as would have a just over 2 year age gap between ds and another dc.

[rockdoctor]

On an emotional level - yeah, go for it.

On a practical level, and I don't know what kind of work you're looking for, a career gap to have kids could look better than a career gap of 6-12-18 months unemployed as far as a potential employer is concerned.

One thing - check that your mortgage holiday still applies if you're unemployed. I know that some don't.

[Harimad]

Hiya,

Am in a similar position - 38, and being made redundant. I have delayed having a 2nd child due to work loyalty in busy year (pah!). So long as my package is enough, I'm going to take the time out to have a 2nd and like you, look for a job when (hopefully) things are a bit brighter.

I say go for it!

[TheCrackFox]

Go for it. Don't want to be rude but time is not on your side if you are 38, just do it.

[LIZS]

Agree you coudl use the break to do so but I'm not sure you'd necessarily get the benefits you assume to make up for loss of a salary, it rather depends how much your dp earns and any savings, or qualify for a mortgage holiday. A sahm may well get nothing apart from Child Benefit. SMP is paid for 39 weeks (info here so not sure where your 6 weeks comes from, maybe your company had its own discretionary policy above this to top it up for 6 weeks.

[hel9a]

Thank you LIZS - I think you're right. It seems I'm entitled to practically nothing - not because I have any savings but because my husband has a full-time job (even though he earns hardly anything and certainly not enough to cover the mortgage).

Grrrr - looks like we'll be on bread and water if we go ahead with this baby thing...

[MGMidget]

Could you set yourself up as freelance whilst TTC? You may be able to carve a successful part-time business for yourself working from home if your career lends itself to freelance work. This would also be baby/toddler friendly. This might give you a better work/life balance post-baby, especially if you are not heavily reliant on two big incomes to pay the bills and it also means you can be doing something useful for your career/CV in the meantime.

[sarahken]

I know exactly where your coming from. Although not exactly the same situation, I went back to work when my ds was 18 months old. I absolutely loved my job and had no intention of trying for another baby yet. Then they made me change offices to another branch, and I don't like it, so I decided it was time to take time out and have another baby. My son is now 3.3 years and I'm 6 months pregnant, so I'm glad it happened as otherwise the age gap could have been alot wider. I think with employment it sometimes seems a right time to plan your family rather than your career. i'm hoping to get another job when I have to go back, and only work part time imstead of full time. Think it was the kick I needed to change my life for the better.