To not want to go back to work right yet, and want to spend time with my 2mth old?

[M0naLisa]

My DH doesnt work, his work ending in August last year due to them relocating down south. Since then he has tried and tired and tried to get work but nothing. He is on JSA which lets be honest doesnt stretch far, specially when the kids need new school shoes and money for school trips etc etc

Hes applied for 97 jobs in the last 6 weeks and not one reply. Nothing!!! Its getting very tedious now and making us both very angry that Recruitment agencies can advertise for 'Immediate Start' yet 3 weeks later they are apparently still 'waiting' for a start date from the company. Its ridiculous.

Today DH said 'We are both going to have to have a look for work'

Now im not bothered about looking for work. But last time i worked full time 40 hours per week and i found it hard leaving the kids with DH whilst he stayed at home with the kids - although we only had 2 then and DS1 was 3 and DS2 was a year old. I found myself getting more and more depressed, the work was hard and i found it difficult because of the work itself. I left after 10 months because my health was deteriorating. I was losing weight rapidly because i was constantly worrying if id done something wrong at work (doing orders for customers).

AIBU to want to spend time with my DS3 before going out to work and missing his first time milestones. I missed DS2 first time crawl, first steps and first proper word because i was working full time.

I have applied for some jobs by emailing companies and asking if they have any vacancies. If i was to go to work i have to have the job in town as no car at the moment. I just feel like its DHs way of getting out of going back to work so he can be the SAHD, take the kids to school on a morning, come home and go back to bed with DS3.

I suffered PND with DS2 and i feel if i go back to work now at 10 weeks PP that i will start to suffer again.

AIBU and selfish? I feel i am :(

60 days paternity leave? Norm people get ten days, and its said at smp rate. You are very fortunate.

Op I feel for you, but your dh is right

All those saying try harder, her dh has applied for 97 jobs!

Jellybeans, would yet have made same decision if your family had no income though?
It's a tough situation

YANBU to want to stay at home with the baby.

YWBU to refuse to try to make some money when your DH is looking for a job and your family need the money.

If you don't want to go out to work, then you need to find something you can do from home or in the evenings/weekend. How about:
Childminding
Advertise yourself as an evening babysitter
Selling Avon/Usborne Books
Running a music/baby signing class
Couple of evenings in a pub
Saturday job in a shop

Of course, your DH needs to keep looking for work too.

Really, really feel for you OP.

Supporting a family is hard work and having to leave your little one when they are so young is unspeakably hard. I know from experience myself that it can lead to depression and impact on your health.

But someone needs to do it, if your DH can't get suitable work and you can, then that is what you will have to do.

Don't think it helps to hear that other people couldn't have done it some people simply don't have the luxury of having that choice.

givemeaclue, yes I would even if had to claim benefits. I physically could not have left my younger 3.But I had a hideous time having them, two prior stillbirths-one before the twins and one before youngest, multiple problems with DC3's pregnancy (preterm labour again at 21 weeks), severe post traumatic stress etc etc. Without all that it is hard to say as I am a different person now. With the older 2 I would have been fine to work p / t if DH was home.

I know someone who delivers catalogues and parcels part time and takes the baby with her in the car. Just another idea.

I can see how you would feel like that jelly, what a terrible experience, glad you have your 4 dcs now.

OP it is a horrible thing to have to do but sometimes needs must. I went back to work when my DD was 10 weeks old so that I could pay the mortgage and buy food to feed us all. DH was working but his pay was less than half of mine at the time so barely covered the basics. I never saw her first steps or heard her first words. On the plus side I hardly did any potty training and the terrible twos just passed me right by - all done by the nursery staff who were wonderful.

YANBU at all to not want to work with such a young baby. I just couldn't have done it. Your Dh needs to try a bit harder. Stick to your guns if you really don't want to do it.

That is a fucking awful attitude to have Nelly. Maybe the OP needs to work harder at supporting her family, which might mean working out of the home for a while. It goes both ways.

I also truly feel for your situation and think it could lead to depression. However, it is not anyone's fault and simply has to be addressed. Unless your DH is a knob or there is some other parenting issue then you have to look at working. You can make it be a positive choice.

I was in this situation with DC1 went back to work full time when he was 11 weeks, continued to BF, coslept and if I missed any firsts people were tactful enough not to mention it. With DC3 went back to work 12 hour shifts 3 days a week when he was 4 m, again coped and BF. Yes would rather have had different and there were tears at first, but also was good as well as necessary for us. It will be for the best long run.

Like poshfrock I was the major earner with both DCs and was back at work by 8 weeks first time and 10 weeks second time. It was horrible - emotionally and physically draining, but we couldn't survive without my wages, there was no choice.

Really hope he finds something soon.

I really feel for you OP

and I feel for your DH too

But what can you do?? The need for $$$$ is higher than the need for bonding time.

OP what do you do? as this is quite a big factor. as being a working Mum with a sahp is NOT the end of the world

But huge sympathies for you all xxxxx

DH is looking and applying for any work that he is able to do, even some jobs that he has no experience in (obviously if the job states no experience needed) from warehouse to aerial work to office work to driving. Hes done it all.

Ive got Sales, Retail, Administration and Reception experience.

Im not entitled to SMP as my last job was in October 2011 and that was for only 4 weeks.

I would love to go back to work to earn money and be able to buy nice things etc but i will miss out on the early months with DS. Me and DH spoke last night, he could tell i was abit upset about me going back to work and he said he wouldnt expect me to go back to work so soon anyway. Its frustrating for us both. Specially now our car has broken :(

I also have a Beauty Therapy Level 2 Diploma but even advertising for simple Beauty treatments like Eyebrow shapes etc goes no where on Facebook. I can do Minx too which would earn me anything from £10 to £20 depending on my charges.

i am physically but not mentally.