AIBU to think that maternity leave and part time working will damage my career?

[Walktwomoons]

I started a new career recently.
I really want to take the full 12 months maternity leave, and can just about afford to.
However, I know that maternity leave and part time work are the chief reason for the pay gap. I also know this will be even more the case to me since I am already new-ish.
AIBU to think that the less leave I have, and the quicker I'm back full time, the better for my career? Am I choosing between damaging my career or damaging my child?

Working full time doesn't damage your child. I work full time with short maternity leaves. The children cope fine.

I think that's the reality of it, yes.

Depends on your career. It will put a dent in it, for most of us, but some careers are more amenable to that than others.

Yep, that about sums it up. And whatever you decide, people will judge you.

Working full time doesn't damage your child.

Taking time out from your career can impact it negatively. Depends on the industry thought.

It very likely will, yes. The part time more than the maternity leave. Have you looked at more equal ways of dealing with childcare with your partner, assuming you have one?

I think you are right you can’t have one without compromising the other sadly.
But it depends what you prefer to live with, less time with your child, or limiting your finances and career.
I don’t really know what the answer is. I suppose it’s different for everyone and there isn’t a wrong or right.

I think part time working and leaving early for pickups affect things far more than a long maternity leave for many roles.

It has stopped me progressing in any way at all at work. I've accepted for this part of my life children are my priority,

Do you have a career or a job OP?

I'm only taking 6mos mostly due to finances. I would love to go back PT but we just can't do it with DH leaving the forces next year with no job lined up as yet. It was noted in my recent appraisal that the relatively short leave and my keenness to come in for KIT days (only because they're only paying me stat ffs!) had been taken as a sign of my commitment to my career and development. I didn't correct them but it's easy to see how taking a year can be unfairly read as a woman "checking out" by some employers.

I think it’s not the length of time of maternity leave in isolation - it’s also that because you start off doing all the childcare, you become the main parent for nursery, doctors appointments, dentist, hair, emergency time off etc. because you get used to doing it in the beginning. For a lot of families this becomes the pattern for years.

I did a part time stint but my xh was offended when I asked him to do the same

I also think it is really tricky to find the right balance. I still don’t know what the best thing is for me as I’ve been dissatisfied by the career implications of being part time but I’m also not a fan of full-time childcare for little ones.

Tbh it's when you get back to work and you are a mother is the real hurdle.

I missed out on a promotion due to unconscious bias, men interviewing men.
Unconsciously men will assume that you aren't willing to do things as you have to be at home/ swim classes / school pick up etc for the child.

I laid it on really thick about how good my DH is with DD, I went on a week long training course when she was 2 & she doesn't remember.
As I look up our organisations structure I can see plenty of rubbish men and as I look across and down the grades loads if brilliant women shafted by the incompetent s.

I think part time working and leaving early for pickups affect things far more than a long maternity leave for many roles

Agree with this

I think part time working and leaving early for pickups affect things far more than a long maternity leave for many roles.

I agree with this.

Working FT does not damage your child though.

If you have a high flying City job maybe. If you work in retail or office admin no.

Remember that maternity leave after about 4-6 months is pretty much exclusively for your benefit, the kids are just as happy in a good daycare/at a good childminders etc!

On returning from maternity leave I worked four days. Personally I felt this was ideal for striking the balance between professional visibility and home life. I later changed jobs which was 3 days a week but I definitely felt like work was taking a back seat. Enjoyed the extra time with my child though. Now working four days again and intend to do so until my child is a bit older.

Yes, chances are it will. I took years away from the workplace so I will never go back to having a career, but I have a job and it's satisfying enough.

@Basketofkittens at anything but the most basic jobs you damage your prospects by being away for extended periods of time.

There’s no ‘remember’ about that. It is your opinion not a universally acknowledged fact.

Yes your career will be impacted by the choices you make but to say that by working full time you would be damaging your child is ridiculous (and I say that as a SAHM).

I worked part time for years as full time childcare for three children cost almost as much as my salary and just meant lots of stress as my DH travelled a lot and I did not work near home. Part time meant I could ask for favours from other mums and repay them so it was reciprocal.
It really damaged my career.

@AppleKatie there are plenty of studies showing benefits for mum (and Dad, if they take time off). hardly any that show benefits for the child.