So I was supposed to go back to work next week after 9 months maternity leave.
Long story but there’s been a lot of family issues I’ve had to assist with and I’ve not been able to introduce DD to long days without me (she’s not done more than 3.5 hours) she’s breastfed and refuses every bottle (and we’ve tried them all) and will spit out her water from a sippy cup as if it’s hilarious.
My work were great and agreed to extend my maternity leave to include 6 weeks unpaid prior to my return so I could get DD off the boob and onto a cup or bottle. Now this is likely to be just water and solids while I’m there as she will purple face scream if offered milk without nipples but I’m only going back 3 day weeks so this should be ok.
Anyway my friend found out I was extending my time off and has messaged me to have a go. He thinks it’s stupid for me to take unpaid leave to get DD more comfortable with it and I should just leave and let her cry as she will work it out eventually. Now I’m not comfortable flinging myself into 9 hours away from her when I know she will be upset most of it for the first few days, I get after day 2/3 she’s likely to be fine as babies adjust but I’d much rather build her up a bit by expanding the time I spend away from her. He seems genuinely annoyed at me for this as if my anxieties aren’t valid and I should “man up” and leave her to it.
I get he was probably happy I was returning and it may have been a disappointing turn but if I’m taking the loss on pay to spend time with my DD surely it’s not his place to be pissed off.
Before anyone says my job isn’t linked to his so it doesn’t affect his work at all, he doesn’t have any children personally either.