To not go back to work?

[Irishprincess]

I was due back from maternity mid March, week before lockdown. Also pregnant with DD and was unsure what the risk was so look a week off and requested a laptop to wfh. They eventually got me a laptop yesterday! In between this my manager gave me special leave (which I didn't ask for).
This has meant I have 6 weeks leave left over from last year and 5 from this year. I'm 25 weeks pregnant now so if took maternity leave at 36 weeks I could take all my leave now and not go back until 2021.

I felt bad though as my manager got the laptop sorted and felt I should take it. TBH my job is secure, boring admin role in civil service. It definitely more bearable in the office with other colleagues. I was planning on going part time after this maternity if approved.

DH is currently looking after DS but has to attend emergency call outs when required and will have to work more soon, no mention of when grandparents can childmind yet, which had previously been agreed.

WIBU to use leave and not go back until next year or would you wfh and keep leave for next year?

Is DH's job secure?

I would wfh and save my leave if the wfh isn't too demanding right now.

It could be worth wfh now and saving the extra leave until next year. WFH is a bit easier than having to commute. And surely you want the extra leave while you have both children? I say save it for next year and wfh for now.

I'd WFH for as long as you can, save your mat leave.

I'm about to start a new role on Monday thinking I'd have childcare sorted for dd2 but I don't. I'm going to have to wing it for a while and hope I can get something sorted before I have to go into the office.

If I can't get it sorted then I'll have to resign. I do feel a bit bad about the effort of training me up and my manager not knowing dd2 will be at home.

But these are such strange times I'm just going to go with it.

DH is self employed but everything is going well, his industry seems to be steady.

I suppose part of it is just the usual returning to work after maternity, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. DH have been very lucky being off over lockdown and I've really enjoyed it.

I think I have to take 6 weeks leave as I'm not sure I can carry that over again so the max I can work to is 34 weeks pregnant. Only 9 weeks really so I'm thinking I should just do it