Genuinely stuck, what would you do in this situation?

[Ceramiccathy]

DH and I have been presented with an unexpected but amazing choice/opportunity and I don’t know what to do, we are both genuinely undecided so wanted to get some outsider views! Posting here so there is a vote!

I am currently on month 6 of maternity leave, we had planned and saved for me to take the full year off.

DH has recently resigned from his job, he has a 3 month notice period and is starting a new role at the end of September.

His employer has just told him they will be doing PILON, so he doesn’t have to actually work his notice period, so we get to spend a large chunk of this time together with our DD which is amazing.

BUT here is where we are stumped, as we never considered this would be a possibility we want to make the most of this time together as a family, as we will never have a 3 month chunk of time all together for a looong time. However knowing that is making us really indecisive, almost as if there is a pressure to make the most of this time, so much so we might end up not doing anything and wasting it.

We saved enough in a separate account to cover all bills, savings and pocket money for the last 6 months of my maternity leave (as I got 6 months full paid) so I am considering whether it might be worth going back to work 1 or even 2 months early, and using that portion of maternity savings to maybe travel as a family and stay in another country for a month or two. We could do our dream of touring around the USA, or go back to Australia and see more than just one city! Travel round Asia, drive the Italian coast.

But DH is worried I might regret not taking the full 12 months of maternity leave. But tbh I’m already a bit bored of it and although I love DD spending all day with a baby is a bit shit.

We have other savings, but those are the ‘don’t touch’ savings so using some of the maternity savings pot won’t impact us long term or touch the rainy day pot.

What would you do in this situation?

AIBU - you’ll regret not taking the full 12 months. Don’t use the savings for this

YABU - use some of the savings to travel together

Travel.

When children become school aged and you are restricted due to exams and school holidays, air fares are expensive and there’s always a reason not to go. Chances are you will have a pet or two along with offspring to consider too.

I would go.

I’d definitely travel, given your choices, @Ceramiccathy

I’m American. I’ve been all over the States and in every place people live differently, but in every place kind people.
I visited Australia - people lived differently there, too - yet they were kind and welcoming.
Given the opportunity, I’d travel all over to see how many different ways there are to live and how many ways people can express their kindness. And also, new sights, new foods and new friends.

Congratulations on your new baby and your good fortune - I’m admittedly a little envious.

Travel! How nice to hear of someone with some good fortune and a lovely opportunity. We travelled to Australia for 4 months of my second maternity leave, starting the trip when my baby was 6 months and my toddler turned 2 the day we left. The exchange rate worked in our favour, we skipped an English winter, it was such a big break from routine, so worth doing.

YOLO.

JFDI.

Enjoy

Definitely travel.

100% travel.
Go book now...

I think you are both very fortunate and should make the best of this stroke of luck. I am just pretty risk adverse so whilst the idea of travelling etc is so appealing I would probably use the savings to invest (and ensures it grows) and do something with your child when she is old enough to remember but I am boring like that. (Also spent first year of my life as a baby abroad whilst dad was finishing medical training. Mum is always showing me pictures of a bundle wrapped up in blankets, posing near various landmarks and it doesn’t impress me!) I would rather have had the financial start my younger sibling did as by the time she came around 3 years later the money they had saved went towards her boarding school fees and a lovely seaside property during her university days which she still owns. I suppose it’s finding your driver: we all have different ones. Mine is financial stability. Best of luck OP what ever you decide 💋

I would hire a villa with a pool as a start, invite friends and family over, sunbathe and swim while baby naps, somewhere with good food, Algarve or Italy, then consider a US trip but I’ve gone a lot of the US so not that bothered.

I took 11 months of maternity, tried hard for a second baby, didn’t happen so it was my only mat leave. Longest break ever, not in the same role now, my career bloomed once my DC started school

Travel, life's too short

I’d work it so I could do both. Rather than the trip of a lifetime I’d go somewhere beautiful and not too expensive, like Portugal and spend the time enjoying the sun and the beach and maybe get a camper van and tour around.

Go for it! When I had a wobble over travel (no kids) my Mum said just go and if you don't like it come home. That helped me to just do it as you don't know til you try. Work aren't going to turn you away if you ask to come back earlier than planned! My OH and I went to California with a 9 month old baby and it was great for all of us!

This is an opportunity that's too good to turn down and agree with others once kids are at school (as mine are) you're so restricted.

Travel. You’ll never get the chance again.
better to build those memories than have an extra month sat on a sofa!

I'd go for it and travel. And then if you need to go back to work after 10 months, it's not much different to 12 tbh. Enjoy

Go, have the experience abroad, make amazing memories.

Travel as much as possible.
I've been very lucky to travel a lot. Motorbiking/ camping all over Europe 8 countries at a time.. a year in the USA through 26 States
I'm 64 and holiday abroad 6 times a year now.. .
Remember the 90 day rule though.

Get on that plane!

I would price up all those options and see what each is going to cost before deciding on where to go. I say that having paid more than £8,500 for return flights to Sydney for husband, myself and 2 kids at end of July, so expensive! That's double what it cost 4 years ago, his family live there so we have to go. They are hosting the women's world cup so that may be influencing the price of flights. I love Australia, but it's also expensive and it's currently winter, winter not so much a factor if you are heading to Queensland or Northern territory, but Sydney would be daytime highs of 17/18 and Melbourne would be colder than that. I have no idea of costs in the US but I would lean that way.