Posting on behalf of a friend
I have two DS...DS1 in year 1 and DS2 9 month old. Due to go back to work in 3 months and feeling really guilty re sending DS2 to nursery. AIBU?
DS1 was born shortly before lockdown so after I finished mat leave DH and I both went part time for a while as we weren't allowed to use childcare (not "key workers")
It was really stressful constantly "handing over" roles all week, like doing 1.5 jobs each, so later I took a sabbatical, which is not an option this time. We're trying nursery instead this time.
But I'm finding the prospect of DS2 going to nursery really stressful. DS1 was significantly older when he started, and it was preschool so only 3 hours a day. I'm feeling guilty handing DS2 over for full days at such a young age. Especially when his brother got to stay at home. DS1 and I are very close, he's easy to parent because he feels very secure with me, like we've worked through the "hard bits" together, and I'm scared I won't have that with DS2.
But equally scared of taking a career break, which is different to a sabbatical in that I was guaranteed my job at the end of it.