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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be glad that I am not this baby

158 replies

PercyPigPie · 08/02/2010 12:40

[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1249063/Headmistress-goes-school--7-hours-giving-birth.html here].

Bet she wouldn't be so chuffed if her staff started doing the same.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 08/02/2010 12:45

this

good for her - she's not back working is she (afaik it's illegal) just showing that there is a middle ground and you don't have to cancel your career whehn you have a child

juneybean · 08/02/2010 12:48

I dunno it infers she's been going to meetings.

But it is illegal to work during the first two weeks so I don't know.

Original poster
PercyPigPie · 08/02/2010 12:48

Thanks for the link. Not only did I post it 3 times, but the link didn't work. I just hope the headmistress is more effective than I am this morning!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 08/02/2010 12:50

and i don't suppose the babvy will care as long as its needs are being met & it's being cuddled by mother - which sounds the case. It's hardly going to be saying "but mum you promised to sign me up to baby yoga"

probono · 08/02/2010 12:51

It's illegal to work for the first two weeks after giving birth? Illegal?! Is that true?

CMOTdibbler · 08/02/2010 12:51

I don't see whats so wrong - she lives at the school, and can keep the baby close to her while she has meetings etc, and I don't suppose that getting a good maternity leave headmistress would be exactly easy.

My colleague was back doing emails 36 hours after her c section for her 3rd child (no maternity cover for our roles) as she pointed out, she was in bed with the baby and rather than watching daytime tv she was doing a bit of work so it didn't mount up

StealthPolarBear · 08/02/2010 12:51

yes sorry jb, it's not illegal to work but it is illegal to emply someone, i think. So she must be doing that 'in her own time', i assume, unofficially

nickelbabe · 08/02/2010 12:52

you have to do and ...

it's a bit confusing: it's not that she should rest etc, but why wouldn't she want to???

if the law is there to protect you (presumably just in case there are problems: when I give blood I'm on go-slow and gently-gently for TWO days afterwards!), then why doesn't she adhere to it?

it amkes absolutely no sense.
she could be bonding properly with her new baby, and it isn't a good role model for her students.

yes, take the baby to work with you, but still have the 2 weeks off!

StealthPolarBear · 08/02/2010 12:53

probono, i think it's the employer rather than employee that would be in trouble. but i 'popped in' to work with baby in first 2 weeks (I think) sounds like tihs is what she's doing, but more of it!

AmazingBouncingFerret · 08/02/2010 12:53

All mothers should have 2 weeks compulsary maternity leave, not sure if that makes it illegal or not though...

insertexpletive · 08/02/2010 12:54

My second child was three weeks early and I had not finished all I needed to before maternity leave. I went in three days later, with ds in tow (on a Saturday when the office was closed) to get everything done so I could then enjoy my leave.

Suburbanite · 08/02/2010 12:55

Stealth - not sure that going back to work after 7 hours is the 'middle ground', is it?

I'm struggling to understand how she can have the baby with her, and do whatever she needs to at work (even if it is just meetings)- have just listened to her on Jeremy Vine, and I don't think she's setting an example as much as she claims. The reality for 99.9% of the girls in her school is that they are quite likely to go into jobs where they don't live onsite/can't take a baby along with them...so what exactly are they to learn from this?

A strange approach, IMO

VinegarTits · 08/02/2010 12:55

Cant see what your problem is, or your point

youre glad youre not that baby? well of course who would want to be a baby again? you wouldnt be able to MN then

juneybean · 08/02/2010 12:55

"New mothers don't have to take all their entitlement. By law they cannot go back to work in the first two weeks after the baby has been born, or for four weeks if they work in a factory. Otherwise it is up to the individual how long they take."

www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jan/28/maternity-paternity-leave

Not sure if this is it? But like you say SPB maybe she's doing it in her own time hehe

dilemma456 · 08/02/2010 12:58

Message withdrawn

StealthPolarBear · 08/02/2010 12:58

that does make it sound like it's the employee...hmm
Agree, it's fairly extreme, not really a middle ground. I don't expect she'd expect anyone to go straight back to work with a baby, but as she can it's a way of saying you don't have to cancel your career for a baby.
Still, i wonder when she slept!!

Morloth · 08/02/2010 12:59

If it works for her why not? How do you know the same arrangements are not available to other staff?

Why is it illegal to work for 2 weeks? Surely women can make their own minds up? I can see how it should be illegal to insist someone does but not everyone finds birth all that difficult and she has bubs with her, what difference does it make to the baby to be in a meeting instead of at home?

StealthPolarBear · 08/02/2010 12:59

lol at money in budget

mylifemykids · 08/02/2010 12:59

They're discussing this on Radio 2 at the moment and most people agree with the OP. I do think her circumstances are exceptional as she lives on the premises. I do also agree with whoever said the other staff would no doubt be unallowed to do this and I can't imagine many other employers allowing their staff to do it

tethersend · 08/02/2010 13:00

"Why can?t there be a third way ? taking your baby to work with you??"

Not such great advice for the brain surgeon or traffic warden though...

She's an idiot.

StealthPolarBear · 08/02/2010 13:01

not sure what people mean about 'allowing' other staff? what are teachers' mat provisions like?

StealthPolarBear · 08/02/2010 13:02

good point tethersend

Sassybeast · 08/02/2010 13:02

Not sure if her 'message' is one that I'd like to see peddled to my daughters to be honest. 'You must be superwoman' Since when did putting the needs of your newborn baby and your other children first become such a crime ? It belittles the value of being a mum IMO.

StealthPolarBear · 08/02/2010 13:03

can anyone clarify the legal thing?

VinegarTits · 08/02/2010 13:03

If her job allows it then i cant see a problem, doesnt make her an idiot