The March-ers 2019 - #7

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Thread 6

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/3379197-The-March-ers-2019-6

I’m the same. I could only come up with two boys name I considered remotely acceptable but had a long list of girls names. DH and I discussed it a few times early on and narrowed it down to a shortlist, but it hasn’t been discussed for a while.

I’m finishing work on 15th Feb (taking the first week as annual leave and starting May leave on 22nd Feb). My due date is 2nd March. Really hope I don’t end up waiting around for weeks, but on the other hand we have builder in during February so early wouldn’t be fun either!

It's so unfair that maternity packages vary so much between employers. I work for a large "household name" organisation and we are generally compensated pretty well for most things. They're always up there in the "family friendly" employers ratings which means once people have kids they find it difficult to leave, so I've always known that I've got a better deal than most but sometimes threads on here put just how good into perspective.

@ballanj I genuinely couldn't imagine being only on statutory as it's so little. I really don't understand how employers/the government expect you to live on the statutory amount when basic things like mortgage payments are so so much higher than it. How long will you take off after Hulk is born?

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever if I could finish any earlier than I've arranged I would do. I think I'd happily finish now if I could! (Id started renovating a house before I found out I was pregnant so me and DP are currently living at my mums - I'd much rather finish and focus on getting the house ready for us!)

In terms of names - somehow we decided very very early on what the baby would be called if it was a boy - which he is so that was easy! It was lucky as well because I don't think we'd have ever been able to agree on girls names. I love "old lady" named, partner is not so much a fan ha

@assumeitwassomethingclever I think it's a personal thing and nothing is set in stone so you might be do an extra week or so if you feel up to it, depending on your job.

I don't know if it's worse having loads of names or not enough. We got a shortlist together around 10 weeks ago but haven't stuck to our schedule so plan to look at names again over Christmas. It's definitely easier to decide what you don't want to name your child than what you do!!

For those who already have kids, will yours be having any input on the name?

I ask as I was 5 when my brother was born and really wanted a brother but had a (very girly) name I was set on for him. My mum later said that I was so obsessed with it (I wrote books for the baby with that name etc) that she was tempted to use it as a middle name had he been a girl. Thank God he wasn't though as it was awful!!

I will hopefully get Maternity Allowance this time which isn't a lot but more than I get at the moment!

DS has been asked what he would like to call baby and unless we are going with Lalee or Wawoo I think he won't be getting any input! Had a funny dream DH and I ended up having twins and falling out majorly picking their names at a lady minute rush to get them Christened.... Names is our post Christmas challenge, then at least we don't have to lie about having a name ready when everyone asks!

We have s list of names stuck to the fridge but so far we haven’t narrowed it down and it’s difficult because I want it to sound right with dd’s name I.e can’t really have a Susan and a Chardonnay - Paris can you 😂

We've decided our name but we're not telling anyone what it is. It's nice being able to use it when we refer to him
already.

DH wants to start buying stuff with his name on already but I'm a little nervous we might change our minds after we meet him. It is a name that doesn't have a lot of connotations attached though, so I think it'd suit him no matter what he's like.

I am really stuck on boys' names, having used our favourites for DS. We have a girl's name I think - we both like Jenny, although DH doesn't like Jennifer so much - but I am so convinced that this one is a boy that I don't think we will be using it! I also like Astrid for a girl, but DH isn't keen. We were thinking of Barnaby for a boy but I have gone off it now...

@BadBadBeans I heard a Mum shout a little girl in the supermarket called Jennifer earlier and I thought you don’t hear that very much now. It’s pretty and suits Chikd to adult

@Wineandchoccy it has come up as surprisingly uncommon in the name stats spreadsheet for the last few years. I really like it, and as an added bonus it has family significance for us. I've been a primary teacher and in the five years I taught, I never had one in the whole school! I have my heart set on it now I think. But nooooo idea what I am going to do for a boy! I love Freddie but not Alfred, Wilfred or Frederick...

I also like Zachariah but DH says no :(

We are calling our little girl Matilda.

@BadBadBeans it must be a nightmare teaching because you must associate names with children.

@PurpleFlower1983 Matilda is lovely

Re: maternity leave, I got my maternity allowance decision through today, and apparently as I'm already not working, they automatically start you from the earliest date, which for me is 9th December. A little annoying, as I'm technically not self-employed, but had been keeping an eye out for anything that came my way. Now if it does, it'll have to count towards KIT days, but I guess chances of that are quite slim.

I love Jennifer as a name! We haven't really got any further on ours, it feels like we're pretty much decided, but after really advocating for a name, I'm doubting it now that DH has agreed?

@Wineandchoccy yep, I almost didn't call DS his name because I had taught a slightly drippy boy with the same name... But actually when I thought about it the drippy boy was a bit of a sweetheart too so I decided to see it as a positive association! DH likes Joshua and I agree it is a lovely name, but I have taught several badly behaved Joshuas and so I just cannot go there. I just can't!

@PurpleFlower1983 Love Matilda! Great choice.

@wordsmithereens that is very annoying for you. I haven't applied for mine yet but am a little confused about the start date because I'm a freelancer who often works on very little notice - I don't book up my calendar more than about four weeks ahead, and sometimes I get work with no notice at all! So I can't guarantee what date will be my last working date. I can say the last date I will be available for work... But that doesn't mean I will necessarily have enough work to keep me going until then. Tricky!

@Badbadbeans, Sounds equally, if not more annoying! I suppose all you can do is set a date that seems realistic to you in terms of still being able to work and run with that?

I’m a teacher too and have never taught a Matilda. I feel your struggle!

@wordsmithereens this is what I think I'm going to do. I can't see how I can do anything else really! I don't want to cut off potential jobs for no reason!

@PurpleFlower1983 I have taught a Matilda, and I am delighted to inform you that she was absolutely lovely!

@cardboard33 I intend to take off 9 months, which would mean a return to work in December. I was thinking it might not be a bad thing to go back when everyone starts to wind down and people are generally in good spirits. I think I'd be too depressed to go back in January and definitely can't afford to take 12 months through to March. We are lucky that we don't have to take our holiday within a set year and it can roll over as much as we want so I'll have lots of days accrued that I'll be able to take in 2020 for when it's necessary. It's a minefield!

@badbeans - I’m a freelancer too and also wasn’t sure when to put as the start date for my maternity allowance either... I’ve already turned one job down because the finish date would take me too close to due date, so, have gone for 2 weeks before due date. I put the application in yesterday. Unfortunately, I also think I’m going to have to get back to work - at least part time - earlier than I’d ideally like in order to keep up contacts etc...

Matilda is a lovely name. I understand the pain of associating names - I have so many ruled out because of badly behaved brownies!

Matilda is such a lovely name!

My favourites are Emilia (not sure on middle name though. It would have to be one syllable) and Keira with Megan as a middle name. And then for boys I like James and George being my favourite. DH is hell bent on using Michael as a middle name (family tradition although it's nowhere to be seen in his own name.....) So I'm guessing George is out of the equation!!

Ha ha it took me a moment to realise why you can’t use George @AssumeItWasSomethingClever

I never realised how many people I don't like until we started trying to think of baby names! 😂

We like Rory for a boy, with Stewart as his middle name as it's an old family name on my Dad's side. Can't decide for a girl at all! I like Ottilie (Tilly for short) but DH will take some convincing I think. I also like Alice but it's my (wonderful) Grandma's name, which wouldn't be a problem in itself, except for that she hates it and goes by her middle name instead. Feels a bit like we're rubbing it in if I call the baby a name she has totally rejected.

@toastfiend I completely agree! It seems every name one of us likes, the other knows a complete arsehole with the same name! 😂