Any new mums reconsidering return to work because of covid?

[BabyLlamaZen]

Or at least postponing?

Due back from mat leave in Oct/Nov. I know, probably a big old second peak and everything.

I'd have to commute, put baby in nursery for the odd day whilst MIL does the others. Mil who has spent very little time with her grandson!

I was going back p/t but honestly, this is all putting me off. I was going back more for my sanity and keeping my foot on the ladder. I thought I'd look for something else locally but clearly the job market is pretty awful right now!

Commuting germs and nursery germs? Extremely clingy baby who hasnt left my side throughout lockdown having to be with someone else? Seriously considering SAHP, although this would not be my plan in a non covid world.

I'm curious as to how many other people may end up doing that, even if it's not their original choice.

Bit biased because I was a SAHP with my first, and I’m so glad I was.

Maybe it will be a good thing? Everyone’s different of course but if you can postpone it then I would.

I think you should read up on the risk to your baby of catching coronavirus. So tiny it’s negligible.

The only thing changing my plans to return to work are the fact that Nicola Sturgeon has kept our nurseries closed and I was supposed to start back this week. Can’t. (English) employer being extremely difficult about it.

Will probably lose my job.

That wasn’t my plan pre COVID either.

I'm due back in September / October too. To be honest I'm not entirely sure I'd have gone back anyway, but I'm almost certain I'll be staying at home now. DS has been with me exclusively throughout lockdown, has still never met another baby and not had much contact with grandparents, who all still work anyway. But it's just that fear of leaving a job when I know they're becoming harder to come by.

Haha, I am the other way around! My 18 month old son desperately needs to see some children, so I have enrolled him in nursery and will return to work to pay for it!

There won't be much by way of play groups and classes for a while, I expect. Meantime my son is not getting the social interaction he deserves and needs. I want him to catch chicken pox, make a friend or two, experience a fun group play session . It's not right to keep him locked away.

I can't wait for my local playground to open next week, but with SD still in place I'm not keen to rely on that for social contact. At nursery, my son will be in a bubble and can touch other kids and share toys. I want that for him.

I think this is a really bad time to give up a job - especially one that will allow you to work part-time, tbh. Unless you work in a sector where there are serious staff shortages and so new jobs are easy to find I'd try really hard to find a way to keep it. I don't think the workplace is going to get kinder to women of childbearing age following this.

No. No-way I’m giving up a fairly secure for now job in the current circumstances. I also love my job & from experience with DD1, I need to work to be a better parent. I need the break, to use my brain, to speak to adults, to think about something other than weaning, naps & Peppa Pig.

Nursery has been fantastic for DD1. She loves it & has come on leaps and bounds. I sent her back when they reopened. She hadn’t played with another child in 11 weeks. It made her so sad & miserable by the end.

Worth considering that nursery might be your only opportunity for your DC to play with other children as I can’t see toddler groups, softplay etc reopening this year. It won’t be as per other mums experience in old life of getting out to activities in the week to make friends and break up the day. You are literally going to be stuck at home 😩

But I can see it’s going to be a disruptive winter. And difficult for parents trying to juggle work & potentially repeatedly isolating. So I can see why some people may make that call if they can afford it.

I wouldn’t worry so much about your MIL though, unless you have general concerns about her? I’d never have an issue leaving my girls with my MIL. She’s wonderful & im sure will form a fantastic bond with DD2 once they can be together 😊

I’ve just returned to work after mat leave number 2 and I’m loving being back at work. I think if you enjoy your job and they are willing to be a bit flexible I’d at least try going back before you make a decision.

DS2 had t been away from me ever (ebf, lockdown etc). It he’s settled brilliantly with the childminder and is doing really well. Only 3 DC with her as well so a nice small environment. DS1 is back at nursery and so much happier for it! I’m a much better parent when I get the chance to have some time away.

Wow, so many different ideas!
I dont love my job at all but it's more to keep me sane and retain some sort of identity. As I said I'd much rather find something more in align with what I've always wanted to do, but seems like the worst time for it :(

Totally get the point that this is also a rubbish time to SAHP as no groups or anything.

My maternity leave from uni finishes July 1st - very handy that we are allowed to have family look after DC from July 4th! DM will be looking after 5m old and 4 year old while I study from her house (baby is breastfed so I'll look after him, 4 year old just needs someone to pay him attention and make him endless snacks)

Maternity leave from work finishes in December, not sure what I'll do yet as DS1 is starting reception and I'm not 100% sure yet they'll go back full time.

I'm going back 3 months earlier than planned because I am just so bloody bored! So yes the pandemic has very much changed my plans!

I was originally going to split leave with my husband and go back the end of May. Uk lockdown had just begun 8 weeks before that when I had to give any notice of changes to my maternity plan. We Also had the chaos of DD1 full time with no nursery. Consequently, I Ended up extending my part of the leave by two months and requested to drop a day once I returned, so dh could work part time during his part of leave using KIT days.

I am really conscious of wanting to keep a foothold in my career but at the same time the number 1 priority is making sure someone can always be on hand for the DC. I just have to have faith that dh and I can muddle through using holiday, reduced hours and the rest of our shared leave until January. I am nervous about starting back in a months time mind you.

I relate to the feeling OP. I was supposed to go back after a years mat leave in May (and I did, wfh the whole time). The decision to go back was predominantly made because the isolation of maternity leave had seriously impacted my mental health. I felt like going back to work would be good for me. But now I find myself wfh and still isolated. My employer is keeping staff wfh for foreseeable future ☹️ Yet, if I quit my job, there will be no toddler groups etc for foreseeable future either, I will still be isolated. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place ☹️

Oh no @TotorosFurryBehind :( do you still think it was the right choice?

Those who have or are planning to go back earlier - how have you managed this? Nurseries in my area are taking reduced numbers of kids due to social distancing rules. I’m actually worried the place I’ve booked won’t be available by the time we get there

We had arranged a childminder for DS2 and she has taken him as planned. I think it depends on your provider. DS1’s nursery have been able to take all the DC back (they are a small nursery so each room was under maximum numbers anyway).

I would hold onto your job like crazy, even if you reduce your hours, who knows what the future holds.