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Parenting

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Original poster

Mat leave.. How long did you plan to have off and how long did you?

36 replies

Sweetpea2304 · 14/04/2014 13:59

Hello.. I had my little boy at the end of November and planned to have 13 months off so I'm due to go back at the beginning of January.. However as it's nearing the time where I will be on statutory mat pay then from September no pay I'm kind of thinking how the hell are we going to manage?! We have saved money last year and while I've been off but don't think it's enough to see us through.. Starting to get a bit panicky about it all...

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Orangeisthenewbanana · 14/04/2014 20:33

I told everyone I was definitely taking 9 months & then would see how I felt. In my head though, I think I always secretly knew I wanted a year. In the end, I had 14 months because of having to use up annual leave before returning. I took 3 weeks leave before starting mat leave (but with Christmas/New Year, it wasn't all annual leave days), and 6 weeks leave before returning as it was the end of the year in terms of holiday. Just got lucky with the timings!

Next time I don't think I would take as long though.

Only1scoop · 14/04/2014 20:35

I estimated 12 months and took the whole lot.

CooCooCachoo · 14/04/2014 20:52

I did 6 months with DH taking over then for 3 months, 9 months total.

This time we're planning to do 6 months each, so 12 months in total to limit nursery fees for two DC before our first starts school next September (2015).

Secretly I'd like to do the full year but we've always agreed on equality in mat/pat leave........damnit!

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NightCircus · 15/04/2014 23:15

DC 1 born end Feb
Returned to work beginning of Nov doing 1 day a week for 2 weeks, then 2 days a week for 2 weeks then 3 days a week (as many as I worked). Then after 2 weeks had lots of time off for Christmas. So began at 8 1/2 and properly at 10 months.
DC 2 born beginning of Dec
Fitted in to return beginning of Sept the full 3 days. So 9 months.
I did all settling in visits whilst still on leave. To gradually get us both used to it.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 15/04/2014 23:26

9 months planned and taken both times. Started mat leave at Christmas both time, back at the start of Oct both times. if I had stayed off for the whole year I would have lost all my annual leave, took one or two days a week till the end of the year. A year would have been too long away from my job, with the autumn coming being at home wasn't quite so appealing as earlier in the year, it was fine.

BrianTheMole · 15/04/2014 23:48

Planned and took 1 yr the first time. Planned 1 year and took 3 the second time.

Original poster

Sweetpea2304 · 17/04/2014 10:32

Thanks so much for all your replies :) been a great help x

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Chunderella · 17/04/2014 11:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MumofWombat · 19/04/2014 13:07

Planned 8 months (wasn't eligible for mat pay) and so far it's been three years. I now have a one year old as well!

VashtaNerada · 19/04/2014 13:14

Planned six months both times and stuck to it. Was all we could manage financially and worked out absolutely fine.

soupmaker · 19/04/2014 13:25

Planned a year with DD1 and went back when she was 10 months as was keen to get back and needed to pay the mortgage.

Second time round am taking 14 months to cover two school summer holidays. Got better paid this time so no need to rush back. I'll be staging my return as work 4 days a week.

Feel incredibly lucky to have had the chance to be of so long.

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