going from 1 to 2 - specific questions

[kosh71]

follow up from the other thread

how did you cope when you went back to work? no one in the other thread mentioned this and made me wonder if the replies were all mainly from SAHM. I work full time in a very demanding job. I would have maternity leave f course, but no sure how long for.

how involved was your DH/OH the second time? where there any changes?

thanks!

Hey. When I went back from dc2 had loads of family help. But due to ill health, this was no longer available when I went back after dc3.

I work shifts that are different days each week. So I have a nursery which I book baby into four weeks in advance so he is.in when I work. I hired a lovely girl, who is a sahm basically (but with childcare background) who picks up elder two from school and takes them to extracurricular when I work. Elder two also go to breakfast club. I also went part time (30 hours) and work more evenings and nights. This means that only need childcare between 1 and 3 days a week.

It is a chaotic mess! But it just about works and they aren't little forever! Husband has to be hands on really. Mine does loads less than me, but still needs to put them to bed when I'm on nights do some drop offs etc, or it all falls apart.......I actually don't know how single parents do it!

I'm on mat leave with dd2 at the moment and have wondered how I'm going to juggle going back to work too as we have no help and my lovely cm who minded dd1 can't mind dd2.

I have probably the world's best manager who is trying to make my return as easy as possible but l should also do some travel with my role (UK and Europe) and I'm dreading it at the moment

I went back to work ft in Nov & became a single parent during mat leave so couldn't afford to reduce hours.
Breakfast & after school club for DD1, nursery for Dd2 and constant craziness.
It's difficult but fortunately I can work from home/make up any missed hours in evening due to child sickness but it's a fine balancing act & I might need to take a weeks parental leave by Christmas if I run out of holidays.