Am I right to be annoyed with several work colleagues saying I'll never go back to work with two children?

[Bensmum76]

The title pretty much says it all. I have a DS who is 3 in October and am 13 weeks pregnant. I plan on having 8 months maternity leave from January and returning to work in November next year. My boss seemed surprised that I would be going back to work, and several colleagues have said I'll never be able to work with two children.
I am aware that it will be hard work getting to and from work with two little ones, although my eldest will be 4 by the time I go back to work, plus I only work 3 days a week! But I feel that my job helps me keep sane and want to scream at these people "You don't know anything, give me a bloody chance' but I keep smiling and politely say that I hope I will manage ok.
Has anyone else had this?

no - how odd! lots of women work with 2(or more) kids and manage fine ...

you'll have Xenia on in a second saying how she has 5 kids and still worked with twins blah blah.....

i work 3 days too - i'll confess i'm ot looking forwardsto returning, but on the other it will work out - got to, right?

I am dreading being at home for 8 months!!! I love my job and I love spending time with my DS. I honestly want to grab these people by the scruff of the neck and rant until I'm blue in the face!
Am looking forward to hearing from people with more than two who still work!
Would also like some good responses to these comments!! (grin)

How odd. (them, not you). I only have one child but it never occurred to me that, if I'd had more than one, I would not return to work. I know plenty of working women (women predominate in my workplace) who have more than one, some with more than 2 kids. Full-timers with kids are more rare but far from unheard of.

I returned full time after two and plan to do so after number three finally gets himself out. I may go part time but that is more related to job availability than anything. Child care costs are the main deterrant rather than organisation - once you are up, out of the house and children in childcare then what is the issue (apart from rare events such as illness)

I work 5 days with 2 and I'm 9 weeks with no 3 and I'll be going back after no 3 too, sure it's crazy in the evenings but it's like anything, if you want to make it work you will!
I stopped working shift after no 2 and I might need to go on reduced hours after no 3 due to Creche fees but I need to keep my job and I'll do what I can to keep it!

I work 27 and a half hours a week mon thru fri.

I have 3DS 7, 3, 15months.

Its hard work and would rather not.

Its doable

who are these people saying you won't go back to work? are they men? if so, i'd fix them with an innocent, bewildered stare and say: "why wouldn't i go back to work? how many children have you got?"
i'm currently hiding my (second) pregnancy from my boss because he has the same sort of attitude as your lot and i'm going for a promotion, which there's no way on earth i'll get if he knows. amazing, in this day and age, that the workplace is still rife with this kind of sexism.

I am pregnant with No.2 and planning to go back to work, surprisingly no one even commented on my choice and I believe that they believe that I am coming back! But my colleagues are mostly childless so I suppose they cannot imagine that it might be hard work!

Bensmum I completely identify with dreading having 9 mths off with 2 children and am already longing to go back to work even though I haven't even left yet... NOT because I am a terrible mummy (I hope!) or because I don't want to spend time with my DCs (I do) but because I love my job (most of the time) and it makes me who I am and I went a bit mad having 13mths off last time round.

I have DS 3 and DD 2 in Oct. Everyone said the same to me "Oooh you'll never cope!" Worked till the week before. Went back 10 wks later BF DD.
My promotion and development opportunities dried up but 12 months on, I have a new job somewhere better.
Other than being financially bereft at 2 sets of nursery fees, it's been fine. If you're in a routine with 1 then another 1 really doesn't make too much difference. I lay all their clothes out for the next morning when they go to bed & DH gets them dressed in the morning. If he works away, I get up earlier. Simples.

That said, I do sometimes look at them both and think I'd rather be at home with them, but that's another story.

I went back to work after DC2 (DS1) and plan to go back after maternity leave for DS2 is finished.

IME many friend stopped working after DC2, many because the cost of the childcare was prohibitive and they couldn't claim CTC as their DH's earned too much.

Those that continued either had very well paid jobs or very flexible jobs or grandparents prepared to do free childcare so could cover the childcare, or those who could still get CTCs etc