Giving up / going back to work

[LotteLaw]

Hello,

Can I ask if anyone has successfully (and recently) gone back to full-time work after having a few years off to have children?

I am 20 weeks pregnant and have a very demanding job working 14 hour days with lots of international travel. My husband is in the army and also works very long hours and is also often away. Neighter of us feel comfortable with hiring a full-time nanny to live in our house and raise our children, especially as there would be times when both of us are out of the uk. We don't have any close family we can call on.

I could not do my job part-time and if i give up I am unlikely to be able to get a similar role in a few years time. I would probably have to look for something new. However I have heard so many horror stories about women not being able to get back into work that I worry this may not be possible.

I really would like to hear from anyone who has done this successfully.

Xx

I guess having children changes you life :0) I was a bar manager before I had children and traveled allot. I re trained to become a nurse after my first child as I realised that travel will not happen and i needed a way into Australia and flexible hours. I have achieved all of that and now having baby number 4. I still work 3 days a week, i will continue to do that after number 4, but probably 4 days a week with two agency so I can drop them if there is too much one etc! my Dh also works away during the week and we have no family here. it is possible to work and have kids, just may need to change your role?

I was a regional manager while pregnant with ds. Travelled and hours were long etc. Situation slightly different in that I was made redundant during maternity leave.

I went back to Uni for 3 yrs and retrained. I'm now self employed and can basically pick and choose hours I work and where I work. Pay is alot less but I'm working less.

I'm fortunate enough to be able to see my ds, do the school run and take holidays off so childcare isnt so much of a problem etc. No 2 on the way and I will probably have to reduce my work again as childcare will be a financial strain we can do without.

No matter what you do children change everything including how you work. But it's not forever they do grow up and I will be able to work more then.

If you take a career break you will not be able to go back at the same level/ salary/promotion prospects, and will be competing against younger applicants with up to date CVs. That is the reality, there is no sugar coating it. Children require us to make many sacrifices and change our lives forever, but they do bring something very special in return.

If you want to take time out, keeping your CV current with voluntary work, temping, volunteering, new qualifications and work from home will really help.

Just play it by ear, you don't know how your going to feel after the baby is born.
I too used to have a very demanding job long hours/travel.
Your priorities change, im now in a rubbish job, but after this one is at school im planning to retrain, my old work simply doesn't interest me anymore.

I returned full time to a demanding job but my hours are 9-5.30 with limited travel. My husband also works full-time and doesn't travel much. We both have demanding senior positions but to be honest, it only works because we work reasonable hours and we have a lot of family support. I think working long hours or travelling a lot for a male or female with young children is very very tough. Possible but tough. That said, I was very very determined to return to work because from what I have seen, it is not easy to simply step in and out of the workplace and remain in senior roles.

My suggestion would be to find a similar role but one which has shorter hours and less travel. Is that possible? I chose my role specifically because it was going to be quite family friendly considering the industry I work in (law). I wouldn't have coped working FT with long hours or travel I don't think. My sister works FT and she does a lot of international travel with an 18 month old and she is borderline having a nervous breakdown. I think the travel thing is particularly difficult.

I am now pregnant with my second and will take 5 months off before returning to work FT in November. Not sure how we will juggle two but it is possible I think, if you are in the right role.

Sorry probably not that helpful but just my experience, for what it's worth!

Thanks all. So no magic wand to make it easy then? Bugger.

Really grateful for your advice.

Thank you