Do kitchen when I'm on mat leave or wait until I'm back at work

[Murtette]

Our kitchen is reaching the end of its life - not only is it ugly, but more & more bits are breaking/becoming wobbly. I'm expecting DC2 in a few weeks time and will be on mat leave until this time next year. Any thoughts on whether it would be easier to do it when I'm on mat leave (in which case we'd probably get it done in the autumn) or wait until I go back to work? I only work 3 days a week and work from home on one of those days so would still be around a fair amount to "supervise".

I would wait until you are back on maternity leave. The more you can be out of the house the better. As long as you can be at the end of the phone for the tradesmen etc... you'll be fine.

The sooner the better (if you can afford it while you are not earning as much). Better to have it done while your new child is not mobile and (possibly) not wedded to a very strict routine that builders will knock into the middle of next week.

Either do it before you start weaning esp if you plan to wean at 6 months or wait until you are back at work. Also try to do it while the weather is nice so you can get out and about. You don't need to be about to supervise, though useful to be there at the start of each day. Drilling will disturb naps too. Do you have grandparents you can stay with? If no building work, it doesn't take that long really.