5 yr break is now the right time?

[Itrymybest]

I am lucky enough to have had a job that gave me a 5 yr career break! :) It will actually be 6 years in the end because it was 1 year maternity leave then applying for a yearly career break for 5 years. I always thought I'd go back -obviously or I would have resigned! However now the time is coming up (august) when I HAVE to go back and I feel sick with nerves and wonder if I did the right thing and should have just left all those years ago. My children are aged 3 and 5. My main worries are:

1. My regurn date is AUGUST!!! And I love holiday times and spending time with my dc and to me it is the very worse time especially as ds1 would have just completed his reception year at school and I so want to spend the time with him.
2. My younger child is only 3 and it would mean that I would not be spending the time with him in his preschool year as I did with his brother. My mum keeps making me feel guilty by saying things like doesnt he deserve that etc.
3. Ds1 overheard a conversation with work about returning the other day and he got soo upset about it saying I dont want you working mummy I want you to look after me etc etc made me feel so guilty! :(

So wwyd? Go back to a guaranteed job or wait another year 18 months or so and look for a part time job? I'm a sahm btw and my dh works full time.

Doesnt it depend a lot on whether you need the income or pension?

What sort of work are you in? Is it something you would be able to return to easily enough after being out of it for 6+ years? Could you return to your current work part time? Why is your DS upset about the prospect of your returning to work (he can't have had any bad experiences himself if you've always been a SAHM since he was born?) I assume that you can afford not to go to work as you've been off for this length of time? What is the consequence if you can't find another job when you decide the time is right to return to work (if you don't go back in August)? FWIW I'd (politely) tell your mum that if she hasn't got anything supportive to say on the matter, she should keep her opinions to herself.

Have managed all this time without my income so dont actually need it as such. Will also be working part time and have been told this will not be a problem so the extra income will not be alot tbh but any extra income is always welcome I suppose just so nervous and unsure right now!

I'd leave it if I were you. You dont sound like you want to go back and you clearly dont need to. Stop feeling guilty!

Its office work (civil service) would rather not say the department. Its my old department which seems to have changed alot!! However the man I spoke to last week - dont know him - seemed lovely and said they will support me all the way and give me all the training I need. Ds1 likes the fack I am always there. Dh does long hours and he likes the fact I am always there. He likes me taking him to school and picking him up. He likes telling me about his day. Both boys love spending time with me and like us doing things together. We are very close and they are lovely boys! I think he's worried all this would end! Tbh in some ways so am I especially spending time with them in the holidays etc but I havent mentioned this to him obviously!

Itrymybest I could have written your post. I am in exactly the same position with children the same age too!! My career time finished at the beginning of this month and I have an interview for a job that would be 5 days per week 9.30-2.30. Like you this would be a perfect job in 18 months time but not now!! My younger child is also in preschool too.

What to do?

It is tricky and in my heart I want to stay home for little longer as I see the benefit for my children. Also it enables DH to work longer hours and travel with job.

The question is will there be a similar job available in 18 months time with the same terms and conditions etc.

For me it has always come down to the issue of whether I need to work and what works for the family and then what works for me last of all!

Good luck and happy to talk in more detail about dilemma again as my situation is sooooo similar to yours!

Well, you need to work out if you want to do it or not, and then decide if its practical, in order to sererate things out. I mean WANT to do it - not feel guilt tripped by all the members of your family who might have to adapt because you now want to make a change in your life. If you think this job, now, will bring you benefits for future career/development/role, over and above what another job could in 18 months or more, then it might be important to make it work. In terms of practicality, even though your job is very flexible, it can be hard if DP/DH hasn't got the flexibility to help out more. I think the problem you have with it being August is a bit of a red herring - at the end of the day its been SIX years and you're going to have to miss the holidays from now on if you're going to do it - August will come and go but is it going to work for the long term. Do you feel guilty towards your employer if you don't go back?

Just noticed the last 2 posts. My employee rang last week and I have a guaranteed job in august to go to and they said part time hours should be fine aswell. It was the dept I would be working for who rang and I will need to finalise the details with the hr dept. However the dept I will be working for and the job I would be doing is boring and repitive work the same grade I left but a different job (0fcourse and all this lol!) What to do I just dont know!

should be ofcouse it would be after all this time lol!

I am not the best to advise really as I am only 18mths into my break.

If you can afford not to return ever then dont!

But if you need to work and you can get the PT hours you want agreed and in writing before you return then do it.

The CS has changed so much over the last 5 years. Good luck