should I go back to work??

[happyjane]

Trying to decide whether I should go back to work after a year of maternity leave. I earn £60k full time but could go back 3 days a week so would be £40k ish.

We could afford for me not to return but realistically not sure I'd earn nearly as much if I took time off and had to reapply for a different position and could only take part time jobs.

Also job is in London 1.5hrs commute each way so wouldn't fit in that well with dc for the days I worked, though I could probably work from home 2 days a week. Any views, especially from those who gave up jobs when having children?

Thanks for the replies. I guess I will go back and see how it goes then. I might also consider asking if I could get a bit more time off as well (i.e. another year off unpaid) so my son would be a bit older.

Happyjane, I would try that. I had two years off with my last child and went back when she was 18 months (I had also some time off when I was pg) and it made a huge difference, having been back at work when my DS2 was 6 months old.

I was so much less stressed and found it a lot easier to cope with leaving an 18 month old toddler!

I went back to work (nursing) when my ds was 6 months old. 1 night per week. It saved my sanity!
As my ds has gotten older and more independant and defiant, going to work has been so much easier.
I get meal breaks, I get paid and my patients are sometimes less work than my ds.
The break apart is also good, and he is used to my dh caring for him. It' s a nice break for us both.

Go back. Go back now. I have been out of the workplace for 4.5 years now and no fucker will employ me I cannot get a job.

Seriously, even if you don't want to go back 3 days a week (and I'd understand not wanting to do a huge commute) if there's any way to vaguely keep your hand in (bit of freelancing maybe) then take it.

Yours, bitter and twisted of deepest darkest Wiltshire.

I would definitely recommend going back. A three day a week job with two of them at home seems like the perfect job. You will never be able to find a new job which offers such a good deal. I was out of the workplace for two years after having my son (always worked as a contractor so didn't have a job to go back to). When it came to looking for a job I had to accept something full-time on half the money that I was earning previously. After 6 months I was allowed to drop to a four day week and after 18 months my earning have started to creep back up but nowhere near I was previously earning.

I love going to work and think that working part time is the perfect balance. staying home for five years is career suicide in most occupations.

Thanks for replies. Will give working a go then. Just hard to do when child is so small and cute, and obviously it only lasts a short time.

I don't really enjoy being a SAHM althoug my kids love it however, I just couldn't leave my DC when they were tiny. Luckily we didn't need the money. My second has turned two I have taken 5 years out of the job market and have been offfered a part time role, not the same salary as before but in the same line of work. However, the commute as we have recently moved means it doesn't make sense to take the job. Three hours is a really hefty commute each day - if you can work from home a couple of days it will be doable although I would look to find something more local if possible in the future.

I don't think I will ever regret going back to work, I love the different status that it gives me and also I felt it was really important that we retained flexibility as a family - if I stopped work then we would completely rely on dh to work fulltime, whereas he would like to work 4 days for a while whilst dc are small. In addition, if I took 5 years out the salary drop would be such that dh and I would not earn similar amounts at all when I go back, and again we would lose all flexibility - it would be me or no one at home, whereas if we keep on similar salaries it could be him or me that works part time or takes some time out of work. I felt it was really important that both of us could have the option take some time with the children, not just me.

Plus, he works in the private sector, me in the public - 2 years ago he couldn't find work and I was the stable one, now it's completely switching around.