Having a slight (hormonal, pregnant woman) wobble about working FT - need reassurance that the child won't prefer "nanny"

[FluffyDonkey]

DC1 is due in October. The plan is that I take 6 months maternity leave, then my parents will look after the baby.

My worry is that my baby will become more attached to my parents than to me. My mother was a SAHM until I was 7 (then working part time) and we have always been very very close. I'm worried that she'll have this same bond with my baby and I won't. (I did warn you that I'm hormonal! )

I suppose one of my problems is that I didn't have grandparents when growing up so I don't have any experience of loving parents AND grandparents...

Please reassure me that my child will love me too!

(PS please don't tell me not to work FT, it's not an option)

Your DC will know who Mummy is, do not fret! It will be lovely for your child to be cared for by his/her Granparents.

Your DC will adore you, plus he or she will develop a strong, loving bond with Nanny and Grandad. It will be very beneficial to your childs development to be surrounded by lots of people that love them.

Yes, you are hormonal! Don't worry, your child will always know who mummy is and you will always be their number 1. In many ways, it will be a fantastic arrangement as your child will always be looked after by a family member. I work 4 days a week so not quite full time but long hours (miss bed time most week nights), and my DDs absolutely know I am mummy and I am in no way replaced by my nanny. (That doesn't stop them pressing the buttons when they want something though !!)

To be honest, I think your bigger "issue", to the extent there even is one, will be ironing out any differences in the way you v your parents look after your DC. But as long as you are able to be open and honest with them, and know they will respect your opinion, you should be fine.

Hi! I'm the stay at home mum of 4....but I am a childminder for lots of others in your position. Do Not Worry, you will always be Mummy and your main problem is more likely to be your feelings:guilt about going to work, stress about juggling roles and tiredness (because you might be a full time worker but you're always a full time mum!), along with the sneaky suspicion that you are missing out..................but your child will always prefer you. Do what you have to do but consider what you want to do and be prepared your mind might change once your child arrives! All the best for the future

Thank you this is very reassuring

I have a very easy relationship with my parents, they are thrilled to look after the baby and my mum keeps insisting that she will follow whatever "rules" I want to lay down, although to be honest, right now I can hand on heart say that if she treats my baby as she treated me and my brother then that is fine with me. How I'll feel once I've given birth I don't know!

I am a bit apprehensive about the juggling of work and home and as joruth said about "missing out" but I guess I'll take that one day at a time.