part time dilemma update

[popsycal]

spoke to my boss today for those who followed the other thread i spoke about going part time on and he said to take the rest of the week off
was brill again but i still dont think he quite gets it although i did try to explain
i told him that me and dh had discussed all possible options and had thought properly and i still think that i need to go part time

he said (in a nice round-the-houses kind of way) - could i be suffering from post natal depression and could this be clouding my judgement and not to make any rash decisions when i was feeling so bad.
Just re-read what i wrote in the last sentence and it sounds worse than he said it

Having thought about this, my reponse varies from:
a. how dare infer that there may be a medical problem just because i am finding things difficult because i firstly feel as though i am missing out on ds and secondly, am finding the work load too much at the moemnt. Why can't he understand that you can feel upset/low/stressed just becuase you want to spend more time with your son - you won't get these years back etc etc etc
b on the other hand, does he have a point? although ds was born in august 2002, is this possible? I do feel low and emotional but i am pretty sure that if depression is a reason, then it is 'situational' depression, not clinical, and it is a result of the circumstances that I am experiencing.
SOrry - long post.
Any views ladies?

message withdrawn

You'll soon find out if you have PND - you'll temporarily feel better for having a few days off!

I think your head is wrong. However, there are worse assumptions he could have made and I think he is just trying to help. Good luck next week!

I'm also in the process of going part time at the moment, as I just cannot cope with the stress of working full time unsociable hours then coming home and starting the housework, and feeling constantly guilty for not seeing enough of my children, who are getting bigger every day without me noticing.

If you feel anything like me, and it sounds like you do, then its more likely that you're physically and emotionally exhausted, rather than having pnd.

Don't let your boss's manner worry you, if you have had a previously good relationship he's probably just concerned that you're making the right choice. You're right, you don't get these early years with your son back, so stick to your guns and go part time. If after, say a year or 2, you feel you want to do more hours, then you can always request extra.

Good luck, and just imagine all those idyllic trips to the park with your ds on the days you're not at work!

I think you need to go back to your Head popyscal. Make sure he knows that you are definitely wanting to go part time and that you are determined to follow this through. Remember that under the new flexible working rights you do have your rights for school to consider this option, and they have to be able to give REAL reasons as to why it isn't possible. Make sure that your head knows that this is not something you are taking lightly and that you have done your homework and looked into it properly.

Good luck.

thanks folks
the boss was being lovely and trying to be understanding - i just thikn it is probably hard for him to understand totally - which i cant kind of understand!
i am 99% sure i dont have PND - i think just physically exhausted....variety of factors have amplified the way i feel about leaving ds (bloody threshold form i had to fill in whcih tooks ages just to prove i was competent, grandfather dying a month or so ago - expected but still sad - ds doing loads of stuff at the moment, seeing my sis with her baby and not working, loads of extra responsibility at work and hassle with it)
still doesnt change the fact that the main reason is to be with my little boy!
CnR you are right - i need to explain it prpoerly to him - just need to get over the stupidly eotional bit that i seem to be having at the moment
anyway - dh has gone out for the evening, the house is tidy ;0 - the first time in AGES, so i can mumsnet all evening...