SAHM why the choice? what is the hardest thing?

[sfxmum]

hello i am due back to work at the end of june after a year off on maternity.
i always thought i would go back, mostly because i felt my job afforded flexibility. however even with a policy supporting this i am finding it really hard to find agreement on a settlement that would suit us.
childcare at nursery or chilminder is not a choice for us so we wanted to find flexibility which would allow DH and i to look after dd.

i seems i will have to give up work after 3 months(contractual obligation)
i have always worked and being in my late 30's worked hard to be where i am.
i am happy to stay at home but would like to hear from others with similar experiences

sorry its long TIA

I just posted on something similar ... under heading "Never Again".

Plenty of us on this site have had the same issues. No easy solution unfortuntaely but all my sympathy.

thanks muminaquandry, guess its says it all will pop to your thread

why would nursery/childminder not be an option?

have friends who have tried to work it so without so one parent always looking after a little one and have ended up 1. never seeingeach other or 2 totally knackered all the time.

remember you can always change your mind about working - the decision to be at home for a while does not have to be forever - or vice versa. although i would say it is much easier to find a job when you are in employment.

yes i see that point.
we prefer the shared care until dd about 3 or so and we are prepared to make compromises of course, be it financial or in the time to see each other.
its almost like before children when we could go for days without seing each other.

lets see hoe it works over the next few months, we will wait before making a decision.we can't live on my salary alone but we can on dh full time but no security no pension, etc.