having second thought about returning to work whilst dd so young

[maggiethemagpie]

My daughter is five months old, I have been thinking about returning to work, as I was made redundant from my old job I don't have a new one to go to and the original plan was that I'd return to a full time role and my partner would quit his job and be a SAHD.
I have some interviews lined up and now it's getting more real I am having second thoughts. My daughter is just beginning to get in to the bonding/attachment phase eg cries when people she does not know pick her up, and I'm worried that it'll affect our bond if I return now. My partner said I could always go back a few months later and he'll just stay working til then. Luckily, only one of us has to work as he has a property he rents out.
The other option is to go part time if I can get part time work (rare in my field but not unheard of) and have the little one in nursery 2 days, at my mum's one day and with me two days. but I'd probably have to take whatever I could find to do this, rather than the job I really want.
So I'm not sure what to do now, does it make any difference to my baby's development if I return now or in a few months time? and which is better (for her) - with dad all week and me at work full time or with me part time and at granny / nursery rest of the week?

If you can stay off work longer, why not? Sounds like a good idea while your dd is so little. Enjoy it, they grow so quickly!

I thought that about part time work but when my old firm went bust I approached an old supplier for contacts and he gave me a PT job as at the time he needed someone to look after one of his bigger clients. I have expanded the job as my boys have grown and now do 4 days a week. It's a decent job and I work with lots of people both in my job and other companies and a surprised at the amount who are part time.

My advice would be to approach companies you would like to work for rather than waiting for a pt job to be advertised IYSWIM

Good luck

thanks

crispy pork belly - I wasn't planning to go back quite so soon but last time I was job hunting, jobs were few and far between and I thought I'd better get my cv out there ahead of when I really want to go back to avoid missing out on opportunities. Now it seems there are plenty of jobs, and after speaking to a few recruiters I now have three interviews lined up - didn't realise things would move so fast.
I have SMP to last til the end of may (I'm still technically employed on mat leave but my job has moved) so the idea was that I try and move around then when she'll be 9 months. I know it seems silly to go back earlier than I have to - some days at home can be boring and/or stressful but it'll be double that at work I know! It's easy to get caught up in the thrill of the chase with job interviews, but I have to remember that it's not about whether they want me but whether I want them!

I think I may try and look for part time for a few months more, there are some part time jobs out there and I would lower my expectations of both salary and job content for the benefits of p/t work.

I just don't think I can go back to full-on rat race, I would miss my daughter too much. i'm away this weekend visiting friends, not even left the house yet and already missing her!

Part time sounds like a good compromise then! Good luck

Go part time! Best of both worlds.

Exactly the same spammy message on so many threads? Bit unimaginative. You could at least change a couple of words instead of just cutting and pasting your shitty so called 'job' nonsense.