Come off maternity early to take a temp job?

[Spongeb0b]

Will try to be brief so not too outing. Basically am on mat leave, wasn't planning on going back for a few months yet. Have been offered a maternity cover (1 year ) which will mean a start date soon. It's in a very specialist role and they don't come up often. Good holidays, salary. Working pattern same as what I already do. Manager said very likely to be permanent opportunities but cant 100% guarantee. Current job permanent but money pretty poor & it's not really what I want long term but obviously it's secure employment. Wwyd? Don't have long to decide!

Yes definitely @blueshoes there's also more progression in the new job/scope to earn more without jumping through massive hoops.

That's reassuring @GreenTulips and me too with regards to getting temp jobs which have turned perm. Think I'm massively overthinking things because deep down I'm not ready to come off maternity leave but we need the money so I think I need to just get on with it! I've decided to take it - today both our car broke & my son announced he needed new shoes & my first reaction was oh god but I'm skint. It's a big gamble but I'll regret it if I don't try. Eeeek 🙈🙈🙈

That is a fantastic opportunity. Grab it.

I don't see any downside to taking the other job other than the non-permanent nature but you can mitigate the risks once you are in. You seem keen to get on in your career (rather than mummy track) and that will put you in good stead once your dcs are in secondary school and you will have the seniority and pay to support your dcs, whether it is hiring tutors or working from home more often.

Personally, with my eldest coming up to GCSE, I am so glad I stuck at it and sought career progression at a steady pace. I find my dd needs her parents much more now and we have the option to sponsor expensive school trips, clothes and gadgets. My dcs were fine with childcare when little. But as teenagers, no tutor, grandparent or person other than parent can reasonably stand in.

I probably projected too much into the future for you!

Can I just mention that until April 07 most people returned at 6 months as (iirc) you only got 9 months in total and the last 3 were unpaid. I went back when my eldest was 5 months (as he was 3 weeks late into a 6 month mat leave) and when my second was 6 months. My friend went back into full time teaching in 2001 when her eldest was 9 weeks old as at that point the pay dropped and she couldn't afford to pay her mortgage on the lower income.

If your DS is going to be 6 months old and this is a rare and sought after opportunity, I absolutely would take it. Good luck.

Congratulations @Spongeb0b! 🎉🎉🎉

Woo!! 🎉 Congratulations, go for it you brilliant woman! 💪

No what you say makes perfect sense @blueshoes I actually have an older DC and I put my career on the back burner as I felt guilty - consequence of that was we struggled massively financially and I don't ever want to be back there again if I can help it! And of course older DC is now coming to the age where they need me more than ever, exactly as you say. And my is secondary school age expensive!

Thank you so much @callimanco @chocodrops and @chage for your advice and lovely messages. Nervous and hoping doing the right thing but I'll never know unless I try! Now to break it to current employer which I'm dreading and to find some work clothes which will actually fit me 😂🙈