anyone had experience of career breaks?

[Baffies]

I go back to work next April...my boys will be one and three

I recently applied for a job at my company but was unsuccessful. I am therefore thinking of a three year career break...in my Terms and Conditions. After this I go back either to my old job, a job at the same grade or they can sack me if they cant find me something.

Has anyone done anything similar? how did you find it?

I found it hard to restablish myself in the workplace after my first maternity leave break. Also, I will be going back to a new boss and he wont know me and will be relying on someone else in my absence.
I guess I am worried about being pushed out. I am very speicalised and have worked hard to create my job IYSWIM
Is this just something I have to accept?

If you had this option, would you take it?(we can afford it if we make some cutbacks in our spending.)

Many thanks. I want to decide now before I decide to take up a nursery place for DS in January.

I'm on a career break atm and am about to write to work to try to extend it for another 4 years.
I think you have to weigh it all up for yourself and your family situation. Only you can know if it would be good for you. I personally can't afford to go back to work right now, but I have to admit to loving bringing up my children myself!
Having done it, I'd say to anyone else 'do it'. There really is nothing like watching your children grow and develope instead of being told 'Ds did his first wink today...'

My cousin always says 'Jump, and the net will open'. She's currently doing a charity run through the Borneo Jungle...Mad!

If I had this opportunity I would definately take it as its the best of both worlds. You get to have the tme off you want and still have your job at the end.

wow..."jump and the net will open" - that is fab!

Although MIL did say to me this weekend (when I was moaning about the state of the house) that the housework will always be there but the babies wont...that was also an excellent saying! She must have heard it on Corrie or something!

In my experience, I went back to the same company, different department after 10 months maternity and have had a year of hell. I feel devalued, demotivated and depressed! If I were you I would take all the break I could.

When you return there will be a new structure and management team which may suit you. If not, you have a good while to consider other options.

Hi there

I;m on an 18 month career break at the moment and I really love it! I also found it really hard to get back into being back at work after maternity leave - it was a constant struggle to organise everything and the career was parked anyway - I'm sooooooooo glad I decided to take the break!

While I'm off I'm trying out a few things, for example I've started running a small business trying to save people money. (See here under 'The Opportunity'). It's nice to be able to do something under my own steam and without having to juggle with childcare all the time.

So if you think you can cover it financially, I'd definitely recommend it!