Sabbatical

[MinaLoy]

I can't be a SAHM any more. 24-hour toddler twins are really getting me down. DH and I both work in retail; he's in middle management. I've asked him if he could see about having a sabbatical so that I can go back to work full-time for a year. He says he has to show how it would be beneficial to his employer. Apart from satisfying their desire to be an equal opportunity employer, how can we persuade them?

Hi ML, toddler twins eh? You have my sympathy! I love MN - I've just spent last ten mins trailing round the house thinking about your problem... how weird is that. Anyway, I am sorry to say I can't think of how your would entice any employer, particularly in this climate, to go for giving hubby a sabbatical. In addition, it would be a really great way to prove to your husband's employer that they don't actually need him, which, I guess, is probably not your aim at this time. From my previous experience of recession, employers suddenly find middle managers are the ones they can do without... argh.

How about looking at it a different way? Have you investigated any nanny shares? I have a friend who has cut her nanny costs in half by sharing a nanny with a local family. She works four days a week from home which means she can still keep an eye on her baby. I guess you are probably nervous about leaving your twin darlings with non-family members but there are some really great nannies out there, despite some of the horror stories you hear.

Hello! Thank you for having a think about my problem. I had the same horrible thought recession-wise today...and the job I'd be going back to is way less secure than my husband's job. So, nightmare scenario: my employer goes bust, I get the sack, and then hubby's work decide they don't want him back. Blimey it's amazing to do a thought-experiment like that - suddenly, neither of us have a job. Down tumbles the house of cards.
I will keep thinking creatively though; nanny-sharing is a possibility. And, just for the record, I have no qualms about leaving the twins!!! And they're all the better for it I think...

Or a childminder?

I semi-specialise in twins - 4 sets in 6 years