[Roxyliz89]

I've been offered a promotion if I go back to work 3 months earlier then planned as I was going to have 6 months off, if I take the promotion I will get a bonus each year and a 10k pay rise and already before the promotion I was on more money then the husband and now I will double him so he is going to stay home for a little bit before putting our son in day care in about 3 months but I'm starting to think is it to soon and I also have to change him over to the bottle. My body is fine to go back to work but I just feel my boy needs his mummy lol, I also know that the way I'm feeling I could also feel the same way after 6 months once I do have to go back to work if i dont take the promotion.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts/opinions.I would love to answer all questions but it would take me forever, though I will say those who have mentioned about the milestones in a positive way has put a smile on my face you guys are right in saying I will still see my son roll, crawl, giggle etc and even if I stayed home and turned the promotion down I could have my back turned and miss my sons first milestone just as easy as that. Also my work is not pressuring me just giving me my chance I have kept missing out on due to bad timing, ie; getting married, and times I have had holidays booked in, and yes other chances will come up but not for atleast a year or more its never certain. We would like to buy a house so stepping up will help us do that and be better for our family for a stable life. My work is also a job where I work days and not nights so I'll always be home around same time each afternoon, also one week I would get 3 days of but the week after only 1, so atleast one week I would feel I've spent quality time at home. Ummm what else have people asked/said??? Oh yes when I do come home from work I would love every minute I had before the son went to bed as I would not have been home with him all day as I know how draining that is from doing it the past 3 months. Hope this makes sense lol tried to cover a few things here as I thought commenting on everyone's comments would be harder. Thanks again everyone

This post has been edited by Roxyliz89: 19/11/2012, 09:42 PM

[mumofenergiserbu...]

is there anyway of expressing and storing during work hours if you go back, so you LO can still have breastmilk?
if this will make your lives better than maybe its worth thinking about, however as a mum who went back to work when my son was 5months old, it was really hard, i only saw him for 30mins every orning before he was dropped at daycare (7.00am) and during the night feed as i got home at 10.30pm each night, i worked 2hours from home.... it killed me and i ended up quitting when he was 9months old

[canuckmel]

Don't worry about whether other people think it is too soon and make the decision you feel is best for your family.

FWIW, I was back at work within 3 months with 3/4 of my pregnancies because being a SAHM made me miserable. I NEEDED identity and stimulation other than mothering.

This post has been edited by canuckmel: 18/11/2012, 11:27 PM

[misslizzie]

Don't worry about whether other people think it is too soon and make the decision you feel is best for your family.

i agree. its what is best for your family and that promotion will help so much financially i can imagine even if you were already on very good money. Do what you think is best and dont worry other peoples opinions. You'll be judged either way most likely.

[cira]

Is the choice between 3 months with a promotion or 6 months without a promotion? Or are you considering not going back at 6 months either? I ask because you are right, it will still be hard at 6 months to leave your baby and return to work.

6 months could be easier than 3 months because your baby would (probably) be starting solids and at 6 months your baby will be that much bigger and more robust. But at 3 months you could express BM and/or could continue BM feeds in the mornings and evenings.

How well do you think your husband will do as a caregiver? This could be a lovely time for baby and Dad to really develop a deep bond.

[Jemstar]

I would (try and) consider the long term benefits of the promotion. I think the circumstances you describe would be pretty enticing to me in terms of long term financial security, but really only you know if it's right or not.

[-Emissary-]

Don't worry about whether other people think it is too soon and make the decision you feel is best for your family.

This.

You're going to get a lot of people coming in to say "I personally wouldn't do it, my baby needs his/her mum" but you need to do what is best for your family. If you feel you can do it and it'll be the best for your family, go for it and ignore what everyone else thinks.

[bakesgirls]

I returned to work when DD2 was 4 months old. As PP's have said, you need to do what is right for you, your family and your situation. Bugger what anyone else has to say about it. They are not the ones living your life nor walking in your shoes.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do

[HurryUpAlready]

I couldn't do it, nor would I want to but I only worked to get money, was more than happy to give it up when DD was born & obviously I'm not the primary earner in our household).

However, a friend of mine did go back to work when her baby was about 8 weeks I think, as she was the primary earner.

She expressed for a while but ended up weaning onto formula as it got to be too much. She ended up having to work crazy hours - I'm talking getting home at 11pm (and this was a CFO office job - not shift work). The baby still woke to be fed during the night and at 7 am she was up to get ready for work again.

After several months it all got too much and she quit. I know she is sad about not being there for her bub when she was so tiny. She was so happy she quit and got to stay at home and spend time with her baby.

I guess it would depend on your hours at work, is there travel involved, and how do you feel about leaving bubba at home that young? They are still so small at 12 weeks.

Obviously money is important. Are you guys on a pretty good wicket now, without the promotion??

[Dragonfly2]

I agree do what suits your family.

However some food for thought is your bubs will only be a baby once and for such a short time, I'm guessing there will be other opportunities to enhance your career in the future.

Being there with your young baby now is time you will cherish in years to come. Being there when they 1st roll, crawl, etc the 1st year of their life so much happens development wise.

Sorry if its not what you want to hear.