*** Working Mum's Support thread ***

[Roo3]

I work 3 days a week and absolutely hate my job. I need to work to be able to afford to do nice things with lo I my days off. Lo is looked after by family which is excellent for him, but I spend my life feeling like I have to be everything to everyone, and I end up being nothing to no one.

 

[littlemonkey]

I dropped B at the nursery last week still with his toast and rice crispies in his hair. The staff just looked at me with my work suit on, hair straightened, immaculate make up and judged me lol! Do I care no! B is so slow with breakfast I can get showered, dry my hair, apply make up and make lunch whilst he has a good old munch lol! X

God, I gave up on straightening my hair for work a long long time ago!

I'm also glad to know it's not just me putting my make up on whilst LO takes forever to eat!

 

[littlemonkey]

I work 3 days a week and absolutely hate my job. I need to work to be able to afford to do nice things with lo I my days off. Lo is looked after by family which is excellent for him, but I spend my life feeling like I have to be everything to everyone, and I end up being nothing to no one.

This is so true! I too feel like I have to do everything and still feel like I get nothing done!

 

[Emily0505]

Cam takes aaaages to eat his brekkie. And the later we are running the longer he takes.

I start work at 8.30 and have to drop him off at my mums first which is the complete opposite direction to work. Infact I have to drive back past my house to get to work! I spend mornings stressed and running round like a mad thing!

I work Tues, Thurs, Sat so either way its only a day... if works shit its only a day till I'm off and if Cam is being a nightmare its only a day till I can escape to work! Lol!

I thinm I've got a prettg good work homelife balance. Hats off to those of you workjng full time. Iwould really struggle.

XX

 

[Les1504]

I went back to work teaching year 6 in a primary school full time when Harry was 8 moths old. I'm at school from 7am on a morning until 4:30, then I spend a couple of hours with Harry. I have work to do every evening until bedtime and also weekends...I hate it! I feel like I'm neglecting my own child and spend my days feeling tired and angry with the world! Xxx

 

[Dotty_woman]

Everyone is just trying to do the best for their bubbas. Babies being poorly just adds insult to injury. I hope your lo with be better very soon. I'm still on maternity leave but in the process of trying to negotiate with my work to do a 4 day week. I'm dreading going back and have definitely not missed it whilst I've been off. I'm due to go back at the end of a May. Just saying that is making me feel anxious. I'm planning to have Vi 2 days at nursery (place already booked) and my mum is going to do the other 2 days. I'm hoping they approve me having every Wednesday off. The idea is that I'm going to do 4x8 hour days. Hope I'm not going to regret it. xxx

 

[CARNAT22]

Seems like there are loads of us in the same boat???

If nothing else at least we have somewhere to offload?

James had an awful night and I had to get his inhaler out at 4am. He was still asleep when I left.

He has Dr's at 10.40am and OH has the hump - he loathes taking him to the Dr's - my Dr's are so shit I don't blame him. I might have an early lunch and meet them?

I just feel so bedraggled today, like I have crawled through syrup to get to work. I haven't slept for 3 nights now so I guess it's taking its' toll.

OH has been on the sofa for a week now as well.

Seriously I am really having a rethink about the whole TTC again idea I couldn't do this with two kiddies?

X

 

[Becky1]

Would you be able to go back part time after no.2? I am in 2 minds over when to ttc again as I just don't know how people do it and I'm not even back at work yet! x

 

[NavyLouise]

It's nice to read this thread that everyone is in a similar situation (even though it's not a good one) I went back to work full time in October and hated it so much I started having panic attacks at work. I asked HR about how much notice I had to give to quit and they prompted me to apply to go part time. This took 3 months to sort out because my manager couldn't be arsed with the paperwork.
I now only do 2 days a week and E goes to nursery on those days, it's weird I don't feel guilty leaving her there anymore because she bloody loves it and she adores being around all the other children. What I hate is how nursery is making her constantly ill!!! I also still really hate my job and don't enjoy a second of being there (8:30-50 with a half hour break), but I feel like I'm just sticking with it to get the money for nursery!

 

[CARNAT22]

Would you be able to go back part time after no.2? I am in 2 minds over when to ttc again as I just don't know how people do it and I'm not even back at work yet! x

I am the main breadwinner in the sense that I have a decent monthly salary and OH is self employed so he can get paid weekly / monthly or on completion depending on the type of job he is doing so PT isn't an option for me.

I am hoping when James is better I will find things a bit more manageable?

Things were plodding along OK before he got ill.. obviously I still feel guilty for leaving him and being away so much etc.. but the guilt knowing he is poorly is making me feel ill.

X

 

[Ella1979]

Would you be able to go back part time after no.2? I am in 2 minds over when to ttc again as I just don't know how people do it and I'm not even back at work yet! x

I'm absolutely dreading going back to work in December. Luckily I'm having a year off with my new baby and obviously looking after my daughter as well, and will only be going back to work 2 days a week. But we still don't know what's happening childcare-wise. I used to leave Ella with my mum but there's no way I'm leaving two kids with her. If I put them into childcare I will earn about £200 a month before taking off other things like petrol.

As for sickness, I've been lucky with that so far, but I'm not looking forward to having to ask for time off if either of them are ill. I remember a colleague of mine asking for special leave to take his 11-year-old up to a London hospital for an op and he was refused - basically told he had to take annual leave because it "wasn't an emergency" and they had "a couple of days notice". Looks like I'll be saving annual leave up!

 

[CARNAT22]

Yep I am saving all my annual leave.

I have 6 days booked in June and that is it.

Even then they get a bit funny but tough shit

X

 

[littlemonkey]

I've just had the childminder on the phone telling me LO is full of cold and feeling hot! Urgh! OH is trying to sort out taking time off tomorrow to take him to the doctors. I hate all this!!

I'm also questioning TTC, but if anything I am considering it as a serious option, taking voluntary redundancy and finding something part time in the evenings.

 

[michelle35uk]

Im the same carnat i cant bear leaving sofia when shes poorly ,shes at a childminder twice a week and i txt her loads during yhe day yo check shes ok...shes had illness after illness also so its left me a paranoid wreck...glad im not yhe only one x

 

[Loula]

I hate illness means I have to palm her off yet to more family normally my poor nanna and grandad x

 

[CARNAT22]

Ladies, it's such a relief to realise that I am not alone in my angst.

Of course I am sorry that you all suffer too but it's nice to have a bit of camaraderie.

James got antibiotics from the Dr and Daddy started them immediately so hopefully we'll see our poor little man show an improvement soon. I am sick of us all being sick.

I think this week is a right off for OH and work as well, such a shame as work has been hit and miss and this is the first full week he has had for a while

I am however so relieved James is semi OK, the Dr said his chest is still clear so we only need to use his inhaler if he is struggling (as he has done at 5am the past two nights!)

Now I just need to break the news that I need to leave early next Monday to go to the vets

Oh and I want a few days leave before Easter too !!

X

 

[michelle35uk]

Ah thats good,whst did the drs say was wrong? Sofias teething atm so tantrums have been on full swing lol...i suffer with anxiety and its been pretty bad lately,i get very worried about sofia being poorly as i dont have anyone to look after her,my poor mum isnt too good healthwise and having tests done as they suspect the dreaded c word

 

[mrswoody]

Sorry to hear you ladies are having a hard time but it is nice to see others who are feeling how I have been lately.

I have been back at work full time since October and it has only been this past month that I have found difficult. My oh works away in the week and is back Fridays then leaves Sunday evening. So my weeks are long and lonely most of the time.
I adore Lady M but she has been hard work lately and I have have on occasion (not proud of it) shouted at her she is pushing me and testing the boundaries of which i am useless at handling.

I don't feel guilty leaving her in nursery as she has a ball and is thriving there. The staff all love her and she is a little social butterfly! I do miss her obviously.

I find that it's hard now I am expecting number 2 and worry how I will cope alone once oh goes back to work.

I have holidays coming up but as oh is working M will still be at nursery- we are having a long weekend together though before oh and I go away on a break together. We need time to regroup and find "us" as couple again and not just mummy and daddy.

Being a working parent is hard but I couldn't not work. Catch 22 it seems.

X

 

[Loula]

When I take time off work I still take K to nursery. Its her time plus im off work to recharge. Just means I get to have my own child every night and not 3 or 4 times a week.

I dedinately couldnt not work it would drive me crazy xx

 

[babyslog]

My 1st day back is tomorrow :/

Im feeling kinda ok atm.. But i know the 2nd i close my front door and get into my car ill feel very anxious and emotional
Im inly going bk to 16.5hrs a week over 2days. My OH and step dad will be having Noah.. So im lucky that i dont have to out him in nursery or go bk any more than the 2days.

Everyone keeps saying 'ull love ur own time, adult conversations etc etc..' But i dnt want that lol! I want to be at home with Noah!!!
But needs must!

Work clothes all ironed, a to do list left for OH lol..alarm set for 6.30am! Off to work i go!