Member Questions

Ask a question

How long after you had kids did you return to work?”

Asked by The Work It, Mom! Team on 29th December 2007

Leave answer

Comments so Far...

Two months off, and it wasn't long enough! I wish I could have come back at part-time for about a month beyond that, but not enough vacation time to make that work... I'm glad I work from home one day a week, though!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by RC on 3rd January 2008
I returned to work after 6 weeks. I was ready to get back to work, but not ready to balance being a first time mother and full time worker. That has continued to be a struggle, although I really like working and love my kids (17 month old twins). I was home with them for the last 10 days over Christmas holidays and was very excited to get dressed in my adult clothes for work yesterday! LOL

Flag as inappropriate Posted by spacegeek on 3rd January 2008
I started back at 3 months, but only at about 50% for one month, then full-time but shifted hours another two months before going back to FT at regular hours. I never imagined the transition back would be so hard!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by relaxnsmile on 31st December 2007
Six weeks. I could have eeked out another two weeks, but I am in post-graduate training program and I would have no vacation for the rest of the year .... in October (when the academic year ends in July). Things get pretty crazy at work and so I need periodic vacations. It was nice to read Kate's answer ... I hadn't thought of it that way (leaving baby when he doesn't really know any better), but I think that there might be some truth in her statement.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by KC on 30th December 2007
i only took 8 weeks. yup, 2 months! then hubby was home with the boy for about 3 weeks before going back to work himself. it was good for us and the right choice looking back. it's one thing to leave the baby when he doenst really know any better... if i had to leave him now for the first time i think it would just be so so so hard!! but then we are lucky to have an amazing daycare and he loves it there! so that helps a lot :)

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kate on 30th December 2007
I took 4 months (+2 months at about 60% time) with my first one. My second is due any day and I'm taking 12 weeks and I'm TRYING to negotiate some kind of part-time deal. If my boss won't let me, I'm seriously thinking of quitting and teaching at a local community college and doing some contract editing to supplement our income. This will take some serious consideration- budgeting, planning, etc. In my ideal world, I would take a year or two off and then go back part time. Here's to dreaming...

Flag as inappropriate Posted by biomom on 30th December 2007
I was lucky enough to stay home for 2 years, then I started working part time on the week-ends when my husband was home. Now its full time-gosh I miss the staying home.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by shelly on 30th December 2007
My kids were born late in the year (planned that way), so I was able to scrape together vacation and sick leave from the years they were born PLUS the year immediately after each of their births, so I could continue to draw a paycheck during my leave -- important for our family, since we live on my salary. I still took a hit -- I took a few extra weeks unpaid each time -- but all in all I spent about 5 1/2 months on maternity leave each time (two years apart).

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 29th December 2007