Intentions

What are my intentions for maternity leave and work?
TBH I don’t know really. It’s potentially 18 months away!! We haven’t even had a scan yet so there may not even be a baby in there (fairly sure there is though!) or there may be more than one…

In an ideal world, no I will not return to work. I won’t need too. DH would prefer me to stay home and I think I would too, at least while the kids are young.

But the world is rarely ideal. I don’t know what our finances will be like in 12-18 months. I can guess but all it would be is that, a guess.

As far as I can work out I will have approx 6 weeks annual leave owing to me by February 2012. I hope to take these 6 weeks prior to my due date, or at least 5 of them. Hopefully starting 5th March 2012. And when my leave runs out go on official ‘maternity leave’ for the remainder of the 52 weeks allowed. I really hope to have a whole year off this time but only time will tell on that one too.

Both of my bosses are thrilled for us to be expecting again. But of course they want to know details, dates and intentions. They both assume it will not be worth my while to return to work. I wish they wouldn’t assume. Two kids in CC may be expensive but I don’t know how it will work out for us with rebates etc and neither do they so it would be great if they could not assume and let me decide closer to the time. As far as they should be concerned I will be returning until I state otherwise. I told M this in pretty much those exact words. And perhaps in a nasty ‘this is my job and I won’t be pushed out of it’ tone.

B is happy for me to potentially return part time (2-3 days and/or possibly school hours) which would be much better for us I think. The only reason I returned full time after Shae was because:
1) The 2 other ladies didn’t work out and
2) We wanted to build and the extra income I generate was helpful in getting the loan. Though probably not 100% nessesary.

M however flat out said there will be no option of part time for me. The job is full time and there will be no other work available. So I’m sacked?? Made redundant?? Forced resignation?? I don’t really know how it works. But I would have thought the last 5 years of service and the fact that I’m good at my job and I know various other aspects of the office (reception, quotes, contracts) would have meant something… apparently not according to M. Way to make me feel valued.

I’m glad B has more sway over things as he is the State Manager but at the same time he plans to retire soon (~2 years, maybe sooner). Hopefully before he goes I will know what I really want to do.

We already have a temp here (N) covering A’s maternity leave. The timing is actually perfect as A will be coming back in Feb and our temp will then cover my Maternity Leave. Works out well for all concerned as N will be put on full time (contracted) and A is happy to return part time in February, then F/T in March and I don’t have to search for a replacement. I have about 4 full weeks to train N but as she is in the office F/T there will be plenty of opportunity to get in extra training over the next 6 months.

I’m glad I have a plan, however loose it may be but at the same time I wish I had of kept my mouth shut. For a few more weeks at least.
Too late now…