Returning to work after the baby

I don't know where you live or where you work but where I live and work we only get six weeks. I know it is hard to leave your child but at least you got to wait until she was eight months old.

I hated going back to work after my daughter was born. I stressed out more then anything. The person I had babysitting her wouldn't put her down for a nap or give her apple juice like I asked her because my daughter just started drinking milk so her stomach was still adjusting and the apple juice helped her go to the bathroom. Plus she would take my daughter to all these peoples houses I didn't even know. I hated it and made sure hubby knew how much I hated it lol. After a month I quit my job and have not been back since. It is alittle harder without the extra money but hubby is working overtime to make up for it. Now I know whats going on with my child during the day and don't have to worry about anything.

Oh, I feel for you! I took 4 months of maternity leave, which was a month longer than I was supposed to but my employer was okay with that. My god it was hard to go back, but I also realized that there were benefits to doing so as well (for the baby AND for me). I can't imagine how hard it would be to go back after spending 8 months at home with my daughter! I considered staying home with her full-time but we just can't afford it, and to be perfectly honest, I kinda enjoy going to work. Having a reason to wear nice clothes, do my hair, put on a little makeup, wear high heels and perfume. I'm lucky though, in that I havn't had to put my daughter in daycare yet. My boss lets me work 30 hours per week and I work evenings so my husband or mother watches her while I'm at work. That's all about to change though since I'm switching jobs. I've been interviewing daycares for the past 2 weeks and have toured 10 of them. So far only 2 are in the running but I'm really struggling with the idea of leaving my daughter (6 months old) with strangers all day long. And daycare is SO expensive! It will cost us $10,000.00 per year to put her in daycare 4 days/week!!! Can you believe that??!! It's outragious. Anyway, good luck to you, I know it's a tough position to be in. Take comfort in the fact that you're not alone! Try to remind yourself of the positives (socialization skills, etc.) and not focus too much on the negatives. Plenty of kids go to daycare and they are happy, healthy, and well-adjusted. I'm sure your daughter will be just fine. Just keep telling yourself that.