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I'm not in Canada, but this is part of why I'm not sure I could/would want a full year of leave! There are a lot of positives about when I go back to work!

Not Canadian, but this is why I have no desire to be a stay at home mom. I like working. Cutting back to 4 days has been a great balance, but I think I would suck at staying home full time. And, I happen to be really good at my job. So, it just makes sense for me to work.

I felt like this a couple of times on my leave, but having been back at work for 6 months now, I miss those days like crazy and can't WAIT for DD2 to be born in February. I absolutely hate working full time and commuting and then coming home to a hangry toddler and messy house that requires my attention. I love my job, but I don't love having to do it all.

@erinbaderin: I didn't read all the replies but I actually went back to work at 5.5 months PP for exactly this reason. I am in no way cut out to be a SAHM, even temporarily. We were fortunate that my SO could take the balance of the leave and stay home with our DD. He is a way better SAH parent than me

It also helped that I am the breadwinner and so financially it was actually better for him to be off than me!

@LuLu Mom: not required. you can share up to 35 weeks of leave with your partner or you can take any portion of the year for your self (combined leave shared can't exceed the year). People do go back early for many reasons, but the majority of people I know have done the full year each time.

I feel like I enjoy my time with my DD more now that i'm back at work. I use to count down the hours until DH came home when DD was 11 months old, now when i'm home I feel more present in her life rather than just tired and sick of dealing with a toddler!

Reviving this thread because I really need to vent but, because I've got it so much easier than any of my IRL mum friends (family support, older LO in school 5 mornings a week), I have to vent anonymously to strangers!

I'm 8 months into my 1yr mat leave and I'm mostly loving it this time around, but I'm so sick and tired of all the mundane tasks falling to me. I feel like Dobby the house elf. My DH leaves for work at 7.10am and doesn't get in until 6pm, so from the moment the children wake until almost when they climb into bed, I am serving their every need. Every nappy, every bottle, every meal, every drink, every time a bum needs wiping, teeth need brushing, baths, books, playing, doctors appointments, school runs, night feeds..... I cook, I clean, I cook again, I do laundry, I make beds, I iron school uniforms and I do NOTHING ELSE. I *am* nothing else.

This morning I was SO JEALOUS of my husband as he took his morning shower. He showers, he gets dressed and he leaves the house.... by which point I am knee deep in juggling two children, making breakfasts etc. This will still be the case when I go back to work in Jan because DH will still work long, inflexible hrs, but at least for 8 hrs a day I will no longer be a slave to the every basic need of two people.... precious, adorable people but, hey, wiping a bum is wiping a bum no matter how special the recipient. I want to use my brain!

I just wanted to vent. I mean, I really am enjoying my mat leave this time around. I love the time I spend with the baby while E is at school. I love pushing my pram around the neighbourhood. I love singing to my baby and trying her with new foods. But the need for my own identity is nipping at my heels!

@Cherrybee: @erinbaderin: Make some time for you to go out.. maybe in the evenings with friends or sign up for a class or course.. it really helps! I do remember him coming home when I was on mat leave and being like here take this baby... even if you go for a 10 min walk or another room and take a few min to reset it really helped me get through the evening without resenting him. He still hilariously says things like "why don't you ever finish your coffees"... if you only knew.

I'm not in Canada, but I get it. I don't know that is really want a whole year of leave or could handle it! Hope you can find another way to get some alone time - it's so important!

Canadian bee that falls into a loop hole of no mat leave (small business owner). My husband is able to take the leave instead which is fantastic. But even though the system values the time it could be better. Like an ability to work part time! If you could take a desired time off completely and then divide your leave to return part time if possible in your job situation. I don't know it's just not flexible for all family scenarios. I would have to opt into EI for my entire career but for that to pay off I would have to have many many children since I could never shut down my consulting business for a full year - but support for 8-12 weeks would be ideal in my scenario then allowing my husband to tap into the parental leave.

@Cherrybee: So does your husband give you time "off" for all the accumulated time you spend handling night wakeups? I would be having serious discussion with my husband if he was counting hours on and off like that. You guys are supposed to be on the same team.

@T.H.O.U.: The truth is.... It's the kids that are the issue. I love them fiercely and I prioritise quality time with them, but I don't enjoy it at all. If you look at my list of house elf duties, they are all child related tasks. I love cleaning and folding laundry, its the kid stuff I wish I wasn't solely responsible for; "will you put Peppa on please?", "can I have a drink?", "I need a wee", "can I have my tablet please?", "I've lost my bunny", "I've wet myself ", " I want a biscuit "..... and that's all in the space of 5 minutes. Meanwhile, the baby is crying or has pooped, and the oven is beeping because E's dinner is ready and then I trip over a toy...... and, basically, I'm not cut out to be a SAHM! But it's okay because I don't have to be one long term. I have so much admiration for those people who are. Genuinely the most important and the most draining job in the world.

@Truth Bombs: Night wake ups have long been a bone of contention in our house. He doesn't wake up at all so it's like they don't happen. If I make a fuss about how much I've been up in the night, he gives me a lie in at the weekend, but I rarely bother - S is usually only up once a night and E STTN now so it's no big deal. But, yeah, I should pull it out if the bag when he does the tit for tat thing. It's hard for my DH because he has an auto immune arthritis condition which is really bad at the moment. He's considerably less willing to take on extra duties when he feels this ill, particularly as I'm coping fine, I'm just a bit sick of it day in day out!

I'll be back at work soon. It's all good. It's just good to vent to people who get it.

@Mrs. Marshmallow: I would love it if there was someway to work just part time or less and still have EI covering some of the difference. That would be ideal in my mind.