https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:35:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791468 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 12:40:31 +0000 HappyBaker 2791468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Working part time and using vacation for the other half is genius and I never would have thought of that! That would probably be an easier sell for them since they wouldn't have to adjust my salary at all. Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791458 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 12:12:15 +0000 Anagram 2791458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: Take as much time as you can--and definitely ask for the max time you can take. You can't get what you don't ask for! If you vacation time is use it or lose it, and you have 4 weeks, I would try to do part time (so turn 2 weeks into 4 weeks), and then use the remaining 2 weeks between mid August-December, so you can ease back in to work a bit. Like maybe a week at Thanksgiving, random days in December for holiday activities/shopping, a few days off the first week of school (so you can pick up and drop off on the first day, etc).</p> <p>Good luck! I'd like to think that the culture surrounding maternity leave in the US is slowly changing, but we women have to do our part and push for that change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791449 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 11:02:13 +0000 HappyBaker 2791449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just checked and school starts the week before Labor Day. In the first part of the year there are random days off / early dismissals but not all that many really and it looks like the before/after school program runs programming to cover those days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791447 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 10:57:07 +0000 Bluebonnet 2791447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: Be sure to check the school calendar - I was shocked at all the holidays and early release days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791338 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 17:31:05 +0000 summerfruit 2791338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When does school start in your area? I would be ok with taking some PTO in addition to your maternity leave, but I would be hesitant to use all the PTO to get you to the new academic year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791329 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:30:03 +0000 jhd 2791329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oops I posted without reading @KT326: ‘s reply! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791328 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:29:26 +0000 jhd 2791328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: you can probably check the school calendar now for an idea of what types of breaks they have. They may even have next year’s calendar posted soon. I used to teach public school full time so that’s the first thing I think of! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791299 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:50:16 +0000 KT326 2791299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: you could go to your school's website and look at the current year calendar to get an idea of what holidays they have off. That's what I did. Makes it easier to plan around breaks. </p> <p>Along with holidays our school also has professional development days I need to plan for. </p> <p>Also, my kinder kid has yet to be sick (*totally knocking on wood right now!*). He's been in full time daycare since he was 16 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791295 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:42:18 +0000 HappyBaker 2791295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally forgot about school vacations! Clearly I don't have school age kids yet ha. I think I'll save the vacation time and try to just do super part time until school starts if they will let me. Fingers crossed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791294 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:39:15 +0000 jhd 2791294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another thing to consider is if your kindergartener will have a fall break or other breaks from school during the fall semester where you might want to schedule time off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791293 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:33:10 +0000 snowjewelz 2791293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd try to hold onto PTO because of illnesses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791286 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:07:03 +0000 psw27 2791286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you can swing taking the time unpaid from July til September - I would do that and save some vacay/sick leave for when you get back. I had my 2nd in April and absolutely loved being home all summer! I went back the day after labor day and felt like it was a good transition time for me mentally - it felt like back to school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791284 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:06:24 +0000 MaryM 2791284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: I would also check in with your supervisor. </p> <p>I know things vary wildly from department to department for us. HR urges employees to work on flexible schedules with their supervisors...IF their supervisor thinks their job can be flexible. </p> <p>So I know someone in my department who was able to work from home part time to spread her leave longer, but I know someone who quit another department because they weren't willing to be flexible at all and wanted her to come back as soon as her leave ran out. Her baby was born early and was in the NICU for a bit, so she wasn't willing to give up that time. </p> <p>I'd check with HR first, then ask others who've taken similar leave to what you want what they did to be able to do that so you have examples to show your boss, then meet with your supervisor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791280 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:54:49 +0000 HappyBaker 2791280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: @MaryM: Good point, no I haven't talked to them yet but I know others have stacked on unpaid time off at the end of the 12 weeks, so I'd think if I used vacation time especially it would be okay? I want to figure out my ideal scenario before I talk to them because we don't have an in house HR person and it takes forever to hear back from them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791277 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:50:42 +0000 bhbee 2791277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wondered about fmla too. </p> <p>But if they are flexible i like the idea of part time or taking a little at a time. We’ve had a bunch of kinder things you could attend during the day and got strep in week 2. Also check your school calendar, we got a week off for thanksgiving this year and get out this Friday for the holidays so you may need coverage there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791273 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:44:21 +0000 MaryM 2791273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you talked to HR yet?</p> <p>If you're in the US, I might assume that they offer 12 weeks paid because the company expects you to come back after 12 weeks. With few exceptions, that's also all that FMLA would protect your job for. So unless they have a policy of promoting longer leave, I wouldn't want to risk being let go if I took a longer leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791261 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:01:01 +0000 gingerbebe 2791261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would save the leave for when school starts. Kids are notorious for being sick when they start kinder with the new germs and laxer sanitation in school classrooms, plus your baby is probably gonna get sick a lot too. And then there's the holidays! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791260 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 12:57:38 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2791260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would vote taking it all, but of course these other ladies have much better suggestions :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791257 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 12:39:56 +0000 Mamatimes3 2791257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: 4 weeks is great! Then I would maybe take 2 weeks to extend my leave. I would still save some for the holidays and school functions/parties. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791249 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 12:22:32 +0000 HappyBaker 2791249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamatimes3: I'll have 4 weeks! I probably won't take any before I go on leave so will have to use it all between July and December anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791247 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 12:21:37 +0000 Mamatimes3 2791247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How much vacation do you have? I would probably save my vacation days to take around the holidays. Also, I would save time to take off for field trips and possible sick days. My son didn’t get sick very much but some do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791244 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 12:17:35 +0000 HappyBaker 2791244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Oof good point! </p> <p>@Pollywog: Duh I didn't even think of part time! Maybe I could just do 15-20 hours a week until school starts, that would be awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791243 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 12:16:55 +0000 looch 2791243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I probably wouldn't take all my sick and vacation time with a kid starting kindergarten....only because my son missed something like 8 days between September and December! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791237 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 12:08:28 +0000 Pollywog 2791237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd take the time so you guys can have a great summer if you can afford it. Or possibly go back part time to have an easier transition back </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-leave-what-would-you-do#post-2791227 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 11:41:43 +0000 HappyBaker 2791227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm due in April with our third baby, and trying to figure out what to do for maternity leave. With my first, I took 12 weeks and with my second only 9 because I hadn't been at my job for a full year. My company just changed their policy and now I get 12 weeks FULL PAY, which I am thrilled about! So I'm definitely taking at least 12 weeks. </p> <p>Now I'm trying to figure out if I should take vacation / sick / unpaid time at the end of those 12 weeks to get me to the beginning of the school year. My oldest will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall, and I was planning on sending her to a super cheap day camp in our town instead of daycare over the summer to save money. </p> <p>If I deliver on / around my due date, 12 weeks of maternity leave would take me to around 4th of July. </p> <p>Any ideas much appreciated as I've never really had a choice in when I came back to work, but having 12 weeks of time off be fully paid gives me some wiggle room in terms of taking more time later! </p>