https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:22:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-742329 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:19:08 +0000 LuLu Mom 742329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thinking long term I would want/need a career that understood the balance of being a mother. I would miss my longer maternity leave for sure, but it would totally be worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-742098 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:40:11 +0000 MrsH 742098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Long term life balance over maternity leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-742096 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:38:49 +0000 looch 742096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the answer to the whether or not we can support shorter maternity leaves lies in affordable childcare options. Whether you are home for 1 week or 52 weeks, you can't go back to work without proper childcare options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-742079 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:34:26 +0000 Grace 742079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I think both 6 weeks and 12 weeks sucks, so I'm going with the work-life balance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-742059 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:28:48 +0000 yellowbird 742059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Work/life balance hands down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-742019 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:16:06 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 742019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Regardless if the maternity leave is 12 weeks, 6 months, or a year... I would still choose work/life balance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-742018 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:15:56 +0000 Alivoo01 742018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I choose work life balance because an extra 6 weeks doesn't make up for things I will miss in my kids life later on like when they do sports or have classroom parties/field trips, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741970 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:02:48 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 741970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Work-life balance! Parenting is not just those first 12 weeks. I must be a parent to my children even when they're 17 years old. So, I want a job that allows to occasionally leave early, or answer my kid's call, or take a day off to tend to a sick child....and maybe go in/get out in time to do pick-up/drop-off at school (either me or my husband).<br /> So, I'd go back at 6w if I could know that my job is flexible enough that if worst came to worst (daycare closes for a day, child falls ill), I could be there for my child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741920 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:41:56 +0000 daniellemybelle 741920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: Haha! I've been calling our little fetus a "nugget" so that's why its my avatar! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741917 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:40:15 +0000 lawbee11 741917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I would choose work/life balance. Especially because an extra 6 weeks doesn't seem like enough to make up for the lack of work/life balance. Also--totally unrelated but I have a craving for McDonald's every time I see your avatar! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741913 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:38:54 +0000 daniellemybelle 741913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: Definitely - it wouldn't be this cut and dry. Hypothetical question. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741899 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:33:41 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 741899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Initially I was going to say a longer maternity leave, but then I saw that it would still only be 12 weeks, which doesn't seem that long to me (I guess I'm spoiled as a teacher), so I chose the work/life balance one. I think time at home with a baby is really important, but the difference between 6 and 12 weeks doesn't seem that significant to me. I got almost 5 months with Liam (12 weeks mat leave plus summer break) and next time I want at least 6 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741888 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:31:19 +0000 Cherrybee 741888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you had meant a year's paid leave, I would have taken the dreadful job with no work/life balance. But as it's only getting me an extra 6 weeks, I'm taking the less stressful job! It's better to be happy long term, I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741871 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:25:33 +0000 mrsjazz 741871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would choose the job with the good work/life balance because that's better in the long run. And if possible I'd take another few weeks unpaid (if they allowed it) to add more time to my maternity leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741867 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:25:01 +0000 MamaMoose 741867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitelt the better work/life balance. As much as I loved my long maternity leave long term happiness is more important than short term.</p> <p>BUT I would be sure to double check the policy at the new job because with most companies you aren't eligible for ANY paid maternity leave until you've worked there for a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741864 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:24:27 +0000 regberadaisy 741864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Better work/life balance. It's more long term whereas maternity leave however long it is is only temporary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741863 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:23:18 +0000 pui 741863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Assuming you don't have the option to be a SAHM lol, I would choose the job with the better work/life balance. Sure, I'd get less maternity leave, but it would be better in the long run. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-prefer-long-maternity-leave-or-worklife-balance#post-741859 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:22:22 +0000 daniellemybelle 741859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hypothetical situation! If you could get a new job that gave you better work/life balance after your baby is born, would you take it, EVEN if you had to sacrifice a longer maternity leave? The alternative would be to stay at a job without much work/life balance, but you get a nice long maternity leave. Vote in the poll, and explain below! </p>