Monday was my first day back at work after a year off with DD2. As much as I was anxious about going back to work I'm glad to be back. I feel like one year is the perfect amount of time!
-
I ended up taking an additional semester of leave so I went back to work at 9 months. I was very ready to go back to work and I feel really fortunate that things worked out the way they did.
-
I also had a year off and it was the perfect amount of time! Dd and I got to do a lot of fun activities together that year and I loved watching her grow . We were able to take part in a regular mom/baby group and we all got really close. most of those women are also having their second/third around the same time as I am, so we will all be off together again in the fall! I'm excited .
-
@Charm54: that's so fun!! Nice that you get another leave together
-
I was off for 10 months which was 1 month too long. But that was probably a good thing, because it meant I was really really ready to go back.
-
I was off for a year as well. I would have preferred to return to part time a couple months earlier, but a year was good.
-
5 weeks was definitely not long enough!
I only worked 26 hours a week, but still, it was tough!
-
I was off for a year as well. I was starting to go a little stir crazy around 9 months off and wanted to go back early, but I didbt. I had a ton of anxiety when I did go back, but really enjoyed being back at work. Now I'm on my second year leave and I'll be off for the year again. I'd like to go back part time after this leave, but it depends if there is a position available.
-
Nope, not even close. 12 weeks is definitely not enough time.
-
I went back at 14 weeks and it was fine - I was still just so exhausted and that sucked - but it was nice to be back on schedule and around adults
-
I've been on adoption leave for almost 4 months and I go back next Tuesday. I am ready! I was getting pretty bored at home.
-
In theory, it would have been long enough, but I ended up not returning to work after my 7 month leave was over.
-
Nope. I would prefer something from 6 months to 1 year.
-
I was off for 6 months and thought it was the perfect amount of time. I was still anxious about going back to work, but staying home was starting to get lonely so I really enjoyed being back at the office. And it was a great age for LO to start daycare because she could sit up and interact with the other babies but she wasn't having stranger/separation anxiety yet so she didn't cry at all at dropoff. I think a year would've been too long for me.
-
I think so. I would have liked more time but she was a hard baby and I was sick of being home by myself all day. I needed adults to take too. It was still really hard leaving her at day care. I can't imagine having to do it sooner. Most of my co workers only took 6 weeks of leave and I don't know how they did it.
-
No, 6 months would be ideal. A 12 week old is still so young and waking upat night, taking more naps, etc. By 6 months it would have been much easier I think.
-
I quit my job when DD was born and went back to work when she was 15 months old. To me, that was perfect. I didn't have to pump because she was able to go all day without nursing. That alone was worth the long leave
-
I went back at 50% by 9 weeks and then my full schedule (30 hrs/wk) at 13 wks. Not long enough! I definitely would have wanted the full year. 6 mo at the very least.
-
Meh, i mean....12 weeks is 12 weeks. it's good in some ways, shitty in others. I was getting bored and lonely by 11 weeks and ready to have some human interaction again. But then i was also a zombie months 4-5 at work, and i would've much rather have been home to rest. Catch-22 for sure.
-
No. 13 weeks was not long enough.. I wish I could have 6 mos- 1 yr...
-
I would have liked 6 months instead of 3, but we all survived.
-
I took 3 months with DS and went back 2 days a week. It was fine considering I was going back PT, but I would have liked longer. With DD, I went back 1 day a week at 8 weeks and then 2 days at 12 weeks. I would have liked longer. Ideally, 6 months would be great. If/When we get pregnant with #3, I think it would be short & sporadic maternity leave but I now work for a flexible family business with WFH time and the office 2 minutes from my house so it would be easy to put in a couple hours here & there.
-
With DS1 I took 14 weeks and while it wasn't enough, going back to work forced me back into a routine and helped me feel more "normal".
My company now offers 16 weeks paid leave and I plan to use a combination of PTO and unpaid leave to stretch it to 20 weeks. Enough time to get through the 4 month sleep regression, build a freezer stash, and (hopefully) have the baby sleeping mostly through the night. 6 months would be ideal but I don't think we can swing it.
-
I has 12 weeks and was happy to be able to have that long, but would have liked to have 6 months. I'm not sure I would have wanted to be home for a year except that I hate pumping SO MUCH.
-
No, I got 14 weeks (and that was through negotiation since I was really only supposed to get 12 weeks). I came back right as LO entered the 4 month sleep regression and my whole first month back at work was spent battling 8+ wakeups per night so I was a useless, grumpy zombie. 6 months would have been perfect, I think.
-
No. I took 12 weeks and it was not enough. I would have liked at least six months. I wasn't a productive employee until she was 6-7 months old because I was so exhausted.
-
No. I had 6 weeks. That will never be long enough. I was incredibly distressed about being away from my LO and I know that I was not a good employee the first month or so that I was back.
-
No, I took 3 months. I was only "ready" to come back because I had a flex schedule that let me be wfh a few days a week. This time I will be taking 4 and will be wfh when I come back for a couple of months.
-
There are a lot of long leaves posted above!
I haven't taken maternity leave yet, but everyone so far at my company who has done it has taken 1-2 months max. Most have chosen to come back early from their scheduled leaves.
-
No, it was six weeks. However, he stayed home with my DH. I will be taking a minimum of 8 weeks and making sure the next one takes a bottle easier.
-
Heck to the no! 12 weeks and I was NOT ready!
-
My first leave was 12 weeks. It was tough, but definitely didn't feel like enough. My company just amended the leave policy, so I can take 16 weeks now. I'm excited for an extra month since we'll probably be in the middle of a move and adjustment at that point.
-
No. 12 weeks was not enough, not even close. It is disheartening that our country continues to ignore this, but at least I know to plan on 6 months next time.
-
No, 12 weeks was not enough, and I would have been fired for taking any longer. I've heard rumors of our policy changing by the time #2 arrives, so I'm hoping I can take advantage of that.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
33 comments