Sunday 18 March 2012

Listography - 5 reasons I know I'm a ...

... Mum approaching the end of her Maternity Leave!

The Listography at Kate Takes 5 this week is very open ended, and we can insert whatever we like to complete the sentence. So I thought that I'd write about something which is on my mind at the moment - the end of my Maternity Leave. I timed my leave almost to perfection this time - I had my last day at work on a Friday, enjoyed a Bank Holiday weekend, then gave birth on the Tuesday morning - meaning that I didn't waste any time sitting around being pregnant, not like I did with Harry for 6 weeks!

My work offers a fairly generous Maternity Leave package, and the flexible working options mean that I can fit in part-time work around the little ones without too much trouble. I've also been lucky enough to be able to take a full year off. Unfortunately it can't last forever, and even though I've still got a couple of months left, I can sense the return to work looming. Five ways that I can tell:

1 - I just went to the dentist. Need to make the most of that maternity exemption certificate.

2 - I'm desperately trying to fit in at least one of my Keeping in Touch days. The trouble is that it's not really possible for the first few months, and then you get so used to being away that you forget all about it until you suddenly realise that there's no way you are going to fit them all in before you're due back. I've got one booked in for the middle of April and suspect that might be all I manage.

3 - I'm beginning to worry that I no longer fit into my work clothes. Now that I'm in the final stretch of my leave I'm also not being paid anything, which makes buying a whole new work wardrobe feel rather extravagent.

4 - I'm starting to think of all the things that I should have been doing and all the places that I should have been visiting while I had the opportunity.

5 - Lastly, my baby is getting so grown up! She's is crawling about, pulling up on everything, and I suspect that it won't be a baby that I leave at nursery, it will be a toddler!

32 comments:

  1. Make the most of that last few weeks!

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    1. I'm trying to! Now that the baby is a big bigger it's getting easier to get out and about.

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  2. LOL! The dentist comment made me chuckle. I think I went literally a few days before it all expired. I'm pretty sure you fit into your work clothes by the time you have gone back, so don't worry about it at all. If you are, spend the entire month while you are back at work dreaming about what to spend your first pay check on!

    Enjoy your last few months off and make the most of it. Ax

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    1. Glad I'm not the only one trying to fit that dentist visit in, it needs to be done!

      I've got a special larger sized pair of trousers for work, so I might be in those for a few weeks (or months).

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  3. I too went to the dentist before my card expired, to find out I need root canal surgery right as my card ran out. Gits. I really should've got myself a lot more organised. Oh well. All the best when you make it back to work.

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    1. How mean, they should have let you finish your treatment under the card! Luckily I don't need anything done this time, although in a way it would have been good to get it out the way while it's free!

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  4. Its awful that feeling when maternity leave is ending. I got so used to the being off and having time at home. Hope you enjoy your last few weeks!

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    1. Thank you! I think that it's worse because it's likely this is my last one, once I go back to work that's it, with no nice year long break to look forward to in the future!

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  5. I hope you enjoy the last few weeks of leave and forget about work as much as possible. I was dreading going back and then my husband was transferred and I am still a SAHM with my daughter having just turned two. The idea of working is increasingly appealling though!

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    1. Thank you! I was ready to go back after my first but it's not so easy to think about this time. I've really appreciated having all the extra time with my oldest too.

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  6. Oh it's a tough time the last little bit of maternity leave! Try to enjoy and hope you fit in to those clothes (or not and buy a new wardrobe?).

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    1. Thank you! I'm too scared to try the trousers on yet, I'll find out on my keeping in touch day whether or not I can manage it!

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  7. awww I read that and it's as if I was reading my own words back last year! Enjoy every minute left but it's not too bad I promise xxx

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    1. Thank you, I know, at least I'm lucky enough to be going back part time so I'll still have a couple of days at home in the week!

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  8. Oh, this is brilliant and exactly what I should've written! 'Call Dentist' has been written on the notice board in our kitchen for 10 months...I also emailed work this morning to book in some 'Keeping in touch' days...after all, you get these paid too, every little bit helps!
    I would have had to include: Find a Nanny...this is causing me no end of worrying, finding someone I like enough to leave my babies with! boo hoo
    Good luck on your return!

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    1. Good luck with organising keeping in touch days, hope that you can fit in lots! The childcare is a worry, luckily we are just slotting the baby into the arrangements that we set up for the older one but I remember how stressful and unsettling it was with him.

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  9. Loved your list! I remember going back to work full time way too early! (little man was only 5 months old) and have always wished that I had taken a little more maternity leave!
    Enjoy every last minute of it!
    xxx

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    1. I know that I'm very lucky to be able to take the full year, it seems such a long time when you leave work but looking after a baby takes up so much time that it goes so quickly!

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  10. I remember that shock of having to return to work. Good luck!

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  11. I made the most of my certificate!! Got to get your money's worth as it were! Enjoy the rest of your maternity leave.

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    1. It is a lovely benefit to have isn't it! Although luckily I've only had to use it for the dentist.

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  12. I didn't go to the dentist until I was pregnant LOL Might as well make the most of it! Enjoy your last few weeks off. It really does fly by!

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    1. I don't go as often as I should, and it's a good incentive to get people to go!

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  13. Make the most of your last few weeks and good luck going back to work! It really does go so fast, I have been back for 18 months now and my baby is currently next to me picking his nose refusing to take his finger out. The joy of a toddler :-)

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    1. Thank you, I know that it won't be long until she's toddling about!

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  14. Good luck going back to work and enjoy your last few weeks at home, even if it does involve a trip to the dentist!

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    1. Thank you! Luckily I have good teeth so no problems there this time!

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  15. Enjoy your last few weeks, they certainly fly by!!!! I remember thinking my maternity was a long time (I took only the paid 9mths) but before I knew it it was over and I was back at work (although only one day a week now)

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    1. Thanks! It seems such a long time when you leave work, and then just when the baby gets more interesting and you start to enjoy it, it's back to work!

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  16. My dentist was impressed I managed to get an infected wisdom tooth just before my maternity exemption certificate ran out ;-)

    Get some new work clothes that fit you and make you feel confident. It's not extravagant, it's essential!

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    1. That's very impressive! I'm not brave enough to try the clothes on yet, but I do think that some new (baggier) tops might be a good idea. You're right, I'll feel more confident with some new clothes.

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