9 months Maternity leave - is it enough?

Hi everyone!
I was just wondering what you think about the extended Maternity leave? Obviously, it is a good thing that we can spend more time with our precious little ones at home but I think it is certainly not enough. I know in Germany they offer one year's Maternity leave on 90% of the previous salary which is really good. I just find, with all the debates about how other European countries have improved their systems, that the UK is still far behind. What do you think?

Here in the states, it's only 6-8 weeks I think I think it would be nice if one of the parent's could be home for the first year but financially I know that's not easy either, not for everyone any way.

im only havin two weeks off cus of college then 4 months in college and then i dunno if i wanna go to uni in sept or take a year off xxx

Hi Sammy
no problem. You are free to ask of course
The playpen question was so that I can write an article about parent's and my own experience. I do have an online baby business and I have been writing articles about all sorts of parenting topics which I feel will help them (at least I hope so )
The Maternity leave question is something I'm interested in myself (as actually all of the topics I have covered on the website). My LO is now 9 months old and even though the expected due date was 10 days too early to be eligible for 9 months ML we are now considering our options (like every parent who has to go back to work). I keep thinking that our kids grow up with essentially no parents! (considering taking them to nursery at 8.30 and picking them up again at 5 or 6, quick dinner and then bed - where is there any time for being a family?)
Anyway, I hope this answered your questions, Sammie. But in my opinion your collegues should be happy that you can take off more time for your kids! After all, they need you and no one can bring you back the time you would otherwise miss being with them!!! I just think that only 15 or 20 years ago a simple milk man from London could financially support his wife and 2 kids and could afford a normal semi-detached. What happened since then?

hapydazy, I know the States aren't famous for being very social. I find 6-8 weeks a very very short time. How must you feel as a mum? Is it financially possible for your hubby or partner to take care of the family? In the UK it is extremely difficult I find if only one of you is working full-time to get by.

Catgirl: I bet you'll take a year off Especially if you have to go to College for some time. Good luck with it! How old is your little one?

Sorry, didn't see the bottom of your ms! Silly me again

Well, it was even harder for me because I was a single mom and had to go back to work to support my daughter. Believe me it was soooooo hard when I had to go back full time and put her in day care when she was 7 months old. I had assistance toward the day care expense from the state (lost it when I got a better paying job) but our welfare system does not allow much and is very hard to live on without doing things on the side, under the table so to speak to make extra money. I missed alot of work because Aaralyn was always sick (had an immune disorder) and I worked at a coffee shop. Had I worked somewhere else "more professional" I would have been fired for all the time I took out of work to be with her (Daddy was useless when it came to him taking time off, or going above and in any way from what he though was expected of him).

It's a big controversy to work or not to work, but I had to to survive and keep food in my baby's belly and a roof over her had, and believe me it was a struggle to do just that sometimes.

I know have a wonderful, very supportive guy who helps alot with Aaralyn. I actually got to go to work one day in december when she was home sick because I was new at my job and Mike opted to take time out to stay with her that was such an unusual concept for me to grasp

Ok, I've just waffled on, I hope all that was helpful? or gave you another perspective on things.

good luck with your decision to go back to work, it's not easy babe!

Honestly, even 9 months would be nice to be able to use lol! When I had Charlotte it was 6 months at £100 per week and then the option to take another 6 months unpaid. I was hoping to take the full 6 months paid but had to go back a month earlier than expected due to running out of money. I had to go back full-time (39 1/2hrs) I was gutted, Charlotte was about 4 months old. Fortunately my MIL looked after her, but if I would have had to put her in childcare it wouldn't have been worth me going back to work - and also would have meant us having to sell the house and trying to get a cheaper house in a not very nice area. When i had George the maternity went up to nine months paid at £108 a week but I actually only planned to have 16 weeks off, and went back part-time instead. I think on both occasions though I got my first 6 weeks of maternity at 90% of my normal pay.

Tammy I had no idea that the maternity was so bad in the States! I think it is quite horrendous tbh! I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you, you have done such a great job girl

this time im going to take the 9 mths then im not going back to my old job been there nearly 12yrs so im going to stay home and find something to fit round when little one old enough to go nursery,want to go college but just going to weigh my options up

Hey hapydazy - what a nightmare! I guess here it really shows how much stronger you grow with your experiences. You have done a fantastic job to get through this.....

Thank you Sarah and Supermum, it has been a struggle well worth it! And yes, even at 38 years old now I am still growing, learning and getting stronger through experiences.... I'm just glad that I'm on a very happy path right now and Aaralyn is in a household with nothing but love and positive people and a great "big sister" to look up to

well done hazy and ur daughters names beautiful and unusual

ss hapydazy

gypsey said:
ss hapydazy

That's ok gypsey LOL... hazy is a good description of me lately with this stupid congestion I have from being sick... been feelin pretty hazy

And thanks for the compliment on Aaralyn's name... she went without for the first almost 5 days of her life but it was worth the wait cuz it suits her perfectly... it means "with song"

i think its not enough lol ive just had 9 months mat leave - 5 weeks annual leave and 7 weeks sick leave lol! so im finding it really hard to go bk to work in 2 weeks time
its a good thing but i think from the point of view of returning to work its hard!
i have no choice as we cant afford for me not to work
im going to miss being around my baby luckily work agreed to me going part time! but still going to cripple me inside!
and SMP is going up to a year in the UK byt the year 2010/2012

supermum said:
Sorry, didn't see the bottom of your ms! Silly me again

haha prob yea but depends if i wanna look after two kids if i go to uni i get childcare haha nah i love being around kieran and im sure i will with kyle too
kieran gonna be two feb 12th hehe
xxx

sugar said:

and SMP is going up to a year in the UK byt the year 2010/2012

doesnt it start for babies who are going to born after april this year? I know someone who is trying but wanted to make sure her due date was going to be after April as matty leave and conditions were to be better then.

when i had ethan you could only take 6months paid (which was about £100) and then you could take an extended 6months unpaid (which i took) but then i still didnt think that was enough and so i completely packed in my job - im young and i know i can always go back to it whenever or do more courses and furthur my catering skills.but for now im just happy being a mum!

alex said:

sugar said:

and SMP is going up to a year in the UK byt the year 2010/2012

doesnt it start for babies who are going to born after april this year? I know someone who is trying but wanted to make sure her due date was going to be after April as matty leave and conditions were to be better then.

nope it only went up last year hun they are putting it up every few years - i was just in time with lottie for the 6 months one then just in time with thomas for the 9 mths one lol! i said im waitng til 2010 for my next one lol