I DID IT

The Letter

Oh my I finally sent my resignation letter to the company I have been with for five years it was posted on Saturday to get to them on Monday morning. 
I have been dreading in case I got a telephone call for the past two days but I checked my junk mail late last night and the boss confirmed he received my letter Monday. Not what I was expecting especially in my junk folder and to me this shows that this is probably what they hoped for anyway. It's so nice to feel wanted :(

As I've mentioned in previous posts I didn't feel welcomed when I went back last year after my first child so I wasn't going to put myself through that again as you know when you have out grown a company. 

Its a relief in so many ways that I never have to step foot in that office and see those people who snubbed me and made me feel horrible about myself ever again (hopefully).

So here's to being a stay at home mum for a bit :)

Taking Time Off Work

Well I've had 9 months off work on maternity that has now come to an end and I've hardly heard from my work place is that normal? 

Last conversation via phone was in February with my manager and then nothing for months I found out from my maternity cover a new manager was replacing the other which I knew was coming but didn't know when so I contacted them and finally I had an email back in June from the new manager and I said I'd like to be kept informed of changes as an office move was on the cards which was suppose to happen in August so I waited for confirmation but its  now October and no word. I know they have changed offices which is a lot further away from me as I checked on the website. Surely I should have had a letter or something to say they have moved and confirm the address as I am expected back in December and that move will take me at least an hour or more each way plus I have two children to think about. I'm shocked that I haven't been contacted in all this time. 

During my first maternity break I thought I hadn't really been informed much of changes in the company but I had a couple of KIT days so I could be shown new products and systems. During my time back at work last time it was very unwelcoming and people had changed due to promotions and made me feel like rubbish but what the hell are they doing to me now. I've been a reliable and loyal employee for 5 years and I get treated like I don't matter, what the hell has happened to the work force.

I defiantly think if you have time off to have a baby you are punished for it. Before I was pregnant the first time I was given opportunities but couldn't take up the offer as exams where around the time I was going to give birth and then I was lucky enough to take a year off to spend with my baby but going back to the same job well it wasn't the same so if you are career minded a year is too long as you are treated differently and for me the opportunities were lost. It was hell going back to the same place after a year out so what will it be like going back in December to the same company after a second year off. I know they have made more changes by making someone redundant after years of service and losing some departments completely, the whole company is different including attitudes. It still shocks me though as not even a word from the boss in all this time it makes me feel they don't want me back which is how I felt the whole time I did go back the last time. 

What will happen as its just 2 months until I should be going back and it feels me with dread.

What A World

I think I'm naive when it comes to the working world now I feel I've had a year out and everything has changed it's a lot harsher, employers don't really care anymore, a lot more is expected of you. I think the attitude now is that your lucky to have a job so deal with it.

But then again people looking for jobs are just as bad, my work are employing for my maternity cover and 2 out of 3 of the interviewees didn't turn up the other day even after asking for a more convenient time for themselves to attend.
What is going on people they just don't seem to care about others anymore its awful. And I'm bringing a second child into the world it worries me as if it's like this now what will it be like when my children are adults. It's a scary thought.

In my grandparents or even parents era jobs were for life if you wanted and the world seemed a safer, nicer place but now I'm shocked by employers, employees and just everyday..........what is going on.

No reason

I've no topic to write about but I'm feeling very fed up with life at the moment so I need to get a few things off my chest.
With only one of us working (me) people kept saying go to citizens advice as you maybe able to do this, that etc so the hubby went yesterday and nothing they can recommend or advice they can give to help us out......really.
I'm shocked at all those people out there that don't even try to work get so much more it doesn't make sense and really not fair as they seem to have bigger houses to shelter their tens of kids and still get holidays, big tvs, cars and even pets (they aren't cheap).

Another thing getting me at the moment is being back at work after a year out - it does not work. It may for some if they have a good career but I guess they wouldn't take that long off if they did.
I've not felt welcome and more like why are you back. In a year a company can change quite dramatically so to be expected to just fit in isn't easy and people my god they can change if given a little more power.

What else can I moan about.......badly built houses, feeling fat and frumpy, mortgage companies that don't help when you ask for it uh I need some happy thoughts can anyone help me with that?

My Update On Life

Oh boy what a week it's been, I feel very busy at the moment especially at work.  I've been back for nearly 6 weeks already it's so very tiring and I'm starting to feel that burden of having to get up and get ready when my alarm goes off so I'm just waiting for the Sunday night blues to kick in as well but I guess that always comes with work.

I've had to start blogging during my lunch hour now as by the time I get home I have little guy handed to me then the evening just seems to disappear so the last thing I want to do is look at a computer screen after spending all day in front of one.
I am loving the 31 day blog challenge set by Boy Oh Boy it's really getting me thinking lately even if its silly things like what's in your handbag :) as it takes away life worries. I love meeting fellow bloggers as you don't realise how big the community is and most have so much in common it's unreal.

Anyway just a quick post as my lunch hour is now coming to an end but hey how it's FRIDAY :)

I Need More Time

I've been back at work for a month already although this is my first full week. I've had ups and downs but generally it's okay I feel I escape for the day and feel I have a little bit of me back again also I think a bit of intelligence has come back (only a little though). Even so I'm still not 100% on this role reversal with my husband, I don't like leaving him and Ollie in the morning knowing they are spending time together without me and have the freedom to do as they please. I miss cuddles and being lazy in the mornings, the little things little man does to make me smile throughout the day, meeting up with the other mums for a natter and generally just Ollie and mummy time.  

It all feels rather strange at the moment, I don't feel as needed as I used to. Daddy has his moments when he's had enough (I get text updates while i'm away) but he said he quites likes being at home (oh no what about me). Maybe I'm being old fashioned but I think mum is best at home while daddy makes the money or at least mummy works part time.
I didn't want a child for so long just to go back to my old way of living, I don't want to miss my little guy growing / developing as I will regret it one day I know as people always say make the most of it as it goes so quickly - it is very true.

It is tough balancing everything as for the past few weeks it has been work, get home be mummy and go to bed. I miss being able to blog as much as I used to, taking silly photos of Ollie and my crazy ideas making crafts. I just don't fit it in at the moment even my husband feels neglected but I'm no super woman.

One Friday Left

Sleeping...yay!

Oh my I only have one Friday left being at home with my little terror. Only a couple of months ago I had tears at the thought of it, I couldn't bare it but the last few weeks have been very testing and it's made me wonder if going back to work will be a god send after all.

It will be nice to get dressed up and not get messed up by grubby hands for once and have a little freedom to be me again. I also need a break from saying no Ollie, don't do that, leave it alone...no...no...no Ollie.

Kidsworld

In an ideal world I would prefer part time so I have the best of both worlds as I do like to be able to go out when I like and take the little man to see and do things especially now he's heading for one he is interested in the world around him.

Yesterday we went to kidsworld which he loved. It was quite an eye opener for me as most of the kids there seemed to be with childminders but they were chatting and drinking coffee while the kids got on with it. No wonder they pestered me which was alittle annoying when I wanted to be with my child with "whats your name", "can you push me", "can you...." , uh leave me alone. It just made me think do we really pay silly amounts on childcare for the carers to just sit there nattering. I really do think Mummy and daddy really are best, so whatever the future holds for us I would like to avoid childcare as much as possible and work it between myself and my husband. 


As I start back at work my hubby leaves his work (redundancy) so he will be looking after Ollie the explorer until he finds himself another job which I reckon by the first or second day at home he will be longing to escape because I have a feeling he may just pull the rest of his hair out.

Why does childcare cost so much?

Great debate on "Why does childcare cost so much?" on the Wright Stuff this morning. This really hits home as we are just about to visit the world of childcare and are wondering how they hell will we pay for it.
If our little man goes to a full time childminder which will be 50 hours a week it will cost us £700 a month which is nearly the same as our monthly mortgage payment.
I am due back to work full time in April but my husband is being made redundant at the end of March, he is looking for jobs and going for interviews but we are wondering if we will be better off him staying at home for a little while with our son. We are also concerned that if we both work full time neither of us will see our son much if I get home by 6pm and a current job my husbsnd is waiting for a reply would mean he would get home 7.30-8pm. Why oh why would we want to spend all that time away from him.

It's just awful, we waited until our thirties to have children but we are definatly not better off and not sure we ever would have been in a better financial state especially after taking on a house with high monthly payments and we don't even like the house anymore. Ideally I would like to continue to be at home but it doesn't seem possible now with my husbands redundancy. My employer refused any sort of flexi-time before we knew anything about the redundancy which is another debate which has been touched on in the Mother's Work Meme!.

Why does life have to be so difficult and expensive? If anyone has the answer please let me know.

I Like:

• Interesting read from Bounty

A Mother's Work MeMe!

After reading fellow bloggers, Bargain Mummy Buys and Mother.Wife.Me. About the working parent and how society doesn’t value or support mothers / fathers as well as it could and just expected to "get on with it". It struck a cord with me as i'm soon to return to work.


Step one is to start a meme. So here it is:

A Mother’s Work Meme.

Rules:

1. Please post the rules
2. Answer the questions in as much or as little detail as suits you
3. Leave a comment on mother.wife.me so we can keep track of the meme
4. Tag 3 people and link to them on your blog
5. Let them know you tagged them
6. Tweet loudly about taking part (well ok, that isn’t a rule, but how about if we start a hashtag – #amothersworkmeme

Questions:

1. Did you work before becoming a mum?
2. What is your current situation?
3. Freestyle – got your own point you’d like to get across on this issue? Here’s your chance…

And, most importantly…. you’re tagged!!
just another muther, Melksham mum, Grace and Me, Bizzy Mum



My attempt at completing the meme

1. Did you work before becoming a mum?
I have always worked, from a young teenager baby sitting to earn a little money to buy clothes to a fully fledged adult paying for a house and the bills to go with it.
I've not found my ideal career as yet but Internet Marketing seemed to be my thing for a while and before knowing i'd become a mum I was offered a great course to gain a reputable Marketing qualification but as things go after trying for some months I found I was pregnant and had to turn it down. So I have found myself to be a Customer Service Advisor.

2. What is your current situation?
Just 6 weeks left of my maternity to go and I have to go back to my position full time not by choice after asking for flexi-time or cutting my full time hours into 4 days so I don't have to send my little man to full time childcare but it was refused. I'm expected to go back to the way it was before I left for maternity (a year ago) even though everything has changed within the company as have I. So as you can imagine it's not something I am looking forward to especially as I don't feel I have any prospects there and that they aren't particularly child friendly.
To add to the frustration my husband has just been made redundant so even more pressure on me but if he doesn't find something else he may find he's the one looking after our little man, but we will struggle being on one wage.

3. Freestyle
I think employers should be more sympathetic towards mothers/fathers juggling reponsibilities especially as childcare is so expensive, it's hard enough for parents to leave their children but the hugh expense involved is crippling. Flexi-time, providing care onsite or some help towards childcare payments as an incentive to go back to work would be a godsend. It would to me anyway as we only just got by when we both worked full time and now we are expected to cope with the ever increasing costs of utility bills and childcare (which is almost half my take home wage). So how we can carry on as before I really don't know.