Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Big changes are underway for our family!  I've had this post sitting in drafts for weeks, waiting for everything to become official and public so that I could share the details.

Living and working in Canada allows me the opportunity to take a one year maternity/parental leave with benefits which, while not the same as full salary, make it possible to live fairly comfortably while staying home with the baby.  If we choose, my husband and I can split the leave.  I was able to stay home for 15 months with Lovey before going back to work.  I always wished that there was a way for Chris to enjoy part of the leave, but it just didn't make sense financially at the time.

This time is different.  Chris's employer is implementing a pay cut.  He works 5 days per week + overtime (for which he is not paid - long story).  I am fortunate to have a job in which I make a similar salary to Chris while working 60% of full time - 3 days per week during the school year only.  When we look at the numbers, with a pay cut, it just doesn't seem to make sense for him to work 5 + days, and miss so much family time, when I could work 3 days per week and bring in only a little bit less of income.  (Reading this makes me think about how private people tend to be about finances and incomes and such, and stigmas/judgments about who makes more or less than their partner - does that stuff still happen?!?!)

And thus we began considering the possibility of me returning to work early.  Here is my pros and cons list:

Cons of going back to work early:

- breastfeeding/attachment relationship may be affected (Bug will be 4 months old)

- pumping - UGH!

- lack of sleep + work = ???

- 1.5-2 hours of commute time 3 days/week will affect family time and routine on those days

- financial impact = we'll definitely be taking a hit requiring creative budgeting

Pros of going back to work early:

- more family time together - 4 days per week and the summer

- more balanced responsibilities

- Chris has the opportunity to stay home (and he is an amazing father and will benefit, as would the boys, from all the time he will have with them)

- short work period (about 40 days total in 3 months, and then the summer off)
- fairly flexible work schedule (I can pick which days I work, to some degree)

- less pension to pay back
- opportunity to travel together in the summer (Chris doesn't get summers off like me and has limited vacation time) = Road Trip!!!

How much is our time together as a family worth?  What it really comes down to is this:  we will never again have an opportunity to spend so much time together with our babies.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime stage in our lives.  Working 3 days per week so that we can have 4 days per week and a whole summer together is really a sweet deal.  I can pump, I've done it before (for a 15 month old so not as intensive, let's say, but it's doable).  I can cope with the lack of sleep and make up for it on my days off.  Chris is very supportive and I know he will help me as much as he can.  We live fairly frugally anyway, so the financial piece should be workable. 

We've both given our notice to our employers, so it's a done deal.  I'm back to work April 4th.  Now we just have to iron out the details, and I have time to work through the anxiety I feel about being away from my youngest baby for 3 days per week!!!  Truth be told, I'm pretty excited - about going back to work and a job that I truly enjoy and about all the possibilities for our family over the next 8 months!