How did you know you were in the right place (career-wise) to have kids?

[Anonymous]

We can all agree that there is no right time to have kids but how did you know it was the best time career-wise?

[Anonymous]

I didn't - I was 34 when I met my now husband, 35 when we conceived. I was at a job I loathed - but with decent maternity leave. I wish job had been different but my age was more of a concern.

Don't wait (unless your 22) -

[Anonymous]

- At least one year at the company so I qualified for FMLA.

- Flexibility in my schedule/not tons of travel (turned down a promotion that would have been more travel while TTC).

- Finances at home were comfortable enough to get by.

- DH felt secure at his job.

- For me, I'd actually been at my company 8 years so I felt I had a good reputation built up and 3 months away wouldn't hurt that. I see some women come in and get pregnant 6 or 8 months into their jobs, and while they are certainly entitled to their leave, I think it does end up hurting their career prospects at that company long term because it is a large amount of time (percentage wise as part of your whole time there) to take off when you are still pretty new. People seem to be more excited/supportive of those who have been there at least a few years before getting pregnant, and more "annoyed" by brand new employees getting pregnant because they don't have the long-standing relationships and background built up. They still get the same leave & treatment formally, but on an informal level, I think being somewhere a little longer before getting pregnant is preferable for your career. Not always possible though.

[Anonymous]

We got married my last semester in law school when I was 24. We wanted to wait at least one year of being married AND having a job. So, between bar exam, results, and getting sworn in I started my first job as a govt atty almost a year after being married. Then we waited a year at my job to get to know the position, and prove myself valuable. The , it took another year of actively trying to get pregnant. It has worked out perfectly because we just celebrated our 3 year anniversary, and I will have been at my job for 2.5 years when baby comes.

[Anonymous]

I went from a corporate setting to a non-profit association with a lot more leave and a lot less travel (and a little less money).

After knowing that I was happy at the non-profit (2 years in my case), I horded leave time, purchased a home with a 20 minute commute to my work and 15 minute commute to spouse's office and set up flex time arrangement during my annual review.

This has worked out extremely well for us. DC will soon start elementary school and I will hit the job market after youngest is in K. I'm dreading the longer commute but looking forward to learning more and maybe even earning more too.

The only thing I didn't realize is that my non-profit would not be eligible for FMLA. I believe an employer has to have more than 40 FTE to be covered. So I did not get a paid maternity leave. That said, I get so much vacation time that I used a combination of their short-term disability and paid personal time to do this.

[Anonymous]

I thought FMLA was unpaid for maternity leave. Can someone please enlightened me?

[Anonymous]

I could afford them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought FMLA was unpaid for maternity leave. Can someone please enlightened me?

FMLA protects your job. Paid leave is separate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought FMLA was unpaid for maternity leave. Can someone please enlightened me?

You are correct.

[Anonymous]

I had health insurance and had been at my compamy for a year.

[Anonymous]

I had worked at my organization for a couple of years, was happy enough not to want to switch jobs for awhile, and had proven myself so was easily able to negotiate a reduced schedule. That wasn't the driving reason we had kids when we did, but it certainly helped the decision.

[Anonymous]

This is the exact wrong time for me jo wise (more travel on projects and more responsibility etc). It was right 2 years ago when I started trying and now I'm finally preg (cross your finger for me pls).
I've been here 10 years and proves myself as a good and productive team member. Leaving for 3 months should be ok with enough notice.

[Anonymous]

Had established myself at work (switched jobs btwn kids but had been at 2nd a year when got pregnant with 2nd kid). Health insurance was stable.

[Anonymous]

My husband has a stable government job and he carries the health insurance.

I had been at my job one year when we started TTC so I knew I'd be covered for FMLA.

That was pretty much it.

[Anonymous]

I was 33 and had been at my company for four years. However, it wasn't necessarily the right time, I just didn't see a better time coming in the next five years or so. I went for it, and it has worked out extremely well. I had a great relationship with my boss, I had a good reputation, and DH's job was flexible.