Need opinions

DH only has a few vacation days this year since he has only been with the company for a year. Well, he would have to use his vacation days before he could use his family leave days. I know I will probably need a little help once the baby comes. My mom lives 10 minutes away and has already told me she could be here as much (or as little) as I needed/wanted to help. She would be able to take 1-3 of the children in order to help me out too. She is a substitute teacher so she has summer off (and could be off if the baby came early). My sister lives about an hour away (1/2 hour-ish on the train--which is how she would probably come) and could be here anytime I needed help. (My mom and sister are the people I am calling when I go in labor to watch our children.) There are a few things that I'm hoping DH would be able to take off work for after the baby comes--family reunion, one of my closest girlfriend's wedding, our anniversary. We can't afford for him to take off work without getting paid. So if he takes time off work once the baby is born then he uses all his vacation and can't take off for the other things. If he doesn't take time off work once the baby is born then he won't be here in the evening (he works 2nd shift) when I think I would need the most help.

I really don't want him to use all his vacation when I could have other help and I have other plans for his vacation time. But I also don't want him to have to be at work instead of being able to spend those first few days or so with his new baby.

When the other kids were born he was able to take (unpaid) time off work (other jobs). He would be able to take unpaid time off now too, but we can't afford for him to do that either.

I'm sorry this is another rambling post from me. I just need some opinions on how he should do this. Any insight would be great. Thanks.

 

Would your DH be able to maybe work some 1/2 days to help you out? That's great that your mom and sister are able to help out so much. My parents and IL's both live 1.5 hours away, so we don't have them to rely upon. I say take as much advantage of that as possible!

I hope you are able to work something out with DH and his work schedule. It stinks when you have other stuff planned that he will need to take time off for and still need to use that avaction time for your maternity leave.

HUGS to you! It will all work out!

 

That's a tough situation. My dh is getting a day or two off (this is the end of the season so getting a week off is not possible!) We have planned to get a mother's helper in a few hours to help with the babies when I first come home. I think its important to have help the first week or two and then you can manage from there. Its great your Mom and sister are so close, so I would use their help and let your dh keep his vacation days.

 

Does he have enough time to be at home with you for at least 2 days after the baby comes home? If so, maybe your mom/sister can take the other kids for those 2 days so that dh could just focus on you and the new baby.

 

QUOTE(twinzmom2b @ Mar 18 2008, 12:14 PM) [snapback]674702[/snapback]
Would your DH be able to maybe work some 1/2 days to help you out?


I think that's a great idea if it's do-able...either way, could your mom come over for dinner to bed at least a few days a week? I know that was the hardest time for me when Grace was born...cooking, getting them bathed and fed and into bed...then at least if baby needs to be fed or is fussy you have some extra hands!

My DH had plenty of time off, but he did wait until my parents had to go home, then I had a few more weeks of help. It's a tough one...good luck!

 

QUOTE
Would your DH be able to maybe work some 1/2 days to help you out?


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could your mom come over for dinner to bed at least a few days a week?


Those are both good idea!! My Dh works 3rd shift and bedtime is the worse when you have to do it yourself. Its wonderful you have family so close to you that is willing to help you out!! I hope you find a solution.