| I'm a working mum (part time) in Central. I sooo understand where your concerns are coming from. If you are interested in lunch or just a chat, my # is 9166 4994.
In short answer to your concerns:
1. Pump either in an empty office, or book a meeting room every lunchtime. The toilets are ickky - would you want to drink something that has been in there?
2. Maternity leave - I took one year, yes I'm weird in HK. Best thing I ever did and when I came back to work nothing had changed, felt like I hadn't been away at all.
3. Email - errr, never. I had an arrangement with my secretary that in the unlikely event anything urgent came up, she'd phone me. She never phoned. As I was having a year's maternity leave, I stopped work on all my projects beforehand.
4. Guilt - I have it all the time even though I only work 3 days.
5. Flexi time - go for it. I recommend part time work. 3 days is better than 4 in my opinion, as you seem to be expected to do 5 days work in 4 days, but on only 3 they seem to realise you are PART TIME. I am flexible (within reason) about which days I work.
6. Returning to career - it is really just a job for me now. It has been made clear to me that I will not be promoted whilst I work part time, which I am not happy about. There is no way I'm prepared to work full time. It is hard to see junior people promoted ahead of you.
7. Morning sickness - hmmm no advice here, sorry.
8. Hubby supportive of working - part time, yes, full time, no. We're both in agreement on this.
9. Helper a better mum? - probably, she has 3 kids and 2 grandchildren, so she sure has more experience.
10. Does the baby think the helper is a better mum - no way, she's a mummy's girl through and through. I think I have the balance right, as my daughter is really very attached to me, although she also loves the helper. If I'm around, she won't willingly go to anyone else.
11. Does hubby think the helper is a better mum - no way. We both discuss important issues like b/f, discipline, etc and agree the way forward. On these sort of issues, we don't really expect the helper to play a large part. For example, personally I don't think the helper can be expected to do much discipline, it's up to the parents.
Oooo, lots of good questions.
My only advice is keep your mind open. Whilst you might not feel like "sacrificing" your career for your baby now, you may feel differently when bubs arrives. Until I had my baby, I just didn't understand how I would feel. Friends tried to tell me but it is something you have to experience for yourself. A career just doesn't seem important anymore. My daughter is the centre of my life. I feel totally and wholly responsible for her (with hubby of course). She'll only be this little (and this cute) for such a short time, I just want to enjoy every precious minute with her. It is hard work (much harder than working) but soooo worth it.  |