My first day home for maternity leave!

[Maine-ah]

Actually, I guess you couldn't call it maternity leave, because 1. they're not paying me 2. they're not holding my job for me and 3. no freakin' way am I going back to that hole of a job!!!

We're going to try to keep me at home for as long as we can financially stand it. I'm due in a week, with a lot of stuff to do around here, and get caught up on some sleep!!!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[miss_american_pie]

1. Sleep!

Forget the "stuff to do around here" and SLEEP.

Good luck. :hi:

[Maine-ah]

2. thanks MAP!

though, if I don't get this kid's room put together, and her clothes washed, I'm in a little trouble!
That's the extent of getting some stuff done. Hubbie got all the big heavy stuff done yesterday.

:hi:

[Bassic]

3. They're not holding your job?

They can do that?

[Maine-ah]

4. yep. under 50 employees it's legal

only five of us work there. Me, my hubbie, the two owners (also husb & wife) and a driver.

You know that all of the family leave act is basically null & void if there are under 50 employees. What great protection that has been. Pft. Small businesses get tons of breaks on this shit, while all of us who work for them just get kicked in the ass.

(a) An employer covered by FMLA is any person engaged in commerce or
in any industry or activity affecting commerce, who employs 50 or more
employees for each working day during each of 20 or more calendar
workweeks in the current or preceding calendar year. Employers covered
by FMLA also include any person acting, directly or indirectly, in the
interest of a covered employer to any of the employees of the employer,
any successor in interest of a covered employer, and any public agency.
Public agencies are covered employers without regard to the number of
employees employed. Public as well as private elementary and secondary
schools are also covered employers
http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/index.htm

Maine laws are the same.


oh, and on edit:

I'm not planning on trying to go back either. I haven't had a raise in two years and I don't have any insurance either. I was told this year, when I asked about raises, was that nobody is getting a raise until this business starts making money. BTW, they have been in business for 25 years. Just did a 350k remodel on their home, which is right on the water and has it's own beach, just bought a 40k truck, have a big fat boat, and a Yukon XL. So, they IMHO can go bugger themselves. Hubbie is looking for a new job too.

http://www.dol.gov/esa/programs/whd/state/fmla/me.htm

[Bassic]

5. Incredible.

I had no idea they could do that in the U.S. I knew the maternity leave laws weren't all that great, but I had no idea they could just refuse to hold your job for you.

I hope you find something way better than that.

[Maine-ah]

6. if anything, I'm just going to waitress a couple of nights a

week after I have the baby. No sense in having half of my paycheck go to daycare. Plus, I really don't want someone else raising my kid. So, if we have to be poor, so be it. We're Maine-ahs, and we usually manage somehow.

[Bassic]

7. My wife still has another 6 months before shw goes back to work

And she has already been on leave for 6. I'm always surprised at how little leave you get in the US.

[Maine-ah]

8. that's because down here, it's "pro-life"

until you're born of course.

[mainegreen]

9. Congrats!

Lets hope TABOR fails so our kids have a school to go to!

Enjoy the little one!

[Maine-ah]

10. thanks Mainegreen!

I already voted, since I'm due on the 8th. Didn't want to take any chances, I did vote against Tabor. I'll keep my fingers crossed on that one, I really would rather not homeschool my kid....:hi:

[MrCoffee]

11. Stay home! You can do it!

MrsCoffee hasn't been back to work in the 2 1/2 years that LittleCoffee has been around, and it's been absolutely fantastic. We did the day care math when Little was born, and figured that (with disposable diapers added in), if MrsCoffee went back to work, she would bring home about $150 a month after day care. It was totally not worth it to us to let someone else raise our kid for $150 a month.

Best of luck with the delivery, and congratulations!!

[Maine-ah]

12. that's what we figured too.

I think that if eventually, I can get out and waitress on a friday & saturday night, I'll make just as much as I was when I was working full time. My SIL brings home about 400 bucks on those two nights where she works. It's been 6 years, but I'm sure it'll come right back to me no problem. And my hubbie will be at home those two nights.

[reyd reid reed]

13. Are you bored yet?

Or is it still fun and new? I always found myself working harder once I started my leave so that I'd be ready -- then the babies didn't follow my schedule.

By the time they were ready, I was on my hands and knees with a toothbrush, crawling around and scrubbing baseboards. Never failed.

Enjoy and try to get some rest if you can. Enjoy the boredom now. It doesn't last. :eyes:

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[Maine-ah]

14. nah, not bored yet.....

I've been painting a dresser today, and doing some dishes. I have always wanted to try to be a stay at home mom. Something different, ya know. I'm looking forward to it. :)

[reyd reid reed]

15. Enjoy

I did it for ten years and, even though three word sentences ("Go potty now?" "Eat it all" "Want juice?" "Oh, no...icky-poo") and sing-a-long videos and tapes ("Ne-ver smile at a croc-o-dile, never tip your hat and stop to talk a-while, don't be ta-ken in, by his wel-come grin, he's im-a-gi-ning how well you'd fit with-in his skin") drove me crazy sometimes, I wouldn't change anything.


Good luck and have fun!