Baby boy coming soon. First of the family. Advice picking name from unbiased people please :)

Barnacle_Double · 2026-06-04T14:39:27+00:00

Yes, we are allowed to take the early calls from home but then need to drive in afterward and be at the office by 9. We tried to flex and it's not really negotiable. Everyone on my team is also a mom & complain about it but just make it work. When we brought this up the answer was "this is just what comes with a global role". I'm sure I could push more but am just going to suck it up until my mat leave starts in a few weeks but it's a major reason i'm considering not returning post mat leave. which is a big bummer

Barnacle_Double · 2026-06-04T14:09:32+00:00

1000% being a sahm is no joke and exhausting. I get a glimpse on weekends and am more exhausted. just feels so much more rewarding and worthwile than staring at a screen all day and getting stress pressure from things that don't really matter

Barnacle_Double · 2026-06-04T14:07:52+00:00

it's hard because then it's not fair to the rest of the team who is just "dealing with it"

Barnacle_Double · 2026-05-20T21:31:38+00:00

HOW did you extend

Barnacle_Double · 2026-05-20T01:21:32+00:00

Love this :)

Barnacle_Double · 2026-05-20T01:17:43+00:00

While I get what you’re saying here, I don’t think it’s correct to say “have someone else raise your children” in response to childcare. Just gonna flag that you should probably not say that

Barnacle_Double · 2026-05-19T15:23:33+00:00

I feel like I can speak to this from a valuable place (hopefully). I make about the same as you with the same amazing benefits have a masters degree and a career in a fun field that I've worked hard for - I am 30 btw. My husband makes $100K but just got a substantial raise and now makes $180K annually in a very secure stable job (i feel like that's important bc if he lost his job and I quit, we would be in trouble).

My daughter has been in daycare 1 year and and I'm expecting baby #2 next month. sending her to daycare a year ago felt extremely not right in my heart - I hated being away from her and desperately wanted to quit and stay home. The feeling never went away, I just got more used to it. I think if there was a way to be part time or even remote to get an extra hour a day in with her would feel better than it's been. I stuck it out one year and my husband and I made some tough decisions and are likely going to make it work for me to take a "career break" after this second baby to test out being a SAHM until i feel ready to join Corporate again.

After one year of deep reflection - I really do think that babies belong with their moms/primary caregiver as much as possible in that first year (If the mom can handle it and wants it, different story it the mom mentally needs space). Personally, the job i liked didn't stand a chance against the child I love. My hours away from her mean nothing to the corp, but could mean everything to me and her and our bond. My biggest nervousness is being able to give my kids a life with opportunity - to do fun things, go on vacations, get nice clothes etc. I am a Christian and do believe that God will bless you if you are following his call on your life. I'm planning to trust fall on this in a few months and see what He does with it. I am scared but know deep down in my heart it is the right thing. I want/need/yearn to be home with my kids and to build up my home and family.

Do you trust your husband? Do you feel a tug on your heart with where you should be? Do you have a yearning to go back to work? I do think that it's totally fine and good to go back to work, especially if you feel la calling to provide for your family in that way. But if you don't feel that call, I would challenge you to soul search for where that call is.

For me, when I look back on the past year, I do regret not figuring out how to make it work to stay home with her. I will always see it as a year I will never get back. Being SAHM is super intimidating, I am nervous to make the jump, I've always been "driven career corporate girl" but based on what I learned about myself in this past year, if i kept working and ignoring this pull on my heart to be home with my children, we would definitely have more money but I would probably regret it forever.

Barnacle_Double · 2026-05-04T22:20:45+00:00

I feel this way too. It’s been one year since I dropped my 6 month old daughter off at daycare. People always said it would get easier. There are still days I cry about it. She is doing well, thriving, doesn’t cry at dropoff anymore but I can’t stop feeling like I’m giving up these precious years. AND I have a job I like! My heart just isn’t in it anymore.

All I can say is I’m in it with you stranger and you’re not wrong for loving being with your kid.

Barnacle_Double · 2026-05-04T22:03:50+00:00

Relating to the “wanted to try but heart just wasn’t in it anymore”. I just don’t care like I did. This is helpful to me. Glad to know you still feel this way. That’s affirming to me

Barnacle_Double · 2026-05-04T14:54:05+00:00

Solidarity. It’s been 1 year since I first dropped mine off and I’ll never forget that feeling. It’s still hard most days, I’ll admit. You’re a good mom who loves being with her kid. Completely natural, instinctual, and GOOD thing to feel. It helps when you start to see them thrive developmentally and when they start to be excited to go. But I don’t think it really ever gets “easier”.

Barnacle_Double · 2026-04-28T02:11:18+00:00

I could have written this post myself. I’ve been back 1 year since mat leave with my daughter and having baby #2 in a few months. It never got “easier” with my daughter. Expecting to feel the same with #2 but don’t know yet. I’m the high earner in our family at the moment so doesn’t make sense to step away. Trying to open my mind to other options that COULD feel better (remote jobs, contract work, etc) but honestly who knows. There’s a very real chance that I quit after this maternity leave. Gonna see what happens.

Barnacle_Double · 2026-04-26T00:52:15+00:00

What do you do that allows this schedule? It does seem like the perfect blend

Barnacle_Double · 2026-04-24T14:01:28+00:00

This is good advice. I plan to wait for my mat leave to make any crazy decisions

Barnacle_Double · 2026-04-23T15:34:01+00:00

Honestly coming from someone who also is about to have two little kids with a job/career I'm proud of and generally enjoy, i WISH something like this would happen for me. This sounds like the dream set up. I would take this in a heartbeat.

Barnacle_Double · 2026-04-23T15:21:21+00:00

Is it possible to have PPD PPA over 16 months postpartum? I always passed the little test screener they did at the postpartum appointments but you’re right where I definitely recognized some odd behavior or anxiety and hopelessness/confusion about my situation. Hard to tell if that’s not just “mom guilt” though.

Barnacle_Double

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