I'm heavily pregnant and going back to work today after the Christmas break. I'll be there for just over a week then I get a year to raise my child. But I'm not going back after my maternity year.
I am a teaching assistant and where I live teaching assistants do not make enough money to live independently. The whole system relies on us having partners who earn a living wage so that we can afford not to earn a living wage. My point is I'm certainly not there for the money, I really care about the kids and I'm going to miss them.
Work has never really been good for me. Im autistic, the number 1 thing I wish people understood about autism is the exhaustion. Going through a work day I'm getting tired like everyone else is but in addition im also being worn down by sensory issues that most people aren't even aware of, I'm losing massive amounts of energy to unexpected change and just having to be around people. I've been saying for years now, I'm tired of being tied.
I'm extremely fortunate that my husband earns good money and I can quit work. Not only this but he works from home and is able to step away from his computer without getting into trouble so during school holidays we spend a lot of time together, it means he can be present for the baby and he's so excited to be a dad. I realise raising a baby isn't exactly relaxing but all the things that exhaust me are outside my house. And now I can leave the house on my terms. I can take the baby on morning walks, at a time that suits me. I can go to parent and toddler groups as long as I'm feeling up to it. No pressure. I get to look after the nice house we recently bought. I get to pursue my passion for cooking.
I realise my ideal life sounds like absolute hell to a lot of people, and that's fine! I've had people, mostly other women saying that a long time ago women fought to give me the right not to live like this. I strongly disagree. They fought to give me the choice, and for once I'm choosing my own happiness.