sj, I would look for light manufacturing of products that are in high demand this time of year or have high catalog sales. Around here a lot of people go to work for American Girl and Land's End during the holiday season. They don't need full-time, just part-time for a couple of months. You might even hear them advertising for seasonal help on the radio.

{{JZ}} I know it all sucks no matter how it shakes out--both the expense and the fact that you have to put Matilda in daycare at 4 months. When I had Owen, I didn't realize the lack of real, paid maternity leave at my company. They sort of lead me on that I'd get "short term disability" for up to 12 weeks--only they only certify you off for a vaginal delivery for six weeks. And you have to be off for a month before you can collect this short term disability. So, in fact, their maternity leave consists of 2 weeks at 60% pay. Which is shit. I actually cried in my doctor's office when I found that out. And the cost of daycare is what ultimately led me to stay home.

Lack of adequate PAID maternity (and paternity) leave in this country is criminal to me, as is affordable daycare. I know a woman that had to go back to work at six weeks and I felt so bad for her.

I hope you can work through the stress and enjoy the time you have at home with Matilda.

I could get 12 weeks unpaid (thank you, Bill Clinton, because you're the only one who cut me a break), and take whatever earned time (sick + vacation) I had in the bank, for those twelve weeks, but could not tap into any disability insurance, and there was no such thing as paid maternity leave. At a hospital.

I didn't have 12 weeks of time, but my doctor had made me cut down to 20 hours per week, the last couple of weeks I worked, so I kept getting my check at 20 hours, rather than 40, which stretched it out a little longer. It was no more money, but the opportunity to spend it was restricted by getting less at once. I was leaving though, so it didn't matter.

I was leaving though, so it didn't matter.

Which is also, me.

I'm killing time waiting for my in-laws to get here for a visit. They were doing some mysterious overnight trip somewhere near Toledo (which they seem to do a lot lately). I'm glad they can spare a few hours to come down to see the kids.

My house remains clean (thanks to keeping the babies in the basement playroom). I'm a mess and haven't showered, but my in-laws will see a clean house and clean and dressed children. Why is this important to me?

I'm pretty much convinced I suck at everything right now.

I'm pretty much sure that's not true.

I'm a dolt and forgot to send sympathies to JZ. Hoping the perfect solution finds its way to you soon.

A friend of mine here is Swedish. She was telling me that in Sweden, women get 80% of their pay while on maternity leave and many companies chip in another 10%. The amount of time varies, based on whether you take your pay for 5 or 7 days a week, but at 5 days a week it lasts almost 18 months.

I'm so sorry, JZ, you are having to deal with all this crap. I'm glad to hear the HR woman is at least trying to help.

I'm currently dealing with my own daycare woes. My new HR person is telling me that they will pay for Ellie to go to place A, but the people at A say they have no idea what I'm talking about. Place B says they will have a spot for her *any day* but they've been saying that for a month.

A friend of mine here is Swedish. She was telling me that in Sweden, women get 80% of their pay while on maternity leave and many companies chip in another 10%. The amount of time varies, based on whether you take your pay for 5 or 7 days a week, but at 5 days a week it lasts almost 18 months.

Ah, see, clearly the perfect solution is to move to Sweden!

they only certify you off for a vaginal delivery for six weeks. And you have to be off for a month before you can collect this short term disability. So, in fact, their maternity leave consists of 2 weeks at 60% pay.

OMG, Cash, that's awful. I'm practically crying for you right now.

Lack of adequate PAID maternity (and paternity) leave in this country is criminal to me, as is affordable daycare.

Yup, this. Even the break Bill Clinton managed to cut for working parents doesn't do much if you're living paycheck to paycheck or your benefits situation is convoluted enough that you don't have access to much paid leave and can't afford much unpaid leave.

One of the hugest, bitterest clashes I've seen, over and over, on non-Buffista message boards is headbutting between parents and nonparents over maternity/paternity leave, flextime, subsidized daycare, etc. in the US. The nonparents feel jerked over by having to cover for the parents and having "Why won't you think of the CHILDRUN??1!1?" crammed down their throats incessantly, and the parents feel like they're running ragged, juggling bills and not seeing their kids enough and incredibly jerked over by a society that keeps cramming "Why won't you think the CHILDRUN??1!1?" down everyone's throats and doing next to nothing in the way of policy or subsidies to make anything one bit easier for those who have the CHILDRUN.

Practicaly every single perk and privilege that nonparents feel bitter about has been hard-won and grudgingly given (and really should be given to anyone with any family responsibilities -- USians with adult dependents generally have a worse and grimmer fight than parents; it's fucking ridiculous. And don't even bother about USians without any dependents who would just like some flextime in order to have lives that don't entirely revolve around the convenience of their corporate overlords -- that's just craxy talk.).

Huh. I thought I'd put on my flowered skirt today, but apparently I accidentally grabbed the rantypants instead.

Huh. I thought I'd put on my flowered skirt today, but apparently I accidentally grabbed the rantypants instead.

Well, you are funny no matter what.

I have to say, my feelings on the topic have totally changed since Ellie was born and I'm not even working. I really regret some of the decisions I made back when I had parents of young kids working for me. I just didn't get it.

Just found out DH will be heading to Rhode Island for almost a week next month.