A mum who is currently on maternity leave says she doesn't feel "guilty" one bit for continuing to send her toddler to a childminder, remarking that their family home would collapse into "chaos" if she didn't.
According to this busy mum-of-two, she and her other half didn't even consider taking their eldest child out of the childminding facility, explaining that she'd end up losing her spot if they did.
Most importantly, the little girl loves is said to love playing all day with her friends, and the parents know she's getting far more "attention and stimulation" there than she would at home with her newborn sibling.
Unfortunately, this mum has come up against some judgemental attitudes over her choice - including from her own mother - however, she reckons most people with a toddler would understand her predicament.
Taking to Reddit, she explained: "If she was home with me all day she would get way less attention and stimulation. Also, my husband works from home, so the house would be chaos and I'd be constantly trying to keep the toddler out of his office.
"What I don't say (for fear of judgment) is that I'm really enjoying this time spent with my baby, and my days are a million times easier without my toddler being home. I've gotten so many of our house projects and family 'to do's' completed in the past weeks. It's incredible."
A number of fellow Reddit users completely understood where she was coming from, and sympathised with just how tricky it can be to chase around an energetic toddler while bonding with a new baby.
One person commented: "I'm sorry you felt the need to defend this position. It's a no-brainer and frankly nobody's business. I kind of saw it as an equality thing too: baby no.1 had all my time and attention, so why not baby no. 2 at least while I can? It really helped us form our own bond too.
"And as an aside, I bet those that guilt you are jealous. It was 100 per cent a privilege for me to have paid maternity leave so that I could continue preschool for my eldest and she didn't watch TV all day with me."
Another reassured her: "Maternity leave is meant for bonding with the new baby and healing from giving birth. NOT for having time off of work and trying to do everything else. Rest, bond, take care of yourself, enjoy your time 'off', and let the haters be haters."
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