So I talked to my boss today about the impending baby and the leave I would be taking. Now, I work for a small children's museum in the K-Hole (you know, Katrina-land) and we have not been doing too well after the storm. We just reopened in June of this year because we were heavily damaged. I am being paid through a very generous grant, but my grant runs out in January. With the baby coming in November, my husband and I were discussing our options for when this little person is in our lives. I was leaning toward staying home or working part time because of several reasons: I don't have anyone to watch the baby while I work 40 hours a week, I don't want to be away from my first child for that long, and we wouldn't be able to afford the tremendous cost of childcare, nor do I want my child in some sort of daycare. Well, back to be begining, I talked to my boss today and essentially after the grant runs out they have no money to keep on some people, let alone bring me back, especially in the office. I could eventaully come back on a part time basis working in the schools or on a program that could come up, but nothing is set in stone, and by the time I would be ready to come back to work, the school programs would be over, or very close to ending. She said she will have me on a priority list to bring back as soon as the money comes in, and who knows, a miracle may happen and I could come back in the spring, but as for now the future is too uncertain and there are no guarantees. So the decision was made for me, I will be staying home with my son. I could come back and volunteer, and perhaps every once in a while i would be paid for something, but I will probably look for another job in due time.