I took 6 months of leave after the birth of my first child. It was too long for me.

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• When I was pregnant, a childcare director recommended I take as much leave as possible.
• I had four months of paid leave and negotiated two more months of unpaid leave.
• My days were long and lonely, and I was stressed about our finances.

I was expecting my first child, just starting my second trimester, when I received the advice.

I was chatting on the phone with a local childcare director...