Page 5 | to think I can get by without childcare in August because work is quiet?

isitPeri1 · 2025-07-24T14:44:35+00:00

Every August, work slows down massively. It has always been this way. There is barely anything coming in, hardly any meetings or deadlines, and most of my team is off. My manager and her manager are both away for the whole of August, so it is very unlikely anything urgent will come up. I have primary school-aged kids and I am thinking I might skip childcare this year. I usually only have about one to two hours of work a day in August, and some days there is literally nothing to do at all. Anything that does come up, I can usually fit around the kids early in the morning or after they have gone to bed. I have proper annual leave booked for September when they are back at school, so I will get a proper break then. Has anyone else done this? Just managed without childcare when work was super quiet?

Original poster

isitPeri1 · 26/07/2025 09:57

Katherine9 · 26/07/2025 08:58

You should have explained from the start that it was such a low-level position. People who were concerned that it would be impossible to manage childcare and work simultaneously most likely assumed it involved more than very basic admin.

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It is not a low level position 😂

The people who are in lower positions or do very basic admin do not have this level of flexibility.

You are definitely catty like the other posters said 😹

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Original poster

isitPeri1 · 26/07/2025 09:55

HeyThereDelila · 26/07/2025 08:52

YABVU. It’s unprofessional and unfair on your colleagues. And what will your DC do all day? How boring for them to be stuck at home while you have to be near your laptop.

Why is it unprofessional? Try reading the thread. My manager said it is fine. The DC will not be bored because I will take them out everyday as there is so little work.

YABU for not reading the thread and making an irrelevant response.

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tumblingdowntherabbithole · 26/07/2025 09:50

Blondeshavemorefun · 26/07/2025 09:46

I get August due to people going away

but jan as well ?

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Why not? Lots of industries have a lull after Christmas.

Blondeshavemorefun · 26/07/2025 09:46

ThisOpalNewt · 26/07/2025 09:39

Lots of jobs are, simply because of the number of colleagues taking leave.

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I get August due to people going away

but jan as well ?

Bellyblueboy · 26/07/2025 09:43

Blondeshavemorefun · 26/07/2025 09:29

I get you have asked your boss and they have agreed

what is this fab job that is so quiet in jan and August ?

I too am intrigued😊.

in my work, it is quieter in summer simply because it’s more difficult to schedule meetings with other peoples leave, and deadlines don’t tend to be in summer, but this time is used to catch up on training, staff development, work that requires more thinking time, prep work to get ahead etc. I also use the time to ensure I am up to date on industry developments. One to one meetings are also easier to schedule and people have more time to catch up over a coffee etc. summer is when I do a lot of my peer check ins.

So the ‘quiet’ times are actually productive - just not frantic. Granted I am not having to work crazy hours, so the working day looks more like a 8:30 to 5:30, which is lovely.

ThisOpalNewt · 26/07/2025 09:39

Blondeshavemorefun · 26/07/2025 09:29

I get you have asked your boss and they have agreed

what is this fab job that is so quiet in jan and August ?

Lots of jobs are, simply because of the number of colleagues taking leave.

Blondeshavemorefun · 26/07/2025 09:29

I get you have asked your boss and they have agreed

what is this fab job that is so quiet in jan and August ?

LameBorzoi · 26/07/2025 09:29

Bellyblueboy · 26/07/2025 09:05

It is a risk - only you know how much of a risk.

Are you likely to have to attend an in person meeting at short notice? A conference call?

I have heard of people being g disciplined for not being contactable and present during their core hours. Contactable doesn’t mean checking emails occasionally, it means being available to jump into meetings, take long calls etc.

but no one here knows what your employer’s tolerances are and how they would react if they found out you were on a day trip to the zoo when you should have been working.

I assume you are in the private sector?

Yes, I would have contingency plans for emergency requests.

Personally, I would also consider some vacation care, to give you a chance to really focus; but only you know if that would be useful to you.

Blondeshavemorefun · 26/07/2025 09:22

BitOutOfPractice · 24/07/2025 17:59

What I think is odd is that you’re booking leave for when the kids are at school so you can have “a break”. And yet you’re taking the whole of August off to the the kids out and about. You’re taking the piss op.

This

PropertyD · 26/07/2025 09:18

OP - why don’t you say what industry?

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 26/07/2025 09:17

taxguru · 26/07/2025 09:15

It's clear the OP is only interested in hearing from people who agree with her, so not really sure why she bothered posting?? Sounds more of a stealth boast than actually asking for advice/opinions.

Or maybe she didn't realise how narrow-minded MN can be when it comes to work.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 26/07/2025 09:16

Katherine9 · 26/07/2025 09:10

But accurate. The OP requested perspectives having provided minimal information and then became highly defensive when people explained their legitimate concerns based on their own experiences.

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In what way is it accurate?

Lots of jobs have periods of downtime where very little happens, it doesn't mean they're "such low level positions" - in fact, it's often quite the opposite.

Your comment was totally unnecessary and based on your own assumptions, nothing more.

taxguru · 26/07/2025 09:15

It's clear the OP is only interested in hearing from people who agree with her, so not really sure why she bothered posting?? Sounds more of a stealth boast than actually asking for advice/opinions.

cheesycheesy · 26/07/2025 09:14

Katherine9 · 26/07/2025 09:10

But accurate. The OP requested perspectives having provided minimal information and then became highly defensive when people explained their legitimate concerns based on their own experiences.

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Where did the op mention seniority? She just said she’s not performing surgery and that everyone else is away. You have no idea what her job is. You just sound bitter she has the flexibility and dares to take leave without her children.

Katherine9 · 26/07/2025 09:13

cheesycheesy · 26/07/2025 09:09

Don’t be so catty. You sound bitter.

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But am I incorrect? Read the OP’s own description of what her work entails. If you feel my reply is catty, it is you that is making value judgements.

Katherine9 · 26/07/2025 09:10

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 26/07/2025 09:03

What an unpleasant comment.

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But accurate. The OP requested perspectives having provided minimal information and then became highly defensive when people explained their legitimate concerns based on their own experiences.

cheesycheesy · 26/07/2025 09:09

Katherine9 · 26/07/2025 08:58

You should have explained from the start that it was such a low-level position. People who were concerned that it would be impossible to manage childcare and work simultaneously most likely assumed it involved more than very basic admin.

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Don’t be so catty. You sound bitter.

Bellyblueboy · 26/07/2025 09:05

It is a risk - only you know how much of a risk.

Are you likely to have to attend an in person meeting at short notice? A conference call?

I have heard of people being g disciplined for not being contactable and present during their core hours. Contactable doesn’t mean checking emails occasionally, it means being available to jump into meetings, take long calls etc.

but no one here knows what your employer’s tolerances are and how they would react if they found out you were on a day trip to the zoo when you should have been working.

I assume you are in the private sector?

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 26/07/2025 09:03

Katherine9 · 26/07/2025 08:58

You should have explained from the start that it was such a low-level position. People who were concerned that it would be impossible to manage childcare and work simultaneously most likely assumed it involved more than very basic admin.

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What an unpleasant comment.

Katherine9 · 26/07/2025 08:58

isitPeri1 · 26/07/2025 08:33

I’m not at your workplace. I’m at mine, and my manager has said it’s fine. I’ve been honest about my setup, and nothing is being hidden or done behind anyone’s back. I’m working less because hardly anything coming in, and when there is work, I do it.

I don’t need to feel guilty when I can manage a couple of hours of light work around my kids during a quiet period.

As for health and safety. Let's be serious. I’m not doing surgery while juggling school runs. I’m answering the odd email and tying up a few loose ends. No one’s in danger, and nothing is being compromised.

If my colleagues are taking leave or using childcare, that’s their choice based on their role, workload and personal setup. Mine is different. I’m not offloading work onto anyone else and nothing is being dropped. I am doing my job.

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You should have explained from the start that it was such a low-level position. People who were concerned that it would be impossible to manage childcare and work simultaneously most likely assumed it involved more than very basic admin.

HeyThereDelila · 26/07/2025 08:52

YABVU. It’s unprofessional and unfair on your colleagues. And what will your DC do all day? How boring for them to be stuck at home while you have to be near your laptop.

Passportparanoia · 26/07/2025 08:50

Of course people are jealous. I am and I am not afraid to admit it. I have an incredibly flexible employer but I don’t think they would allow me to do this for a full month. I would also be jealous/disappointed if I booked leave to have days out with my kids and then found out I could have saved my leave for another time because a colleague was told it’s ok to just use flexible working for this instead as it’s quiet. But op says it suits her industry and that her company/manager is ok with it so there is nothing left to argue. That is the only thing that matters. So all that can be left is jealousy.

Original poster

isitPeri1 · 26/07/2025 08:45

LavenderBlue19 · 26/07/2025 08:43

Do you not take any days off for yourself? Just to exist without being at work or parenting? Obviously I love being with my child, but I need time to myself occasionally too. Not much because childcare is bloody expensive, but I've managed a couple of days a year since my child started school.

Edited

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The minute a mother does something for herself, people act outraged — like you’re not allowed to be anything other than full-time mum 24/7.

Let’s be honest, if a dad took a solo trip or booked leave when the kids were back at school, hardly anyone would blink. But when a mum does it, suddenly it’s selfish or shameful.

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LavenderBlue19 · 26/07/2025 08:43

Letskeepcalm · 25/07/2025 19:14

Obviously.
But personally, I would book my holidays to share with my children, that's why I had them.

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Do you not take any days off for yourself? Just to exist without being at work or parenting? Obviously I love being with my child, but I need time to myself occasionally too. Not much because childcare is bloody expensive, but I've managed a couple of days a year since my child started school.

Original poster

isitPeri1 · 26/07/2025 08:38

LameBorzoi · 26/07/2025 00:23

Yeah, jealousy.

And people who don't understand genuine productivity. Mumsnet has this protestant make-work ideology sometimes.

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Exactly. So much of the outrage is rooted in this weird obsession with looking busy rather than actually being productive. If you’re not chained to a desk pretending to be overwhelmed, people think you’re not working hard enough.
The truth is, not every day needs to be full throttle.

People really don’t get how quiet my work is in August. It’s not just a slight dip. it’s genuinely a big slowdown across the board. Senior staff are on leave, meetings stop, projects are paused, and there’s very little coming in that actually needs doing. It’s the same every year, and everyone in the team knows it.

It’s not me slacking off or doing less than I should. It’s that there simply isn’t much to do. When something does come in, I deal with it. But I’m not going to pretend to be flat-out busy just to keep up appearances. That’s pointless and exhausting.

The people making noise about it clearly don’t work in a role or industry where seasonal downtime is normal. Rather than trying to understand it, they jump straight to judgment.

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