Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not feel obliged to work full time?

179 replies

Dariara · 13/05/2026 13:49

I went part-time when I had my first child, and my second is starting school in Sept.

DP and I pay 50% of the mortgage and household bills each (before I went part time, and throughout maternity leave, I paid more). I said I would go back to full-time work when DC were at school but now… I don’t want to? AIBU?

OP posts:
Mclaren10 · 13/05/2026 13:52

No, and those days "off" are often needed for kids appointments, illness, school closures etc
Fulltime is hard.

irisandbluebell · 13/05/2026 13:52

Part time is the only thing keeping my sanity intact!

Moveoverdarlin · 13/05/2026 13:51

I think it’s more beneficial to be part-time during the school years than the nursery years TBH. You need to work out going back full time versus having to pay for child minders / after school club etc.

I don’t think you need to justify not working full time. Stay part time if you can afford it.

coulditbeme2323 · 13/05/2026 13:50

Dariara · 13/05/2026 13:49

I went part-time when I had my first child, and my second is starting school in Sept.

DP and I pay 50% of the mortgage and household bills each (before I went part time, and throughout maternity leave, I paid more). I said I would go back to full-time work when DC were at school but now… I don’t want to? AIBU?

If you can afford it then no you are not being unreasonable.

Swipe left for the next trending thread