Looking for your experiences of part time working and managing with childcare.
I've been invited to apply for a new job in my org at the next grade up which is 0.6. I currently work 0.8 over 4 days, and there's flexibility over how I could spread my hours.
My question is - what's better - do 4 short days or 3 long days? At the moment I muddle through with juggling work and childcare pickups, the evenings feel like such a rush. DS is 17 months, he's at the childminder 8-5, and as soon as he's home it's dinner-bath-bed, repeat the next day. I know this is hypothetical as I haven't got the job yet, but would it be better to have that same rush three days a week and have an extra day at home with DS (with reduced childcare costs), or have more relaxed afternoon/evenings for 4 days? DS adores his childminder, and we're lucky to be able to afford to keep him in for 4 days if we chose to (with a small reduction in hours and therefore cost).
Both have their pros and cons - what's your experience?