WWYD go full time or stay part time?

[tuckingfypo]

I'll try and keep this as short as possible, but I've a habit of writing essays when I could have summed it up in a sentence! I've name changed on the off chance that my situation is recognised and linked to my usual nn.

I work in a cafe, 18 hours per week over 3 days. Usually 12-6 but sometimes it differs. I really enjoy my job and have fun when I'm there. Compared to my last job it's amazing! I've worked there about 6 months.

Me and DP have DD who is 19mo. At the moment DP works 30 hours over 3 days, so we have a good work/life balance. DD is not in childcare, looked after by either me or DP or family on the days we're both working. Usually one day a week, sometimes our shifts mean we don't need anyone to watch her.

I've been asked to go full time at work on a 39 hour contract. Work are really eager to have me there and want to train me up. They have also offered me a slight pay rise (£7p/h compared to Min wage I'm on at the moment.)

I'm really torn about what decision to make, so I shall list out the pros and cons I can find, in the hope that someone can tell me what they would do in my situation!

Pros:
-More money. Possibility to start saving.
-Progressing in my job. I feel like I still don't know what I want to do with my life, after Uni I stayed in my part time retail job until I fell pregnant and I don't really have any career ambitions I suppose. But I feel I could really work my way up and build a career.
-Skills I would learn would look great on my CV.

Cons:
-Less time with DD. I value the time I have with DD above anything, and at the moment I love that I have a lot of time with her. I would miss her so much if I went full time.
-Full time means longer days (8am-6pm most days) and by the time I get home I'm normally exhausted. Right now I have little motivation for housework and cooking, going full time would probably extinguish this all together. DP is good in that he will happily do stuff if I ask him to, but doesn't see all the jobs I do (changing sheets, putting washing away etc) He would really need to step up when it comes to housework, as would I.
-Childcare costs. We would put her in with a child minder (her Auntie) 2 days per week. Even then we may have to rely on family to help out as DP works 2 weekends every month and I'll be guaranteed to work very weekend as I do now. Doing the figures (with the help of benefits calculator) the increase in my wage coupled by the drop in tax credits and childcare fees would mean I'd be working over double my usual hours for not a lot of money.

I'm also a bit confused at the benefit calculator. I know you can be eligible for help with childcare costs if you work a certain number of hours or are on a lower income but I'm confused as to whether the calculator factors this in or not.

So, this has turned into a bit of an essay, as predicted, but I really would appreciate any views :) follow my head and go full time or follow my heart and stay part time?

Do you think work would hold it against you if younsaid you wanted to stay part-time?

Id personally stay part time. It's a lovely balance. When I've done full time it's tipped me over the edge.

If you don't Need it or really want it then wait for a bit. Without being rude I'd imagine something similar might come up again when you're ready?

SpinDoctor that's what i've been worrying about, I'd hate for it to cause bad feeling. But my manager is really nice and we get on well, I think he'd understand me staying part time due to the financial and family aspect.

Lying I think working full time I would be the same. It sounds completely silly as I'm 25, but I've never properly worked full time. I've done overtime now and again but I've either worked whilst studying or worked 25 hours per week. So it really would be a shock to the system.

I never really considered working my way up when I started, my plan was to always work part time until DD was at school and then maybe go back to uni and find what I want to do. I definitely don't see myself leaving there anytime soon, I've never had a job I didn't dread going to before. My thinking is that in a few years I'll still be there and when DD is at school I can up my hours and if there's room for me to progress I can?

I think I know that really I want to stay part time but I'm worried about letting anyone down.

Don't worry. It sounds like you have a supportive manager and I'm sure he will be perfectly understanding about you wanting to put your family first. You can always increase your hours in a few years no matter where you are- you won't get spending more time with your DD while she's little back however.

It sounds like you are in a bit of a spot though because you enjoy your job- it's great, I do too and it's sad how little you hear it. Right now you have a great balance and your happy.

Why change it?

If you do decide To go FT- don't worry about the "shock". It will take you a few weeks to get into it, but honestly after that you won't notice.

I'm nearly 23, never worked FT until a few months ago and it just became routine. I'm PT pretty much again at the moment but that will be changing soon.