Giving up work until child is 3

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I've just returned to work after maternity leave and I'm incredibly unhappy. We've had to withdraw ds from the planned day nursery as they have ignored some important requests and any trust is broken. The career progression available to me holds no interest , and dh's working hours (rotating shifts) mean that most days I'm left rushing in the morning then alone in the evening to set up for the next day. Ds doesn't sleep through (he's up 4/5 times). Also my employers said no to my flexi working request meaning that I had no choice but to go back full time.

A family member is looking after ds while we find alternative day care but I'm considering jacking it all in until he is 3 and beginning a new career at that point.

Does anyone have any experience of doing this? I'm having trouble making the right decision for us , we're knackered and unable to think straight.

To be honest , even with me working full-time we only have a little extra after my pension contribution is made and childcare is paid for. If I wished to become a teacher or senior teaching assistant this would all be worth it , I feel like Jynx though, the education system is a mess and it takes the joy away from what should be rewarding and worthwhile.

Oh and I do agree with the fact that TAs are paid very little. I consider myself lucky as we work full-time hours to do rwi planning , sen planning and run after school clubs etc which means that the wage is more reasonable.

I did and it's been financially punishing few years.

But worth it in every single way. I've been back at work at while, totally different job I'm happy, dc are older and able to advocate for themselves and talk.
They do little bit of childcare and I'm happy they could tell me if any issues cropped up. And I have 30 years of working life ahead of me should I so need too.
Their tiny childhood was gone in a flash and I'm glad I was there for them.

If I were you I would leave work. Wait until dc is 3 and you can get access to free nursery hours and take the time to think about what you want to do.
Employers are getting so much better at employing returners to work and that’s is only going to improve.

The one thing I would say is do some volunteer work - even if it is tied to your child (eg help run the local playgroup or toddler group) so that you have something on your CV and to keep your skills fresh.

After setting myself mini-targets like getting through the first week , getting through the first month etc I have decided to leave.

I've seen my husband (awake) for a grand total of about 2.5hrs this week , I'm on cold number 2 since returning to work and the promise of pay day doesn't even improve my glum mood. I'm going to bed the same time as the baby which means that I'm not spending time with the older children properly. It's miserable.

Thank for your posts , they've helped me process and decide.

Good luck op. It sounds like you'll be a lot happier when you leave. Now that both dc are at school, the preschool years seem so short. I worked pt and it would never have been an option to quit work completely (too hard to get back in and I do love my job), but in your shoes I would want to be sahp. Just plan for your return to work as best you can.

I did it. As an aside, my youngest ds is 3 this week and lets just say I think we’re both ready for some nursery hours now! I reckon three years is my limit.

I’m also a teacher and not planning to return, so will now need to decide what I am going to do. I find it exciting, whereas two years ago it filled me with dread. I’ve been doing some as hoc exam invigilation at a local school which means I don’t have a 3 year gap on my cv, although the reality is I’ve actually only done 20 days work in that time.

I've done it , notice handed in today!

The last week has been awful , I got to the end of the week and just cracked and realised I couldn't take much more of it. Going to work on 4 (broken) hours then being asked to cover for absentees at a moments notice...Having my planning ready for interventions that I was never in the right environment to deliver etc. Then over the weekend ds' bad cold turned into an infection , his temperature spiked and we had to rush him to hospital. He's on antibiotics and on the mend thankfully.

Now I just have to work out what a decade of teaching assistant work and a creative degree can lead to career-wise.

I'm just returning to work after 3 years' break. I'm actually training to be a TA but mine are now in Y5 and nursery. I hope to get a TA job next September when the youngest starts reception (our school also has wrap around from reception age which is a huge help on what will be quite a low salary).

As you've found out, the benefits can be massive. My one big tip for starting out as a SAHM is to get your budget sorted and stick to it.