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Mums in professional services- how do you make it work?

114 replies

shatteredbyhavingitall · 06/12/2018 19:27

I am a fee earner in a professional services firm and am struggling to make my role/ working pattern work so wondered if anyone had any tips on how to make it work in a client facing role?

At present I work 8.30-3 every day so drop kids at breakfast club, race to work, race back to school. After school is the usual dance classes, football, gymnastics etc plus playdates. Then cook dinner, do house admin and washing etc, get kids in bed and start work again at 7.30pm, feeling knackered and like the clients/ colleagues are disappointed as I've not been available since 3. Husband works away so can't help: I am solo parenting most of the time.

How do other professional services people make it work? I love my job but this is exhausting me! Any tips on how to make it sustainable would be very welcome!

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 07/12/2018 11:55

You should pay for help it, an after school nanny if not an au pair. What you’re doing is very difficult

TinyTear · 07/12/2018 11:57

After school club, playdates and classes only on weekends and only one class at a time. no need for 4 different classes or clubs, let them choose what they prefer

i work 8 to 4h30 with the odd evening if i have a deadline

pamplemoussed · 07/12/2018 11:58

we had a 'granny nanny' - she came for an hour or so before school pick up and got dinner prepared, did laundry, picked up some supplies, booked dentist etc then collected the kids, drove them around, fed them really well. ( Usually was some leftovers for us too - though that wasn't her job..) not so great at supporting the homework but I am a big believer that kids need to be able to do their own homework and if they can't they've been set the wrong level of homework.

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EvaReady · 07/12/2018 12:25

Can you get a Nanny-housekeeper - that's what my Mum did - someone who basically did all the chores through the day and looked after us in the evening.

PutYourBackIntoit · 07/12/2018 13:17

I decided to resign (big 4) as we were just about able to afford it, but was asked to go back as a consultant. I work school hour days but they pay me for a full daily rate. I choose my AL and the type of work I do. I've completely cut back on international travel. Because of the increase in salary I've reduced my days.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend setting out to do something similar, but if it's potentially an option it's worth looking into.

Minus the concern whether the contract will be extended each year and lack of access to great pension scheme, it's working brilliantly. Work life balance is wonderful.

However, totally agree that men need to ask for flexible / part time working more, and employers need to start expecting it. When we had our first DC and I was earning significantly more than DH I put it to him that we both went down to 4 days. DC would have 3 in childcare, 1 day with me and one with him. Ideal for DC and us!! He said it would end his career even by mentioning it. So we decided it wasn't worth damaging both our careers and as it was more important to me to spend time with DC, I reduced my hours. Career stalled but luckily we're in a good place now.

BoogleMcGroogle · 07/12/2018 13:51

Hi OP, I really feel for you and think that it's hard to make it work for everyone in a family, so often the burden to keep everything going falls to one person, and it's exhausting. We've been doing this for a while now. My kids are 9 and 7, my husband is an equity partner in a city law firm and I am a professional (not a lawyer, running a small private practice). While I can't purport any expertise as I do sometimes feel tired, old, burntout, chaotic and in the middle of an unremitting shitstorm, DH and I have tried to learn from our mistakes:

The couples I know who manage this best, both take responsibility for family life, and have an equal investment in making it work. That does not necessarily mean doing an equal amount all the time, but that no grown-up gets an opt out, ever. As part of my professional work, I see families when life isn't going so well. One of the interesting dichotomies I've noticed it that of families who are essentially 'together' in supporting an encouraging each other and families who have a less cohesive approach (competitive tiredness etc.). I'm not making a judgement about whether that applies to you, but I'm impressed by how some friends have been able to make the seemingly impossible work by intentionally creating the 'together' approach.

DH has negotiated flexible working. He works from home a day a week, does two school runs a week ( so I can start early) and we split events such as sports day and carol services. He's done this ever since he was a junior partner and it's in no way affected his career. Obviously sometimes he has to be flexible about going into work or travelling, but most weeks it works fine. He is lucky to work at a very forward thinking firm, and as he's got more senior it's become easier if anything and over that time the work culture has changed to make this not that unusual, and he's been really active in making that happen at a firm-wide level.

Outsource, outsource, outsource. After school club is fine a couple of times a week. We have a cleaner who also does our laundry and a couple of guys who do the garden when needed. Recently we've cut back on a few clubs as it was all getting to much. My children seemed almost relieved about it, and we really love just hanging out at home in the evenings and it's been a revelation to get some of the weekend back.

On a practical level, we have a shared online family calendar, all school emails go to both of us and we both have access to the Amazon and Ocado accounts, so shopping can be done when needed. I do more of the 'life admin' at the moment, especially around my son's SEN and my husband notices that and says thanks, which I appreciate.

Take time for yourself and let your husband do the same. take a weekend to go to the theatre with a friend, or to go for a run or to a yoga class. And take time to do things as a couple too. There can be so much focus on ensuring the kids have the very best activities and stuff, but everyone in the family should be allowed to get the best out of life.

Wishing you the very best of luck OP, I know it's not easy and there's no right way, just what is right for your family.

stoplickingthetelly · 07/12/2018 13:52

I agree with what has already been said. You need some longer working days, paid help at home and kids need to go to after school club and do less clubs/play dates. It's the only way you'll be able to do your job long term. What you're doing now isn't sustainable at all.

Satsumaeater · 07/12/2018 13:55

What's the "not allowed to buy" nonsense? Just buy. We're not all great bakers or seamstresses.

And set parameters. You say people call at 3.05 and expect you to be available. Well there must be times when you are on another call or in a meeting, so you can't always be available. If you are senior enough you must be able to set clear parameters on you availability.

BoogleMcGroogle · 07/12/2018 14:08

Satsumaeater when I first qualified in my profession (which is the sort of job in which people will eat up every last bit of you, if you let them), a very experienced colleague advised me never to be too available she insisted that people value you more if you are not at their beck and call, and (certainly in my job) she had a point ;)

Gumbo · 07/12/2018 14:08

to make it work you need at least one of the following:
Husband with flexible job (or staying at home)
Parents able/willing to provide significant amounts of help
Nanny

^this

In my role I have to be away a lot - sometimes only a day or two a week, sometimes a lot more - we went for the SAHD option which has worked brilliantly. The reality is that even in this day and age, it's still much harder for a woman to have a high-flying job than a man because unless she has excellent childcare and support it still often lands on her to do the lions share of things.

Out of all the (few) women I know in the industry I work in, more than half have a SAHD sorting out the kids...

MissBartlettsconscience · 07/12/2018 14:17

I'm a solicitor working a similar pattern to you - I do two long days 9-6/ 6.30 when I do the morning school run and then work, and three short days 8-2.30 when DH does the morning school run and I do the afternoon school run. It just about works because I'm in house so only have the one client - it was impossible with competing client demands. DH is in a city firm so can go in later, but is rarely home before 9pm so the evenings are down to me.

However, even that wouldn't be doable with help from my parents (if they weren't able to do it we'd need an AP or nanny still) who pick the children up on my long days and give them tea and are prepared to be in the house when people are sick. They'll also cover wrap around holiday clubs as round here holiday clubs only seem to work from 9.30 to 4. We cover all their expenses inc food and bills.

We've also hugely cut down on after school activities. They each do one activity a week otherwise I was going a bit mad.

WeeDoughball · 07/12/2018 14:20

I've not had to do it with school yet (which I think will be harder) but I dropped to 4 days to get a bit more time at home. Not necessarily a great idea as it just meant I still did the same workload but got paid 20% less but I did like knowing that I wasn't in the office one day even if I did still get caught on emails etc.

2 days of the 4 DC with grandparents so DH and I have more flex to go in early or stay late as we're not bound to nursery timings. The other 2 days DC in nursery 8-6 so we make sure we're home, get DC fed and bed then we have dinner and start working again if necessary.

Workreturner · 07/12/2018 14:21

My DP is a sahp so a bit easier for me

This actually made me laugh out loud.
Masterclass in understatement.

I have found that it’s all about boundaries. When at work, that is ALL I’m focussed on. School / nanny.

When I’m with the children, it’s ALL about the children.

It’s hard. It works.

Ceilingrose · 07/12/2018 14:21

There are lots of competent and capable students who are available from 330.

BlackrockMum · 07/12/2018 14:54

Early on I decided something had to give, too many days sitting in a car outside somewhere eating rubbish for lunch at 4.30, too tired to cook for myself in evening, and when dh was home for a weekend i'd sleep the whole time so we never went out. So solutions, I often used an afterschool/ child minder. One school pick up is 2.30 so essentially as far as work was concerned, I was taking a half day if I did school collection. But basically decided I was making things hard on myself so kids allowed pick one only afterschool activity for one day a week. We did some extra sports at weekends but only when it suited. Playdates were limited to Fridays only. I don't believe kids need to be doing extra classes all the time. When possible I tried to

BlackrockMum · 07/12/2018 15:05

posted too soon,
when possible minimise sitting around in cars wasting time. I am lucky at work I have the largest most discrete office space so I can bring kids in if I need to. they have their own filing cabinet with, books toys snacks etc.

DelurkingAJ · 07/12/2018 15:07

I’m afraid I decided it wasn’t worth trying to make partner. Big 4 accountant who went in house. The trick was to find a role that wasn’t client facing and yet gave me career progression. I’m happy doing that now (9-5) in the secure knowledge that once DC are older I can choose to step back up having learnt a shed load of stuff.

For us, even now, this would be undoable without our childminder who only has my DS2 during the day and is therefore happy to take sick DC. And a DH who pulls his weight.

TranmereRover · 07/12/2018 18:22

I went in house and it's still a stretch! Myth that hours are shorter especially if you eg have an international head office.

What I have discovered quite recently is that a very high proportion of the dual full time working couple parents at our school have full time housekeepers. All laundry / cleaning / bed changing / ironing / food shopping and some preparation / sewing of nametapes / polishing of shoes etc done. Dry cleaning collected, parcels signed for, bills paid. I had no idea so many people were hiding that luxury.

Kristingle · 07/12/2018 18:26

What I have discovered quite recently is that a very high proportion of the dual full time working couple parents at our school have full time housekeepers. All laundry / cleaning / bed changing / ironing / food shopping and some preparation / sewing of nametapes / polishing of shoes etc done. Dry cleaning collected, parcels signed for, bills paid. I had no idea so many people were hiding that luxury

Every Male director that I work with has that luxury. And they dont even pay their housekeepers or give them days off or holidays. These women work 365 days a year for free.

Loopytiles · 07/12/2018 18:28

Facilitated men.

OP is facilitating he DH and DC, and clients.

Shenanagins · 07/12/2018 18:29

I work ft and oh works away a lot. We have a cleaner and get the ironing done.

Whilst oh is away, he does as much admin as possible in the evenings whilst sat in a hotel room. This includes online food shopping, buying countless birthday presents etc so that I’m left with the running around to the various clubs and activities.

Shuzza · 07/12/2018 18:32

Outsource as much as possible and be realistic. Definitely lower some of your standards.
Au pairs are great for after school care and laundry. Definitely split the life admin with your other half....

MrsPatmore · 07/12/2018 18:47

A housekeeper seems popular amongst the high earners/long hours couples we know. They also seem to step in to collect the kids from school.

Xuli · 07/12/2018 18:52

I'd either pay for a lot more help, or go to 4 solid days. That way you'd have one full day at home to catch up with stuff and see the DC as well.

I do 4 days - 3 in the office with a long commute, 1 from home, 1 doing the school run and classes and looking after the toddler. It works well at the moment, but I will admit it's been a bit of an adjustment for my colleagues as I'm the only one not full time, and there are times when I get stressed that I'm not pulling my weight enough

Elfontheshelfiswatchingyoutoo · 07/12/2018 19:10

Re prioritse?

Dh working away all the time doesn't sound ideal at all.

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