Did you go to work full time once kids in school?

[RubADu]

Hi. Both my children are at primary school now and settled - no issues. I work part time at the moment (30 hours) and have been offered the option to go full time (39 hours)

It would be 5 days - I currently do 4 with an hour commute each way. I could do the extra day from home apparently.

My current day off isn't exactly full to the brim. But it brings a lovely balance. And we walk to and from school on that day (only).

But I could really do with the extra money (about £600 a month to take home extra) It would probably mean an annual holiday is affordable (it usually isn't). But obviously that's still a luxury.

So keen to hear what people did. Anyone go full time and regret it? Does school life become busier and a free day would help with that?

Kids are 9 and 6. Unfortunately no option to do a short fifth day and finish at 3pm to do school pick up. It's full days only.

I wouldn't. Maybe at high school but I wont give up only day picking them up and walking them to school at 9 and 6. U cant buy time. 30 hours in enough.

No. I stayed part time until the youngest was in sixth form. I still found it difficult to fit in everything sometimes.

I wouldn’t, same reason as Halo. You can’t get time back.

I didn't go full time until my youngest started secondary school, and only then because I didn't have much of a commute and could be around if needed.

Do they do breakfast club and after school Club? That’s really tough going, five days a week. I definitely wouldn’t do it but it also wouldn’t judge you if you did! Everyone’s different. It also depends on how much you need the money.

My circumstances are a bit differently 4dc, 2 with SN. I work 20 hours a week and need one day for the inevitable appointments that come my way. It also allows me to give extra time to the dc that don’t have SN. I imagine even if I didn’t have kids with SM, I’d appreciate the flexibility to have extra time with the dc.

I still do 4 days a week and DS is now 13. It's a nice balance for me, I'm less harassed on my non working day and I'd hate to give it up. However we can afford it fairly comfortably.

I've been wondering the same, I currently work four days and have a Wednesday off which I love. Gives me a chance to do bits around the house so I can free up my weekends.

I'm still not sure I want to give that up just yet. I would think very carefully about it. Money isn't everything.

DH and I both work 90% and have 2 short days each so we can pick the DC up from school so we only need childcare 1 day a week. Works well for us.

Why are short days not an option? Could you not do 2 short days WFH so you could do pickup? Or even 2 day WFH and work later into the evening after taking time out in the afternoon to do the schoolrun.

They do breakfast and various after school clubs / extra curricular stuff eg music lessons, yes. And both enjoy them. We have pretty relaxed weekends - no commitments.

Interesting - I thought it would be more common to take the extra work.

I went from 3 days to 5 when my eldest daughter was in her final year at primary. I had little choice as it was either take the full time job or go part time in another school. I couldn’t face starting again and having a longer commute. This is my 5th year full time and I’ve had enough of it. I don’t feel I’m doing anything well anymore.

Don't do it...any appointments chores etc would have to be done at the weekend or days off and it will cut into the family time

I went full time when DS was 1.9yo. No choice.

I work afternoons/evenings, basically when he gets out of school I go to work as I teach his age group right up to adults. DH WFH and collects him every afternoon and takes him to activities.

I organise the mornings and do drop off. He'll have lunch at home twice per term (school dinners usually) to help break up the term.

I take him swimming on Sundays just me and him for some 1-2-1 time.

Zero family help. Enough cash to get by.

@CountFosco Full days only. One day max WFH. Thems the rules at my employer I'm afraid. Countless before me have tried to get more flexibility. But they are a good employer generally - I can do the occasional extra day at home and nip to a school assembly etc.

I've done both full and part time since my kids were born (both now in high school).

I currently do 4 days and it's been a saviour to my sanity. I don't think about it in terms of "losing money" I think about it in terms of gaining a day a week to keep me sane.

The extra £600 might pay for a week's holiday accommodation but the extra day a week means a full working week all year. No day off to sort errands, catch up on household jobs, see friends/family for a catch up or schedule an appointment - all the little things that don't take long, but can pile up and become overwhelming when you don't have the time to sort them.

Sometimes I'm super busy and productive on my day off and some days I do nothing, but that's my choice to make. My rule to myself is that I have to be home for the kids finishing school so we can have at least one day a week where I greet them home from school (other days I'm not home till after 6/7). High school kids still need their parents too.

You would also lose the day in the school holidays, and need to pay for additional holiday clubs etc.

This thread makes me anxious. My second (and last) baby will be 2 in January: I've taken a new teaching job 4 days a week for this term but 6 days a week (boarding school) next term.

Two things that make me think:

Firstly, that from the responses so far on this thread there's a disadvantage to children with two full-time working parents. I'd assumed it was the norm.

Secondly, that so many mums are willing to put their career on hold for such a long time: although I'd love more time at home I'm also keen to focus on the 5/10 year plan and I'm worried I won't achieve those goals without getting stuck in now.

I didn't, I took on a lunch time job at their school but then DS2 became ill so I had to give up. I haven't returned to work ( now 5 years on) due to struggling to find anything that fits into school hours/ hospital appointments.

It's been great being at home, never having to worry about school runs/ holidays etc but I wish I'd been able to find a little job.

I went full time when DD was nearly 9. It’s been crap. Hopefully I can get my hours changed to 4 days a week. We had a pretty rubbish summer with DD being passed from pillar to post. Not going to happen again.

Don't do it. Mine are 13 now and I actually find it harder - maybe because my job's more stressful, maybe because I'm older or maybe because I still need to do all the bloody jobs around the home that still need sorting.

My work persuaded me to do more and now I regret it.

Time is more precious (if you can afford it or cut your cloth accordingly). Not worth it for a week away.

I didn't when they were in primary as with 4 kids the amount of time they were off sick or needed to go to appointments was crazy. When they were all reaching seniors I started looking for work..sadly it wasn't to be as mental health of one took a nosedive and seeking work took a back burner yet again. Now officially on carers allowance. Can't wait till things are right that I can work, but fear it may be some time.

I have to work ft as I have two kids and my fiancé (their stepdad) also works ft but is a relatively low earner.

I hate not being able to do any of the school runs for my youngest in primary or even have any physical contact with his school. Can't attend any events in school time either which is sad. But needs must.

If I could do four days a week I absolutely would! It would really take the pressure off the weekends too.

I’ve gradually upped my hours and for the last few years have worked FT. DH works very long hours indeed sometimes and on those times I feel like I’m parenting alone, it’s very tiring. I bloody miss my part time hours. Just a couple of hours here and there a week was enough to keep on top of household chores or do a quick food shop or go and post a birthday card etc. Squeeze a dentist appointment in. I KNOW plenty of people work FT and manage those things but don’t tell me that you wouldn’t prefer to have a couple of hours a week free where you could do that stuff, freeing your time at the weekend to do more interesting family stuff!

I don’t think the extra money is worth it really, as you end up NEEDING those holidays you’re wanting to recover from the busyness of family life with 2 parents working FT. When kids are ill it’s bloody stressful where work is concerned. You feel guilty at leaving work in the lurch and you feel guilty at sending your kid back to school before they’re probably 100% better.

but you will get people telling you you’re being mad not to consider it, because of your pension and long term financial security etc.

Yes yes to the person who said they think being older makes a difference. I’m mid 40s and this past year I’ve noticed my age is having an effect on my energy levels after a full stressful day at work. My kids are secondary age now and often I’m desperate to go to bed at 9.30 while they’re still up and about!! I never Used to be like this. God knows how i’ll work FT till age 65.

I'm still 4 days a week and my dc are 18 and 14! Lol