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 have always worked full time. In the last 12 years I took 2 years off but that includes including X2 6months maternity leave for each of my babies. Both mine are getting to secondary school and one already there. It has and still is incredibly demanding and there are times I thought I was mad. But I'm now 42 and can see light at end of tunnel where I could retire in a few years with a very healthy pension ( of my own making entirely) and a mortgage paid off as well as a rental property for passive income. Keeping my career full time has meant my earnings quadrupled in just 12 years to well over six figures and with a CV where I am now headhunted all the time.

Now it's not for everyone and I appreciate that not all have that earning potential. When my babies were born I was earning £40k. Yes that is loads but this was London salary at the time and it didn't go far and the only reason I have risen so far up is because of an unbroken resume. I can honestly say it has not been hard climbing the career ladder. Its got even easier as I now call the shots and I WFH whenever I like doing the hours I like.

For me it's been totally worth it as I can soon step off gas and spend more time with them when I think they need me much more than when they were little. My kids are in Grammar school and seem bright enough. I've not been a helicopter parent due to working full time. Dh worked full time as well in an even more pressured job as a VP.

Don't forget University fees you're looking at supporting £27k per child for fees 3years excluding living costs unless you ok for you child to graduate in debt which I'm not.

I'd stick with 4 days if you don't need the extra money. It is really handy to have time to schedule appointments, car servicing, see teachers at school etc. I've also worked 5 days, full time and DD was in before and after school every day, she was fine but the house was a mess, dinners were awful and I took annual leave to try to catch up on things.

No chance. Stayed part time, though increased hours, and haven't neglected my career for it either.

Personally I reject the idea that fulfilling work needs to involve a full time role. I like my work and gain many positives from it other than being paid, but I've always found it to be better enjoyed in portions of under 30 hours a week. I also don't frame my life and goals around working as much as I can for an employer. That argument smacks of capitalist feminism, and you can keep it. Suits me more to work less and consume less.

Agree with previous poster logistics were a nightmare still is. I think it's worth going back full time if you go 'all in' as money buys relief, choices, security. You're buying time later in life. So many women on these boards think divorce will never happen to them then ger screwed over in their 50s or retirement age having to find work and living in 1bed flats. Ok that sounds drastic but it happens more than you think.

No I started a p/t job within school hours 4 months after ds started reception.Have no plans to do f/t until he is around 12

What happened to the idea of having something vaguely fulfilling to do with our lives, something that is not just about wiping bottoms, feeding children and cleaning up the household mess? Work, at its best, can be a place where you can (occasionally at least) be really good at something

But some people don't only find fulfilment in paid work outside the home. Some people are fulfilled by working less hours, there is a lot more to life than work and if you can financially afford to not need to work full time and feel happy and fulfilled not to do so and spend more time with their family, surely that's the right choice for them.

After all, it's all about choice and what works for the individual and their family.

Some people can be good at multiple things and not just work.

I would not return full time if you did not need to financially, you can't buy time back.

Both my dh and me do 4 days in the office but I do slightly extended hours so am technically doing 4.5 days. Our youngest starts school next year and my dh wants to go full time but I do not. I enjoy taking my kids to school and picking up, I get more done when it's just me and 3 year old and also I constantly feel anxious and stressed and a quiet day helps me no end. I organise everything at home and have a senior relatively pressured job so time out on my own is great. My job involves an hour commute each way and frequent travel.

Having said that, my career is stagnating slightly and I am passing on opportunities, we don't need the extra money (it would be nice not essential) and I do end up working full time anyway when works busy so think it depends entirely o n your own circumstances and what you are prepared to risk.

I've worked 3 days a week since DD was born and she is now 9.
I will never return to full time work because we don't need the money and I like the work life balance those 2 days at home gives me.
I earn more money working 3 days a week than my DH does working 5 days a week so I contribute enough to the pot.
Sure I could earn more money and we could have more material things but I don't think they're worth the time I get with DD or the toll they would take on my mental and physical health trying to stretch myself too thin.

I'm 27.5 hours a week, kids are 10 and 7. They do breakfast club, but I'm able to pick them up from school every afternoon and I love it. Even when my eldest is in secondary next year I really don't think I'll up my hours as I'd miss being able to pick my youngest up. Being in both breakfast and after school would make for really long days.

cookiedoughkid I have no intention of paying university fees for my kids. I can afford to but won’t and don’t know anyone, however well off they are who is paying them. I’ll cover all their living expenses but I see university as them making an investment in their own future and it’s very much a tax not a debt. If they can afford to pay back they do, if not then they don’t.

Yes single parent, had no choice and I wasn't going to rely on the fuck up that is universal credit to pay my bills. My youngest was 6 at the time.

I used breakfast club, holiday and after school clubs to get by. It's crap and I have very little time to do the house.

I have four children and work full time. I need to be on the go all the time otherwise I get lazy! Love an action packed life and kids still get to their activities every day of the week so all good. I like our family holidays so I do it for that really.

Yes I did. Working PT was detrimental to my career IME.

Important to take account of pension too.

I mentioned that mine are 18 and 14 and I still work 4 days. Since then people have been saying about work being rewarding and having a career isn't possible on 4 days. What utter rot, lol. I have a career, have a rewarding job and earn far above the average for the UK. My female boss also only works 4 days and is on a 6 figure salary. It's possible.

I press to educate on my workplace over two things:

• being part time doesn’t automatically mean you have no ambition, don’t really care and are working only for ‘pin money’. That may be true of some staff, both full and part time. Many PT staff are equally / more committed.
• being part time isn’t just for mums with children. Anyone who wants a different balance in their life and is prepared to give up a % of their salary should consider it.

I work 70% over 4 days though have a very long commute on top. I never intend to return FT and make no excuses about why. I don’t want to. Working PT has not held me back. I feel extra motivated and have more energy which I attribute to my PT hours. I’m late 40s and can envisage working longer this way, I think I would burn out sooner if I were FT.

It’s frustrating when people think they must work FT to be taken seriously and be in the running for promotion at work. It doesn’t have to be like that, we need value people on contribution, not just on the number of hours worked.

You can only make your decision based on your own circumstances tho OP.

@Answerthequestion Are you seriously suggesting you won’t help your children through university despite being able to financially? I’m incredulous and have never heard of anyone with that attitude. I understand if parents can’t afford to support their children but simply not wanting to? Really, I can’t imagine not helping my children as much as is humanly possible.

What happened to the idea of having something vaguely fulfilling to do with our lives, something that is not just about wiping bottoms, feeding children and cleaning up the household mess? Work, at its best, can be a place where you can (occasionally at least) be really good at something

I am really good at running the house and, dare I say it, parenting. Not everyone struggles at home. It’s the one thing I’ve consistently wanted to do throughout my whole life. Given the fact it won’t last for the rest of my life (i.e. the kids grow up), I am going to do it while I can.

On the flip side, I can’t think of anything worse than going out to work. Even my current job which is my ‘passion’ and I do enjoy once I’m there, I dread going to. I just would much rather be at home with my family.

^^ that sounds like a contradiction. I have a job that I do about one day a month.

It’s pretty common & actually generally considered financially sensible to allow tuition fees to be paid via the loan and only help with living costs.

Yes. Cutting back my hours again. Can't wait.

cherrypavlova no I’m not saying that at all. I’m saying I won’t pay their tuition fees. I will pay all their living expenses and ensure that they have a generous allowance so that don’t struggle. The actual tuition fees are their investment in their future.

Look at the 'salary calculator' online and see the actual difference in monthly take home pay.

I work 2 days per week and will not be increasing hours when all dcs are at school unless financial circumstances change and I need to.

The extra money would be lovely but I value family/friends time and also there are 13 weeks of school holidays to cover.

I'd like to help my children financially, and expect to be able to do so, but I'm not sure paying off student fees is necessarily the optimum use of funds.

@MittsMajuna I have - it's on my OP - about £600 extra to take home a month.