if you work pt and have young children, would you work a few full days or work everyday and finish at 1!

[SweetSedona]

I've been offered a job and have the option of how I want to work my hours. I know it depends on my personal circumstances etc but it actually doesn't make a difference for me. No commuting as its round the corner from my house.

If you've worked both ways, which one did you prefer. I have preschool and school aged kids.

If it doesn't make a difference, I think I'd do a few full days, and then have a couple of full days to myself. I work full days Monday to Wednesday and I really like my working pattern. Get work out of the way at the start of the week!

I'd work fewer full days if possible. It saves the faff of having to get everyone ready every morning, although you still have to get kids to school, but that is probably less hassle than getting them, pre-schooler and yourself ready every morning!
I used to work 2 .5 days but found that the half day often ended up being longer due to CF boss who would come in with the 'can you just...' jobs 15 minutes before I was due to leave. I also had quite a long commute and the money earned on the half day barely covered the fuel costs.
Once all the kids are at school I would work hours to fit round those hours.

I tried this a few different ways but ended up with 3.5 days/week, used after school club/nursery or DH collected other days. The 5 short days was crippling, no day off and always rushing.

I'd prefer to work fewer, longer days. If you have to do the school run, then finishing at 1pm would give you about 2 hours to do any errands that you may have (groceries, drs, dentist etc). Whereas you can otherwise get a full day. Also means that during school holidays, you can take the children out for a full day.

Fewer, longer days if possible. You can get more done at work and you get days off.

Definite fewer longer days. You'll never get away with only working your hours if you work shorter days. There'll always be a "can you just do x / help me with this / attend this short meeting before you go?"

I preferred 5 shorter days when I was in that position as I found the routine easier and being in work every day meant I was able to keep on top of things. It also meant I didn't need wrap around care for my school-aged DC.

But there are more advantages to full days. I'm assuming nursery fees will be cheaper as 2 or 3 full days. You need fewer work outfits and you get full days off. I wasn't motivated by the latter. I just wanted to be able to fit my job around my DC without it impacting on them.

my manager would only accept my flex request if i came in every day so i did 4 hours m-f instead of 3 longer days.

i accepted as my commute was not arduous, and i was still breastfeeding so it meant not too long stretches away from DS. it worked fine for us. also i quite liked doing shorter days as it was over before i knew it and i didn't have to sit their boiling if someone was getting on my nerves.

I work 9-1 as I need to do the school run there is no before and after childcare where we live as it's the countryside

I worked Mon /Wed and Fri. When ds started nursery we both had Tues and Thurs off!
Worked very well.

I do a bit of both, my contract was for three long days, I was able to alter it to four shorter days of 9-4:30, so I can do school drop off and my son isn’t in after school club for very long as work isn’t far away from his primary school.

It's worth bearing in mind if you work every day you will have to find child care all through the school holidays. Much easier to cover 2 or 3 days a week.

I did three long days when dd was in nursery and enjoyed Friday to Monday off each week. However when she went to school I did 5 short days and didn't need to pay for after school care which was ideal.

I do 3 full days and DS goes to nursery for 3 full days. This gives me 2 whole days at home during the week with him and weekends. We do various groups, swimming lessons etc which I've managed to continue to fit around work quite well.

I don't have afterschool childcare so I work short days. It can be hard sometimes as afternoon meetings can be an issue, if you get into a task you have to stop, no ability to just stay on a bit and finish it. I often get calls after I have finished. But I love afterschool with the kids and the evenings are less rushed (mostly). If I could get child care I would probably work less but longer days on balance

The best bit about working short days is that you don't experience that mid afternoon dip. And every day seems to go quickly. I found I got more work done in fewer hours per day.

You could always switch to fewer full days in the holidays. It sounds like they're flexible.

I work 3 full days and enjoy having 2 full days with DS. When he starts school I would consider working 4 days, maybe 2 full days and 2 shorter ones.

I would not like to work 5 short days a week. Psychologically it's great to have at least 1 day when I'm not working at all. I don't know if I ever want to work days a week again

I don't know if I ever want to work 5 days a week again

I've done both and I prefer working shorter days so I can do the school run without paying fir after school clubs. And it helps fit in after school activities (swimming, ballet, scouts etc) as I am more flexible.
It does however mean I'm never off duty. Always at work or with DC. No time for hairdressers, Christmas shopping, popping in to see mum etc.

A few full days, definitely. Part time till 1 you will inevitably get looks for leaving in the middle of something busy. Every-day part timers get treated like full time staff. Also if you work until 1 by the time you're home its pick up time. Better to work late and arrange child care, then have a couple of mornings each week to run errands in peace and get some time to yourself.

I do 3 full days.

I think I have done all possible patterns of part time working and I think my favourite, if this is possible is 4 shortish days - so, eg if it's a 20 hour week doing 4 x 5 hour days, possibly 9.30 - 2.30 so you can do it within school hours, but you still get a full day off during the week. This may depend on whether it's just you doing the job part time or if your job share, as it obviously wouldn't be possible with job share.

Full days. In our area pt childcare is also much harder to find - don’t know if that’s a consideration for you.

It depends on the wraparound care provision and the type of work. My job could not be done in half days, but both schools hace afterschool clubs. However, as my children have got older, the demands of homework, music practice and sports have ramped up, and it would be really useful to be home with them from 3.30 rather than 5.30pm.