Work life balance and childcare situation, advice?

[Childcare0]

I have Ds5 and ds2.
Up until now I have worked around 25-30 hours (contract 25, often picked up overtime) , compressed hours over 2-3 days per week. Opposite days to dh so I have minimised time in formal childcare. Have had some help periodically from my parents and mil on days neither of us available.

However I have been offered a job I really want. It’s within the same organisation but full time it’s mon-fri 9-5. I’d also like to be off shifts and work a more set and normal pattern.

However the 9-5 would be unworkable for me as it will mean much more formal/paid childcare needed. To be frank, I’m not paid enough for it to be worth the juggling, And stress being away from the children. I couldn’t afford a nanny and I would never want an au pair (House too small and just not ‘workable’). so these options are out.

However I do have three options to consider, so any insight would be appreciated as I’m not sure what to do for the best.

I could do three days per week 22.5 hours, a little pay decrease but would mean we didn’t need any formal childcare at all. No nursery for ds2 or wrap around for ds1.
The drawback would be I know someone else who works with this arrangement in this team. They say work constantly spills into days off. They feel compelled to check emails and do work on days off. They feel stressed over the three days dealing with five days worth of Requests/phone calls/emails. Often miss meetings and Realistically no chance of promotion if they wanted it.

Option 2 is four days 9-5, 30 hours. I’d need some wrap around and nursery. So As a family, we would be no better off financially.
I’d have less time with dc. But I may find it easier to cope being in four days and not coming in to a backlog at the start of every week. Could work if I manage to ensure I don’t work on day off.

Option three full time over four days, something like 8-6. this would mean I’d get a full time wage. So would see a little financial benefit after paying for some nursery days and wrap around. However Depending on Dh shifts I would be frazzled at times as would literally have to fit in two separate drop offs just me, get myself to work and dash away to pick up on time. Also would see less again of dc and I worry how I/they would cope with this.

Any insight if you have been there or are currently working with similar arrangements would be greatly appreciated.

I do full time over 4 days 07.30-17.30. Ive done it since my son was 9 months and hes 2.5 now. His dad drops him off and picks him up from the childminders (my son is there from 07.45-4.45)

It works well for us and means I still get my full wage. On my day off I do a little bit of cleaning but we mainly catch up with it on the weekend, the house could definitely be in a better state most times. I do sometimes wish I had more time with him but on the whole it has been working out well so far and I really enjoy the day I have off on my own with him.

However when he starts school I think I would probably change my hours so he doesnt have to be in wrap around care every day.

@Childcare0

Financially better off will be when ds2 is at nursery 30 hours, would only have wrap around for both to pay then. There is also however the sick days to consider although grandparents may be more willing to help them as they will be doing less regular days. And I just worry I will miss them going from 2-3 days to four. Those little things like a morning play group (when we are allowed) and an afternoon at the park with ds2 1-1 will be far less often if I do four days. As realistically the day off I have where ds1 is at school I will be doing washing/housework to keep the weekend free. However I will definitely never get a promotion on three days per week in this team. That’s not a major issue for me however at this moment.

Though not a popular view, I'd not be opting to increase at all. You have a good balance and financial gain. You're not interested in promotion, so really why not say when youngest starts school you'll increase and seek out promotions if you them want it? I work over 3 days, am a lone parent, so slightly different, but I would struggle with more and my lo is at school.

Also working more means less school holiday time with your children and more childcare needed. So instead of say 15 days holiday plus always being available for 26 of the school holidays you'll only have 25 days. That's quite a drop.