What age were your kid(s) when you went back FT?

[OhDear2200]

I work 3 days a week, I also occasionally do some independent work if I can get it a couple of times a year.

But really starting to think at what point do o think about going full time again to top up pension mainly. My Dh works ft but his pension is crap whereas mine is much better.

Kids are 11 & 9, oldest about to start secondary school.

Not got great childcare options but I mostly will be WFH and can do breakfast club and have two days of after school care. So could juggle it with flexible working, which my employer is pushing big time.

Not going to earn big bucks but more chance of promotion is I work FT.

We could afford for me to work PT always but it doesn’t sit right with me. My mum always worker FT and so did my DHs mum. No judgment to others it’s just my view.

Arrrgghh sorry for typos!

7 months

12 months

10-11 weeks. I took 12 weeks off from due date for each. The later they were born, the less time I had with them.

4.5 months, he's nearly 15 now. I permanently wfh, though I travel for work, and dh does the same. Ds has taken himself to and from school since yr5 so no school runs or before/after school care so easy to manage since then

Ds1 was 6 months old. Now ds2 is 9 years old and I love picking him up from school, taking him to the park. I don't want to miss these days. They grow too fast. He's my PLB, I'll go back ft when he's at high school.

I've done 4 days since DS1 was 1 and intend to go to 1FTE/ a 9 day fortnight when DS2 starts school FT at 4.

14 months

3 months for DS1 and 10 months for DS2 (when I was in the civil service and had 6 months on full pay-bliss!).

3 kids. Always worked, but went back full time when youngest was in year 5 primary.

Glad I did, as it does mean a better pension now.

9 months old.

I went back PT until my youngest was in school and then changed all my shift patterns, I’m still not contracted to full time hours but I work 50 hrs OT a month give or take covering staff holidays etc. My youngest is now 10, it meant that we didn’t need formal childcare and my PIL helped out if we needed.

6 months

6 months. All the maternity leave I could have at the time.

I'm not sure responses from people who only took a few months of is particularly relatable or helpful for op?
My youngest is 15, I worked 3 days until he started secondary and then increased it to 4 days.
I like being at home one day during the week and I know my dc have always appreciated it.
Their Dad is so uninvolved in their lives that I do try extra hard to be around, partly why I've never worked 5 days.

I went back full time at six months. But I could work from home then. Then company eventually stopped all homeworking and I went part time - 2.5 days worked over 3 days a week - then built up to 4 days. Went to 5 days a week again when youngest was 11.

Six months was the maximum time allowed off when I had my DC - late ‘90s.

I’m not really sure. I’ve been freelance, consultant or some other form of self employed ever since I had children (maternity leaves and a period of caring excepted), never PAYE again. Sometimes it was very PT, sometimes it’s been absolutely manic.

4 months PT , FT by 6months - single parent , only one child but my earning potential / career progression and pension didn’t take a hit

11 months but ended up burnt out after 7 years of juggling a FT job with 1.5 hour commute each way and the expectation to be always 'on'. I moved to a PT home-based role 2 years ago, combined with some consultancy to top up reduced wages, which was ideal for lockdown. Planning to go back FT to another SMT role once DC settled at high school.

12 months.
Then became a SAHM when they were 4&6.
Just gone back term time only. 11 and 9 now.

Never, school holidays were the issue for me.

Holiday clubs tend to be for primary aged children. I didn't think it was fair to them. Luckily I don't need to work FT.

Still not FT. Both dcs at secondary school. Lone parent and youngest has issues (to put it mildy).

Sightly different as it is DH who is part time, not me. Our youngest is 3 at the moment and DH is planning to go back to full time when he starts primary school. He currently works 3 days a week.