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Original poster

If you work part time, did you go back full time when your children were school age / more independent?

110 replies

2blackandwhitecats · 05/10/2021 12:12

Considering dropping a couple of days. But I’m wondering whether or not it is reasonable to maintain this once children are at school or a bit older.

What have you done?

OP posts:
Beamur · 05/10/2021 13:23

I have stayed part time and like it. I would be run ragged trying to work full time. My day 'off' I sometimes get to myself but I'm often catching up at home.
I've always been around for DD in the morning and now I am wfh I am home in the afternoon too which is actually really nice.
I've been making extra contributions to my pension, not quite making up the gap but reducing it a bit.

FireworkParrot · 05/10/2021 13:25

I have one DD in primary school and my younger DD is is nursery. I work 3 days a week and plan to go to 4 days per week once DD2 is in school. We use after school club on the days I work.

I would really like to work school hours but don't see how I could make it work. I currently work 22 hours over 3 days and if I had to do the school run around work I could only work 9.30am to 2.30pm due to the commute, which would only be 25hrs per week so not enough of an increase in what I currently earn.

I do not want to work full time, perhaps ever. If you can afford to then I think 4 days a week is great with one day to run errands, get the shopping done, exercise etc.

ThePug · 05/10/2021 13:28

I've got a 5.5 year old (in year 1) and a 3 year old who'll start school next year. I dropped to 3 short days and plan on keeping it that way. As much as I enjoy my "days off" I am practically counting down the days to having actual days off work and childcare from next September! All my AL this year has basically been used to cover school holidays so I'm hoping I'll actually be able to do some stuff I want to do (hairdressers, exercise class, Christmas shopping etc maybe) on my two days off work, as well as all the chores. Pre kids I'd have taken a day off for stuff like that.

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rookiemere · 05/10/2021 13:33

I'm pt and DS is 15. When they are in primary it actually makes more sense to be pt than when they were younger. No handy childminder willing to keep him on for an extra hour or so and the long school holidays to contend with.
I worked 2 school hours days and 2 longer days until DS was 10 and I now do 4 days with slightly compressed hours. Even as a teen it's nice for him ( and me) to have one day where I'm not rushing around and can drop him off - plus I sometimes work on the Friday if I'm needed for sports pick ups on other days.

megletthesecond · 05/10/2021 13:37

I'm a LP, mine are teens and I've had to stick to 3 days a week. DD has loads of problems (school, self harm etc) and I need to be there for her as much as possible. I wish I could do more at work.

Reallyimeanreally2022 · 05/10/2021 13:39

Part time all the way

It’s absolutely perfect. I love my job, 3 days a week

And my 2 days no working are for pottering, housework, meeting friend for coffee, admin, laundry, batch cooking.

Means weekends are so much more relaxed and fun.

And I’m pretty much always on top of admin and housework.

It’s a good life.

FunnysInLaJardin · 05/10/2021 13:45

When they were at primary I worked 9.30-2.30.

DS2 has just started year 7 and so I upped my hours to 9.30-4pm

Didn't really intend to increase my hours quite so soon, but work got really busy and it was either do it unpaid anyway, or get paid for it. I choose the latter!

It has actually turned out really well, the boys can meet me at work for a lift home after school, or catch the bus to the village and walk the rest of the way.

I'm earning more money and feel like I can now keep on top of my work, which I didn't always feel working part time.

It helps that DH finishes work at 3 or 4 and so we can still share the chores and ferrying the kids around.

CandyLeBonBon · 05/10/2021 14:04

@CandyLeBonBon

I work full time as a single parent of three teens. No choice.
My point was I have been part time self employed until my youngest was tear 7 but now have to work full time.
Jmaho · 05/10/2021 16:53

I currently do 3 days a week but from home so can do school runs and nursery pick ups. I always planned to go to at 4 days a week when my youngest starts school next September. But I'm now having doubts. The holidays are hard especially the summer break. We both get standard holidays and like to go away for 2 weeks in the summer so between us it doesn't leave a lot of holiday left to cover. My 8 year old in particular is a pain as he hates holiday club then Spends all day complaining he is bored. We don't have any family help and both work from home. It's manageable just about with me doigg 3 days as I don't have a lot of calls or meetings but am always busy

gogohm · 05/10/2021 17:11

I have always worked pt so I could be home when school finished , my eldest has sn so was useful for the therapy appointments too

helpthewhos · 05/10/2021 17:23

I do 4 short days term time only (sort of!) with 2 kids in juniors, means I can do all the pick ups, take them to clubs etc. I will try and up my hours a little in about 18 months once oldest is settled at secondary. I don't plan to work 'full time' again, possibly ever. Aside from all the work life balance stuff, I don't earn much so there is no really point to working 5 days as I would then get hit with student loan repayments on top of tax, NI and pensions, so would actually take home very little of any increase in pay.

Eldest DS has some learning differences, working part time has let me go to meetings etc and organise assessments. I've also done a few trips, been to most of the open mornings etc. It also gives a bit more time for the frantic last minute costume making!

lockdownmadnessdotcom · 05/10/2021 18:02

I did the opposite - worked FT until ds was 9 and then part-time. Kids need you more as they get older.

Iggly · 05/10/2021 18:04

I am not planning to return to full time anytime soon. My youngest is y5, eldest y7. I rather have that flexibility and be around.

Obviously it would be different if I had no choice.

Jackiebrambles · 05/10/2021 18:09

I went back 4 days a week (28 hours) after my first maternity leave and still do the same now they are both in primary. I don’t think I’d ever go back full time now. My dh works long hours and my day off is so helpful for taking them to clubs/dentist etc.

lljkk · 05/10/2021 18:14

DH & I are both part time (have had teens to tend to last 9 years, and for a few more)

TeenTitan007 · 05/10/2021 18:18

3 days is perfect. I absolutely loved it and enjoyed it for 4 years. Even 4 days was too much after that but I have settled for that now.

snowballer · 05/10/2021 18:19

In my experience it's harder to work full time once they start school than when they're smaller! Short school days v full nursery days, school holidays vs 51 weeks of nursery, random inset days, reading/homework after school to be overseen, random days parents are expected to be available to come to school at eg 10.30 for a phonics meeting. I found the 1-4 ages much easier to work full time, and found it necessary to stop to part time when they went to school.

Lulu1919 · 05/10/2021 18:26

I'm a TA
Took the job when my kids were 9 and 10
I took them to school and picked them up ...which is why I took the job
Now they are 28 and 29 and I'm in the same job ...ha ha

Thecommentsmakemechuckle · 05/10/2021 18:28

I was full time before I had my daughter. She’s 7 now, in p3 and I work part time, 20 hours a week which I’ve done since I put her to private nursery at 11 months after my mat leave ended. I drop her off at breakfast club each day but can be there for her finishing every day other than a Friday as they finish early (scotland) so she goes to after school club. I have no plans to go back to full time hours until she’s well up through the primary or even started high school. I feel it’s a really good work/life balance for us while she’s still so young. I’m a single parent, she lives with me and sees her dad every other weekend so I do all the school stuff/after school activities etc. I like to be able to go and do stuff together after school or sit and do her homework/reading with her without it being a mad rush after dinner/before bed which it would be if I worked until 5pm.

Seriallover · 05/10/2021 18:29

I'm part time. Youngest has just started school. I have no plans to go back full time.

TreaslakeandBack · 05/10/2021 18:31

DS is 9 but I will never work full time again.

SirChenjins · 05/10/2021 18:32

Went p/t when I returned to work after my mat leave with DC1 and then went f/t when DC3 was in late primary school and didn’t want to go to after school club. I adjusted my hours so I was home for around 4.30/4.45, so he was only on his own for around an hour - an hour of uninterrupted TV or Xbox, he was delighted!

JamMakingWannaBe · 05/10/2021 18:36

@EerilyDisembodied

I pay extra into my company pension to make it as if I was full time. I realise this option isn't available to everyone though.
^^ This. Me being P/T means we are saving in childcare costs so our joint expenses include topping up my pension to the F/T equivalent.
Didiusfalco · 05/10/2021 18:36

I was part time, then at home for a couple of years and now full-time. I do have school holidays off though, which makes it a lot easier. It is tricky, but I was sick of feeling that I couldn’t save any money, and then an opportunity presented that I didn’t want to turn down. Nothing is as hard as working when they are babies/toddlers, not sleeping and really full on.

TheBitterBoy · 05/10/2021 18:37

I stayed part time after DS started school and he is now in secondary school. TBH its harder when they're at school, as wrap around care is tricky and covering school holidays is a consideration. It's much easier to deal with when you only have to cover childcare for part of the week. Plus helping to manage homework, after school activities etc. If you don't need to be full time it's so much easier to keep on top of everything. Many of my friends only went back to full time after their kids were at secondary school and could be left for longer periods.

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