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

[2blackandwhitecats]

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?

I still work part time with teenage dc.
My dh works long hours so we would really struggle if I worked full time. I think I’d be a wreck as we just about manage to tick along.

This is all well and good, but is your high powered DH paying into a pension for you ? It seems to me as if you are enabling your DH to charge ahead, later you may feel you are left behind. I have a great pension (NHS) and was part time for 6 years in total. But returned ft when Dd (DC2) was going into year 4 (nearly 9). I have to say the trajectory of my career has changed enormously since going ft.

I did 3 days when they were little then went to 4 when they were in secondary school. I now do 5 days compressed into 4 which is ideal. I'm never going to work a Friday again if I can avoid it!

YY to the pension - absolutely.

I was p/t for many years, never gave it a second thought really as I enjoyed working that way. Now my NHS pension is nowhere near what it should be - so I’m working full time to boost it before retiring at 60.
If anyone is working p/t to support/facilitate their DH in his career then absolutely insist on him contributing to your pension otherwise you’ll have a big shortfall.

I don't know where to start with working out pension stuff... How do you know what to aim for and if yours is enough... Or what difference upping hours would make...

@Reallyimeanreally2022 I asked a musing question. I’m not at the collecting exact facts and figures yet, I am FT at the moment and probably will be until at least 2024 if my future plans work out!

I got my employer to calculate how much I would be paying into my pension if I was full time and then upped my contribution to that figure.

I increased my hours once they started school but still finish early two days, so I can do school pick up. It’s actually harder to balance things once they are school I’ve found, so I like that I have two afternoons at home for play dates/activities/just hanging out. DC are young primary at the moment, I have the feeling they’ll only need more support as they get older with schoolwork etc so have no plans on giving those afternoons up any time soon.

[quote 2blackandwhitecats]@Reallyimeanreally2022 I asked a musing question. I’m not at the collecting exact facts and figures yet, I am FT at the moment and probably will be until at least 2024 if my future plans work out![/quote]
To be fair op you very much have the impression that “you are spread too thin” at the moment and that you are “considering” it now!

Good luck with your decision

I can’t recommend part time more highly. I spent quite a bit of time looking at the impact beyond pro rata salary

I am considering it, but the earliest I could go part time would be September 2022 (teacher) and am hoping to be pregnant again at this point and 12 months maternity taking us to 2024. Definitely spread too thin!

I dropped to 4 days after my first child, went back full time when second child went to pre-school - so about 5 years in total. They’re now early secondary age.

We all have different pressures and drivers, my career was effectively paused when I was part time and the kids were pre-school. I wanted the opportunity to progress (which I have - considerably - since returning full time) both for personal fulfilment and for current and future personal financial stability (not just family financial security - but mine should I become a lone parent or household for whatever reason).

With seniority I’ve found comes extra flexibility, so I can be there when needed by teens and then put in additional work hours elsewhere if needed. I know I’m lucky I can achieve a balance (not that there is much free time for me in there) that works for us, with both parents working flexibly to support careers and daily life.

Another benefit to me is modelling, for my daughters, that that child rearing doesn’t have to default to greater impact on a women’s career