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Original poster

Going from part time to full time work when all kids at school

53 replies

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 30/01/2022 11:46

I currently have 1 kid in reception and 1 will start next sept, I work 3 days a week sometimes 4. I’ve always looked forward to both my kids being school and getting 9-3 to myself once or twice a week… I’ve mentioned this recently to a few friend IRL who said they will go back to work full time once their youngest is in reception.!!!!

What have others done? I feel potentially robbed of these wonderful days I’ve dreamt up, as if all my friends go back I may feel the peer pressure to 😂 I won’t need to go full time for money as will make more anyway with no nursery costs!

OP posts:
Original poster
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 30/01/2022 12:48

@littleowls83

I work term time only and can leave at 3pm once a week so luckily holidays and after school clubs aren’t too much of an issue!

OP posts:
Isonthecase · 30/01/2022 12:53

I think @goldierocks puts it beautifully, for me being not quite full time has meant I have my me time during the week and can be fully present for my kids during the shorter time I have them.

Ideally I'd like me and my husband to do 3 or 4 days a week once our kids are all in school so we have a day each at home and a day together but I'd also like to afford a nicer house so we'll see 😅

ShadowPuppets · 30/01/2022 12:54

We’re not here yet but DH and I currently both do 4 days a week with DC in nursery 3 days.

Once we’re at school age the plan is for us to both change our hours so we’re both doing 3 full days and 2 mornings a week, which would mean I could do pick up and drop off on 2 days and he could do the same for 2 days, and we’d only need wraparound 1 day a week. Admittedly we are ‘lucky’ in that we both earn the same, at the same level in very similar jobs/industries, so I’m hoping we can avoid one of us being the ‘default’ parent (we have done so far but I know school is another kettle of fish!)

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Troublesometooth · 30/01/2022 12:56

I work 2 days at the minute teaching. I will probably do some supply another day or 2 a week but definitely won’t commit to anything full time. The kids will need school pick ups doing and then there is swimming, tennis clubs etc after school to take them too.

MaverickSnoopy · 30/01/2022 13:09

What do you want from life OP?

This is your starting point. Think about the future - plans, holidays, spending money, retirement, university savings etc. What do you need to earn? What is your actual job? Is it a job or a career that you want to advance?

I have 3 children and my youngest is 3. I've been out of paid employment since before she was born. I've been self employed not earning much. My plan is to change my self employed direction and build a viable business. I hope to have achieved this by the time she starts school. If she doesn't I will find a part time job to increase hours as they all get older. We need savings and more of a pension. Thankfully I started my pension age 19 but it's taken a dip, as has my previous career which would be hard to get back into.

helpingbereavedperson · 30/01/2022 13:09

My youngest starts school next year and unless our financial situation changes drastically, I will be staying part time!

AgrippinaT · 30/01/2022 13:11

I work full time now my three are at school. It's fucking shite.

Simonjt · 30/01/2022 13:14

I stayed part time, I do four short days rather than three standard days, so I need a max of 30 minutes after school club. So having more time with him is a huge bonus, nights he has dance etc aren’t a huge rush, we have time for the park on the way home etc, as I work four short days I’m not knackered. I have Fridays off, it was great having that time for me (it’s a strict no chores day).

Now I’m on adoption, so knowing I’m already part time and I won’t have to worry about what I would do if my employer refused a drop in hours is a huge weight lifted.

My husbands employer doesn’t do short days as an option, so he is going down to three days a week, they’re however very flexible on days, so when he is back at work he can move his days around to suit me. When we’re both back at work it means we’ll only need two days of childcare.

Original poster
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 30/01/2022 13:15

@MaverickSnoopy

I teach in a secondary school, but don’t teach loads now as I’ve got an inclusion role, so I do intervention work with our high risk students. I am very happy with my role, it’s very stressful but can be so fulfilling and I don’t have major plans to progress up the pay scale as this means more admin and less kid interaction, which isn’t for me.

OP posts:
justaweeone · 30/01/2022 13:15

Mine are 18 & 24, one at uni and one moved out.
I'm sticking with my three days!Grin

Retrievemysanity · 30/01/2022 13:21

I was doing 2 days until the company I worked for folded in the pandemic. I haven’t got another job but I would never work full time unless I had to financially.

Everyone’s circumstances are different but the factors in my decision include: DH has a very well paid job which covers all day to day expenses and we have no mortgage due to inheritance, DD1 has a disability and will always need me around in holidays and after school, we don’t have family nearby so no childcare and I value my days to meet friends, volunteer, exercise, housework etc leaving weekends and evenings totally free for family time. If I had a different set of circumstances I may not have the choice or as much of a choice but I would always choose the free time over working any day.

itsanothernamechangeforme · 30/01/2022 13:25

I worked 4 days and have gone to 5 days although still part time. I feel like my house is disorganised and dirty, my work is suffering, I'm expected to do a full time job in part time hours and I can't. School holidays are now going to be a massive issue and I'm financially no better off.
Stay part time if you can, a day to yourself to do whatever you want and a day to clean/organise would be perfect for me but it's not possible now.

lumpofcomfort · 30/01/2022 13:29

DH and I are both FT teachers. I went back FT when youngest was in Y2 and honestly I regret it. They are in breakfast and after-school stuff every day. At least twice a week I have to make sure I leave school by 4.15 to get them to activities, which luckily I am able to do but it just means extra work to bring home with me. Weekends are split between doing housework, driving around more activities and more prep for school. I feel if just one of us had an extra day at home we could catch up on a lot of the household stuff and the DC could have a day without wraparound care. The money is nice and I am a me to treat my DC to things like theatre trips etc but we could afford to cut back a bit and have a slightly lower pace of life. Unortunately neither of our schools are amenable to us reducing hours.

Also really challenging is when DC are sick, or even if they need doctor's appointment. It's very hard to get one for after 4pm.

lumpofcomfort · 30/01/2022 13:29

Breakfast and after-school club

GiantSpider · 30/01/2022 13:34

I worked part time when my DC were at primary school so that I could leave work early two days a week to pick them up from school and have Fridays off (so I picked them up three days out of five). When my youngest started secondary I upped my hours because of not having to pick them up from school (they now get the bus), but I still have Fridays off and would really miss that if I went full time!

Pegasussnail · 30/01/2022 13:35

I only went part time once mine went to school Grin

FlamingRoses · 30/01/2022 13:43

I gave up work completely 🤣

wendz86 · 30/01/2022 13:47

My youngest is in year 2 and I have kept my 4 days a week . My Fridays off allow me to go the gym , do cleaning and other things I need to get so done . I really appreciate the time .

katieg03 · 30/01/2022 14:00

I've just gone full time but but I get 8 weeks school holidays. I always worked 20-30 hours part time. 32 in my last job. I'm hoping when I start next week 37 won't hurt too much. My boys are nearly 12 and 8

I always thinks it's best to have your own income despite what your partner earns. Especially for your pension and you never know what's round the corner. I couldn't be dependent on someone else.

I'm telling myself since no one is in the house all day it will be fine 🤣

Toanewstart22 · 30/01/2022 15:03

@FlamingRoses

I gave up work completely 🤣
I did initially too and… felt a bit, aimless. Housekeeping and exercise became my life. Enjoyed at time but lovely job came up and went for it. 3 days a week I feel like I have a purpose, I enjoy talking about it with friends and now I’m online dating And I like the extra money

And I treasure my two days off… I get in to holiday mode!

ThreeRingCircus · 30/01/2022 15:05

It's an interesting one OP, my DDs are the same age (one in Reception, one will start school next September) and I've been having lots of conversations with DH about this. I currently work 3 days a week and love the work/life balance. DH is keen for me to stay 3 days a week once DD2 is in school as we don't need the money and it makes school holiday cover a lot easier. Life's just generally a bit calmer.

However, my pension isn't great and I do think working 3 days is hampering my career progression. I'm also not sure what I'd do with my time if I had two days a week off. My current plan is to compromise and go to 4 days per week but aim to work at home one of those days so I can pick DDs up from school and they only need after school club 3 days per week. The only issue is when I worked 4 days a week previously I did pretty much a full time job just in 80% of the time, I'm definitely more "part time" working 3 days.

Toanewstart22 · 30/01/2022 15:05

I’ve done full time op
And it really impacts quality of life insofar as it feels like an endurance test through the week and weekends full of practical stuff
The children love me part time!

XJerseyGirlX · 30/01/2022 15:20

I stayed part time , if you can afford it then stay part time op. Full time with a family and chores is a job and a half ( have tried it and hated it tbh ) . Don't be pressured by anyone.

Chosenonesneakymincepie · 30/01/2022 15:30

OP your job sounds very similar to mine.

I do think the impact on your pension is definitely worth considering. However as I said earlier I waited until my youngest was in year 2 and then went back FT. I wouldnt have done it when they were in reception. I didn't work Fridays as when I started them again I realised they are the best day in school. Bit more laid back, no expectation to stay late. I think it's worth it, but do wait until you and DC are ready. I was PT for 8 years and it worked well.

DontKeepTheFaith · 30/01/2022 15:39

I gradually increased my hours but didn’t end up full time until dses were both I. Secondary school. Until that time I did nights and then switched to days and increased from 30 hours to 37.5 hours.

Our priority was avoiding childcare costs and it did work. I found it tough and don’t feel I have been there as much for my dses the past couple of years but now they are older teens, what they need is different anyway and they are both doing really well in life.

I don’t worry too much about my pension. I have 20 years until I can take it and have had several promotions since I returned to full time work which will improve my pension pot.