Help ! Job opportunity full time / part time wwyd

[Allhallowseve]

I'm after some advice from wise mumsnetters.

Firstly for context I have three children 7 , 5 and 2 .
I currently work 2 days a week office hours I'm a nurse . I enjoy my job on the whole it's very flexible, I can attend most things for my kids at school etc. My 2 year old is looked after by grandparents both days so not starting nursery until he gets free hours when he's 3. School holidays are not a problem.

Iv been in this job 4 years . I have thought about my previous job on and off
and potentially going back at some point. The longest I seem to stick in jobs tends to be 3-4 yrs for some reason I seem to crave change.

The opportunity has come up to return to my previous job but at my current salary(this hasn't been offered before I thought I would have to drop down a band NHS)
it would involve 1 year full time uni and placement - which is a very tough full on year. I also would have to do 4-5 days full time /almost full time when qualified I can wave goodbye to my part time hours , however it would be term time .
I'm completely torn with what to do.
My heart wants to go for it - it's a job I really would like to go back to - although nothing is perfect it's nhs and there have been cuts since I left .

I would have to put my 2 yr old in nursery 3 days and I would be full time with academic work to do so little time to spare . My other 2 would need before and after school care . The extra money would be eaten up with childcare fees.I have been short listed for interview . But have been tieing myself in knots over what to do . My gut is telling me it's not the right time . I don't want to miss the opportunity. However I am pretty sure it will come up again . Should I go for it or wait a year until my 2 year old is settled in nursery - my kids a bit older and I'm perhaps in a better place for full time study ?
WWYD?

Based on what you've said I wouldn't go for it just now. It's best to trust your gut.

Go for the interview. You might decide you really do or don't want it based on that.

Are you a single parent?

@girlmom21 no not single parent - husband is a lorry driver so he's around most afternoons but leaves early morning . Finish time never guaranteed as things can change based on state of motorway he also works away one night a week so its hard sometimes with three kids.
He's supportive of what I want to do - his work will not allow him to drop hours which is frustrating and also back handed sexist but there we go.

Ah that's a tough job to work around too, isn't it.
Is he home (mostly) early enough for school pick ups or not? I was just thinking if he could do most pick ups and grandparents could help out when he can't it might help avoid after school club at least.

@girlmom21 sometimes he’s back sometimes he’s not . It’s a great job as in mostly he’s home by 4 - but it’s never guaranteed .

Sounds stressful. I went back to studying when kids were 8 and 10 and even at that age I found it SUPER stressful. I wouldn’t risk it if I were you. I turned into a miserable, shouty mum, and also put on 2 stone in stress eating. I still feel awful guilt for how I neglected my family during the year. We didn’t even take a holiday because I had exams :(

Definitely go for the interview and see how you feel after.

I'd personally go for it while they're younger, they won't remember as much as if you wait until they're older.

I'm in a similar position, completing a masters, whilst working full time and have 2 very young children, my second is 1, had him smack bang in the middle of my studies. I won't lie, it's so hard, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed I just cry, like this weekend knowing my final piece is due is 6 weeks and I've no idea how I will pull it off. But I will, mums always make it work somehow.

But, knowing that once this is done I'll have better prospects and good opportunities for well paid term time only work is what drives me. Once this is done our holidays will be about making memories, adventures and lots of time together and those are the parts my children will remember. I will be very much present for all weekends and school holidays for as long as they're willing to spend time with me!

@SunshinePie I know people that have done it with no kids and said it’s super hard and stressful. I’m pretty confident that I could do it if I put my mind to it . I just think maybe I would be in a better place in a year or 2 . There’s a big difference between a 2 year old and 4 year old in my own experience .
@lollipoplips thanks for your reply . This is also why I’m torn part of me thinks just get it done then I can move forward in a role I want to be in.
However personally for me this is not a promotion it would be the same money . I also don’t currently have an issue with school hols working only 2 days . However if I wanted to up my hours in the future it would become a problem.

Aahhhhh just feel like I’m going round in circles.
Im concerned that if I went to the interview and ended up being offered the role then declined it would affect my chance of being accepted again in the future. However if I withdraw before interview with my reasons and plan to apply again at a better time perhaps it would look better .

I wouldn’t, no

i work part time, single parent and I love love love love

I enjoy my time at work
i enjoy my two days to myself. I clean, cool, catch up for a coffee with friends, fix things, potter, grocery shop, do admin.

so then weekends free for the fun stuff in life

Plus I love that as my two grow older
i can watch them do matches and cross country during the day

I’d go for the interview, if you get offered the job then make a decision. Can you get a nursery place/ wrap around care? Is there likely to be progression once you have finished the study year? It seems like quite a lot of stress for the same ( effectively less when you consider childcare) money unless it will fairly quickly lead to a pay increase. Do you enjoy your current job?

@Ohthatsexciting i have loved my hours too I get to go to almost everything at school and be around for my 2 year old too. Plus have still kept 2 days at work which I enjoy - I sometimes just have this moment of madness where my ambition for more takes over .

@Gizlotsmum would need to go on waiting list for after school care as spaces are tight - nursery would have space although he’s never been so would go from nothing to 3 full days .
Not likely to be progression no , higher band roles are limited due to cuts in service . They are there but certainly not guaranteed and definitely not straight away .
The only difference really would be if I wanted to up my hours I could do term time only .

At this stage it seems very impractical. If you think this opportunity will come again I'd definitely wait at least until all 3 are in school. Enjoy the kids while you can ......

I know a lot of people are saying not to, but I'm leaning the other way - term time only jobs are like gold dust, and if grandparents are around to help out it could work. I wouldn't be comfortable to not not go for it on the basis of the opportunity being available in the future, as this might not be the case. I'd only be comfortable to not go for it on the basis of deciding that it wasn't right for me.

Trust me
will ramp up when at school
great to have flexibility and be around when they get home

I do recall your other thread though about possible financial abuse from your your dh

in that situation, I would certainly be looking to maximise my earnings

I’d go to interview.

and if your husband is a lorry driver he can probably write his own terms at the moment if he’s willing to change employer. He can put in a formal request for flexible working. They’ll need to formally respond, it can’t just be a blanket no.