Help! New possible working hours. What would you do?

[ThorsMistress]

I need help because I apparently am completely incapable of making my own life decisions.

I currently work the following hours

Monday - 8:00 to 18:30
Wednesday - 8:00 to 13:30
Thursday - 8:00 to 18:30

A position has come up where I could possibly drop the Thursday afternoon and work the Tuesday morning. Making my hours

Monday - 8:00 to 18:30
Tuesday to Thursday - 8:00 to 13:30

The new hours would be PERFECT for childcare reasons. I wouldn’t need to rely on anyone to help and school holidays would be so much easier.

But. DH is a head chef. He works very long hours meaning I only see him sometimes for half an hour in the mornings but often I am gone to work before he wakes up meaning I don’t see him all day. We have worked like this for the last 8 years and although it’s not for everyone it works for us.

Here’s the problem. He gets a Tuesday off. Meaning we get to spend the day together, going for lunch etc and just spending that quality time together that we just don’t have.

I really don’t want to regret the decision I make. What would you do? I only have until tomorrow morning to decide making it even harder.

You would finish work at 1.30 on a Tuesday, could you not fit in a quick late lunch before having to pick DC up?

Only you know if it would really work for you as a family. What does your husband think?

Oooh tricky.

That Tuesday off with your DH sounds wonderful.

How long until your kids are in secondary school?

Can you afford the drop in wages?
I would stick with the way they are at the moment as you get the whole day together on Tuesday. The new way would mean only an hour max until your child is back from school?

What does your DH think?

Is there any chance you can work Weds-Friday on the shorter hours?

I'd stick with the original hours, you are only saving one late night with the new hours. Plus new hours means an extra day out of the house.

I’d work the new hours. Half days and shorts shifts are amazing. You could always go out for lunch on the Tuesday until children come home from school,

you said the new hours were perfect for childcare reasons.

DH used to be a Head Chef, it's hard! I'd take the new hours, I think ease of childcare is key when they have that job.

Thank you for your replies.

DS (10) is at school and DS2 (4) is at nursery until 15:00.

I really don’t know what to do! I think I have an answer and then I really don’t.

My husband was a chef for 12 years, we eventually got to a point after 10 years of conflicting shifts where we got Sundays off together. It was so special getting a day off together every week. I'd keep your current hours personally, I'd really miss the tuesday together

What sort of hours does DH do at the weekends?
If you get some weekend time together, and you need them onetime from the extra hours, I'd take the job.
If DH does 12 hr days at the weekends, and you don't need the extra hours, I'd stick where you are.
Any way you could do 8.30-12 on the Tuesday, and finish at 2 the other days??

@ThorsMistress would they let you do Friday morning instead of Tuesday morning? Or longer each ‘morning’ to get Tuesday off?

Personally I would keep it as it is. I’d rather do 3 longer days and have 2 days off. I personally find the afternoons at home drag on a bit, so I wouldn’t mind missing 2 of them at home per week, even if it did mean needing 2 days of childcare. I’d assume 2 days off would also be better for school holidays.

Oh, woops. Missed the Friday's off bit. I'm guessing DH can't switch to fridays off?? It's also not more hours, is it?!
Just ignore my post from earlier above.

@Blowthemandown unfortunately not. The Tuesday morning has come up because someone is leaving so I can replace my afternoon shift with that morning

Yes - 8-6.30 is a killer. I do it on fridays sometimes. I couldn't do it another day.

Switch. You get Tuesday afternoons to spend with your partner

I would do the new hours because not having to rely on childcare would trump time with DH for me.

New hours. Spend longer time together when you book leave. I think it will put pressure on Tuesdays to be a couple day and your DH might not always commit to that so then you’d feel resentful. You get a bit of the afternoon together and the shorter days with no childcare faff would swing it for me.

This.

What are the other benefits of the new job? Pay? Prospects? Team?

Sorry, I misunderstood. Does he work all Fri-Sun?

I would stay as you are. It looks like it only affects childcare on one day anyway which is already a minimal amount of childcare.

What does your DH think?

Take the role. Shame to loose those hrs with DH but that seems a luxury and can do something Tuesday afternoons as kids grow you will have tues eve too

You say the new hours are perfect for childcare but how difficult is it now ? If its a nightmare snd stressful I'd change but if its manageable I'd probably stick with the quality time with H if that's the only time you get.

Can he change his day off?