Working full time with 2 under 5

[e323]

Hi all,

So I have a 3yo (4 in March) and a 8 month old. Been working the NHS as a HCA for 3 years. With other healthcare experience prior to having my children. Planned to do nurse training but not sure now so decided to leave it.

Current employer has been pretty crap whilst I'm on Mat leave. I'm on ridiculously low pay for my job. I asked about additional hours as a colleague left. They ignored me then said they don't know. The gave a full time HCA job to a colleague who was a receptionist but her contract was due to end because she was covering Mat leave. She has no experience in healthcare whatsoever. So I'm pretty annoyed as I had asked for additional hours.

I'm due to go back in March but hoping not too as currently looking to go back to working in insurance. Job I did prior to children.

We've just had our mortgage offer come through and although we are waiting to see if it comes down it's looking to be an extra £400 a month.

Therefore I may be looking at going full time or at least 4 days a week but pay will be so much better. As much as £3/£4 an hour more than present. I'm happy with this for us to be more comfortable financially. However my mother likes to tell this won't be good for my children and I shouldn't do it!

Does anyone else work full time with little ones? Pros and cons please x

I have a 5yo, 3yo and 1yo and work 4 days a week, with the DC in school and nursery. It's busy but fine. I know lots of people seem anti-nursery on here, but irl everyone I know puts their kids in nursery for at least half, if not all, the week. They all seem to enjoy it and I think it really helps the transition to reception when the time comes for school.

Thank you!!

My daughter has been in nursery for 2 x 9 hour days since she was 14 months and one day with my mother and she loves nursery!

I feel like we would still get lots of time together at the weekend and my eldest will be in school in September. Do yours do breakfast and after school club too?

My new job would be mostly working from home also so thinking I can get laundry and housework done on my lunch break!

4 days from home is incredibly doable. You're unlikely to regret that opportunity

Yes we use breakfast club and after school club too. 5yo loves them (especially breakfast club as he loves school food - weirdo, I always hated it ). We've also found sports / extra curricular clubs can work out both cheaper and a bit more fun than ASC, so something to research / bear in mind. Honestly this is typical for most of my friends and colleagues so I don't find anything strange or worrying about it. I also went to childcare full time from 6 months old so I guess I've been brought up with this as the norm! I don't think you need to worry - and if something does happen or come up, make a plan to adjust. But in the first instance, I'd say working ft and kids being in childcare is absolutely fine.

I did/do it too...I went back up from p/t around a year ago when my DC were 2 and 5. 😊

The first winter of nursery illnesses is horrendous, DH and I tended to split who stayed off work that day based on who had meetings that day/how much annual leave we each had left.

The other thing is, try not to feel guilty if you can't do everything - there just aren't enough hours in the day! As long as you and your DP/DH are both trying your best at being good employees/parents/keeping the house going and have equal amounts of time left over to rest/socialise then that's all you can do.

Currently on MAT leave with second, will be returning full time with a 1yo and 3.5 yo. I am expencting a hard year or so and then for it to get easier, lots of woman like myself have no option. Mine will be attending nursery two days and family the rest. I would snap up an oppertunity to work from home, when we were all sent home in the lockdowns I got absolutely loads done in my lunch breaks whilst live teaching a normal day! I'd go for it, if it's a disater you can always try and find a new job again.