If you have primary aged children, how many days a week do you work?

[masm]

Trying to gauge what would work best.

DS(4) starts school this September. I am actually reducing my hours from three days a week to two. Just wondering what the sort of ‘norm’ is, not that there is a norm.

I don’t think I’m looking for validation, I’m chatting, on chat. There is honestly no need to be belligerent here; no one is judging you, least of all me.

5 days- full time (39hours)

Forgot to add - speech therapy sessions for my youngest, have had to go private due to the 1yr plus wait list on the NHS so I have to take him out to this, another job for my non working day

4 - but I pay into my pension full-time

Yup it’s lovely. It works well for us too because the two longer days mean DH has to pick up/drop off, do dinner (heat up something I’ve batch cooked) packed lunches etc which keeps him in the loop and me not doing everything. It also justifies a cleaner so I don’t have to anything too boring and sloggy on my days off.
Honestly Wednesday morning when the door shuts behind them all and I am left in a clean quiet house with 5 days of doing whatever I want stretching out in front of me…. It’s bliss!!! Hard recommend. Obviously am very lucky to be able to and I know it’s not in the reach of most and I feel very blessed. But if you can, do!

3 to me is just about manageable. I tried 4 but hated it. Bear in mind though I was a teacher so may be manageable with a less intense job. We also have no help from extended family and I have to do all drop offs and pick ups. I worked exclusively from home for a while but I’ve just started doing a bit of both so in one day, one day a short day and the rest from home.
Where I live most kids are not in wrap around care. They’re picked up by their parents or grandparents so parents either have flexible jobs, are part time or they have a lot of help.

I work 3, DH 4. We've been doing this since I finished maternity leave (which 3-5 months where I live). So DC have always done 2 days nursery and then 2 days after school care.

To the posters saying they couldn't imagine what they'd do to with 3 days off DH and I use our days off now the kids are in school to:
-do the weekly food shop
-get in exercise
-do chores/DIY
-catch up on work (I have the type of job that requires me to do prep out of hours)
-catch our breath and take a break (our kids are intense!)
-a few years ago I did part-time study

We wouldn't cope with working full time. Practically our eldest has SEN which means he needs specialist out of school care and logistically, being at a Specialist school meant different pick ups which would have been impossible to manage with us both working full time. Both of my kids would also really struggle with full time child care given their needs. Having a bit of extra down time means I haven't burnt out (which is a huge problem in my profession, even for colleagues without SEN kids at home). Eldest is now at secondary but still needs support at home, especially with homework. I can't imagine ever working full time again to be honest.

I do 30 hours flexible. Mostly 4.5 days a week so I collect at 5pm.

5 days since 18 months old, DH 5 days since 14 days old!
We’ve always used a bit of wrap around, DD has also done a couple of clubs per week since starting KS2. DH used to have an early finish on a Friday to do 3.30 pick up but now she’s in another sports club he doesn’t need to.
Lucky to have reasonably flexible employers and a bit or WFH, would have been harder otherwise

30 hrs a week across 5 days, so i can do all drop offs and pick ups, then longer days in the schoold holidays so i get one day off a week to help with childcare

I usually work 2 or 3 days a week. 9-3 weekday shifts. I have 2 DC one primary and one secondary.

I only work in a retail job so there’s no point paying for wraparound care. My youngest has ASD and additional needs and I don’t think I could be the parent i need to be if doing a 40 hour week job. DH works long hours so it just wouldn’t work.

I have found the balance just works nicely for me. I love being able to do all the school runs for younger DS, I like always being there in the mornings and after school for my teen as well. Then I like having a couple of days to myself each week to do the housework, life admin, batch cooking or just do something nice for myself.

What as in you top it up? I do the same and pay around 20% to make up for being PT.

Full time plus about 8 hrs overtime. I do start at 3am 4 days a week to do 2 hrs o/t before my 5am start time though so am finished by 12.30 in time for my 2 yr old coming home from grandparents.

5, full time hours.

None
Every family is different what suits others might not suit you and depends on how much people need the money.

Six but I do mainly school hours and do all the after school stuff. I am divorced so their dad has them on Saturdays and I make up any hours missed during the week to get up to my contracted 37.5.

Eldest secondary
Youngest ks2
Still 4 days a week which gives flexibility to do all crap housework and admin so it doesn't encroach into weekends

I did 17.5 on a 2 day 3 day split when they were in primary, now do 4 days as they’re in high school.

I work 4 days and send them to after school club on those days. My day off is used to catch up on housework and shopping, sometimes I'll meet up with a friend. It also is the only day a week I get to walk the children to school and pick them up.

3 days compressed into 2. 2 boys who have autism

You must be exhausted!

It sounds ideal, does your partner do the school run on a Wednesday?

Me too. Solo parenting makes a big difference

35 hours, which is full time in my company over 4.5 days.

Full time (which with commute plus school run I'm out of the house 7-5 every day), youngest is in wrap around care so not issue but next year he's no longer eligible for breakfast club so he'll have to walk himself to school.
I'm pondering the possibility of working 10 hour days mon-thurs and then having Fridays off to do other things that need doing and spend extra time with DS (as then he wouldn't need afternoon care on Fridays) but it is pretty exhausting (did it for a couple of weeks recently)