How many hours did you work after going back from maternity leave?

[twoorthreeorfour]

My contract is changing to 3 days, 22.5 hours. I wondered what other people do. If you reduced your hours, at what point did you go full time again?

We didn’t miss the milestones - watched their first steps, heard them say their first words etc- nursery is only part of the day and for only a few years and then they’re at school so no point being at home and missing out on a career.

Also strangely felt like we had more quality time as a family when I was FT as we really prioritised after work and weekends family time. It was hard but we definitely had lots of lovely time together too. As my child has developed their own friends and interests, this has obviously eaten into this!

Everyone’s experiences and feelings are valid. Not everyone can afford to stay at home or go part time, and sometimes even if you can - it’s ok to want your career too and go back FT!

I hate the who’s done it best argument, let’s all just get along and remember we all live different lives :)

Went from 42.5 to 22.5

Yep.

strange how women always want to “watch their kids grow up”, but never seem to consider that maybe the children’s dad would like the same luxury.

we’ve varied over the years. I did 4 years FT, then 3 years 4 days. A year off looking when I got made redundant. Now back FT. Dh the same. He’s SE, so can knock back his hours if he wishes. He’s had several years FT while I’m PT, he’s had a few PT while I did FT. We both did 4 days at one point which was nice. He’s had a couple of months off when he felt he needed a break.

currently I’m full time and dh is 0.5. He does most of the child running about, school runs, hobbies etc.

flexibility as a family so both parents can be involved in the children’s lives as equally as possible is key, IMO.

Agree @SugarMarshmallow Let's not judge each other and make this into a bun fight. It's none of our business why or how someone chooses to work whatever hours!

I'm a single parent to 3 kids.

@mustbethat why are you making this a bun fight? Let's not make this thread personal here. You can't assume the father is around he could be deceased for all you know. It's naive to pretend that society "expect" women to amend their lives once the child comes along. I don't agree with it but it's the harsh reality and we could be here all day long about how "unfair" it is. It's just what it is!

Fair enough but some people do.

I'm a single parent to 3 kids so even if I wanted to go full time I can't. So I'm going to enjoy them until I can up my hours a bit more.

Great flexibility!

Both DH and I wanted to progress in our careers and part time wasn’t an option for our roles. However we made it work and the pay off has been that we’re been able to retire in our mid 50’s.

No regrets at all here. I'm still watching them grow up and will also have my career when they have grown up.

It was made personal the minute someone implied that those who work full time don't watch their children grow up. Of course people are going to respond to that.

It's only the harsh reality because too many people accept it and then judge mothers who don't amend their lives as much and continue to work full time just as their partners likely do.

I've heard people regret working full time as they missed out on watching them grow while they were little

I mean, I'd have regretted not being able to pay the mortgage or the bills, and not being able to afford to properly feed my kids, more. But hey ho.

Yes, indeed.

Also, I’ve heard peoole who claim to have psychic powers, or to have become millionaires from MLMs. I don’t need to credit either POV as having any truth value.

Straight back to full time over 4 days same as DH, the condensed pattern means we only ever have to cover 3 days childcare in the holidays, we both work fairly locally to home although I do travel more, so only need wrap around after school 3 days.

I went back full time first time around. Second time around I went back 3 days a week, term time only. I was in a job I HATED before I went on mat leave with DD2, so I didn’t have much incentive to go back. Worked 3 days for 3 years, then went 4 days when DD2 started school, then full time after a couple of years.

The first time, I went back full time straight away, but over 4.5 days.

The second time I did Monday - Wednesday for a few months and then increased to Monday- Thursday. I have no intention of ever working Friday again.

I officially returned on a 30 hour contract to be worked over 3.5 days. However I used my accumulated annual leave to work 2.5 days for the first 5 months.

I moved to 4 days a week when DS was 18mo. Then up to 5 days a week but TTO when he was 2 until he started school at 4. I then quit work for a few years and now work very part time (DS is 9).

Am very happy with how it has all worked out. Would be keen to find something around 22 hours a week TTO now.

Compressing 4.5 days into 4, so that I can have one day off a week. Also it just about puts me in a lower pension contribution rate band so it’s saving me some cash! 😁

17 hours over two days. Had the second baby a few years later and she’s nearing 4 and still on the same 🙂

I did 1 day a week, then 2 then max 3. But was self employed so it was more about what I could or couldn’t afford to do.

I went from full time retail management to working part time in hospitality for 14/15 hrs a week. I didn’t see my job as a career and I was lucky I could stay at home full time if I wanted but still wanted to earn some of my own money.

did that for most of my children’s school years then retrained and now work 30hrs a week.

loved being at home with both our children,

37.5 so full time, usually over 4 days. DH dropped his hours to cover more of the childcare to make it easier for me to manage my shifts.

When home I kept my eyes closed as much as possible to avoid seeing the DCs grow up. I believe one has now left home (or just stopped responding when I speak most of the time) and the other sounds taller but I can't be 100% sure.

@SouthLondonmum22 There's not always a partner. You've wrongly assumed there is. I know of 3 people and their partners have died in tragic circumstances. I think sometimes it's best to just skim over nonsense rather than engage.

A lower pension band will provide for a lesser pension?