Inspired by another thread - are you full time, part time, SAHM and how old are your kids

[Iampondering]

Obviously what works for everyone is different, and I’m not looking to cast judgement on anyone else’s decisions in life!
Now my DC is 7, I am surprised however to be only one of two full timers out of my close group of friends. The other 5 range from 2-3 days a week. No SAHM in our circle though.
I was PT until school then shifted to FT then.
Just being nosy and wondering what’s the norm for other friendship groups, and is there a shift as DC get older?

9-3.30 Monday- Friday, term time only. I work at my kids’ school. DH works away for 2 weeks every month so it works perfectly for us as I don’t need childcare. Children are 9 and 7.

I'm a teacher, work on a 0.8 basis. Long commute. Finish earlier so that I can do the school run for child in Reception. Very much at capacity though mentally/physically and genuinely don't know how I'd do any more hours without my well-being suffering. I feel underpaid for what I do and considering my years of experience but also know this is a season in life.

DC are 9, 12 and 18. DH and I are both FT.

When DD2 (DC3) was born I stayed off for 18mo then went back to work part time (3 days), term time only. When she started at school I went up to 4 days a week, and when they were 16, 10 and 7 (in 2023) I went back full time. Each increase in hours has also been at the same time as a promotion. I WFH (mostly, although I need to be in London for in person meetings a couple of times a week usually) and I'm relatively senior so I can manage my diary around the days that I need to do the school run - DH and I share them equally.

Full time (37 hours), one 18 month old, having to seriously think about if we can manage another. It’s very hard. With me working FT we are £600 a month better off and it makes all the difference at the moment.

I work 4 days a week, I have a 2 and 7yo. DH does 28-42 hours a week (retail)

Hoping to stick with 4 days when my youngest starts school

Both DH and I work full time, we have three kids between 5 and 8. No family help as we are overseas but we do have a housekeeper/ nanny who does school pick up and minds the kids till one of us gets home. School finishes later here, which helps, and I WFH twice a week. It’s a constant juggle but it works, getting easier as the kids get older. We are reducing our help to afternoons only. DH is in education so school holidays are covered. I imagine it’s very hard in the UK to both work FT without family help or a very high income. One reason we are not planning to return.

FT 40 hours. Children are 4 and 8.

Kids are 5 and 9 and I’m part time (3 days per week, but I also have a side hustle so often work an additional day per week).

I also took this job on purpose - even though it’s lower paid than jobs I’ve had in the past - because it’s closer to home and more flexible, so it’s easier to do pick ups/drop offs etc.

I can only think of two couples I know where both parents are full time, one has a nanny and the other has a lot of grandparent help with childcare.

Full time, kids are 17 and 12. Most women I know work full time. I can only think of one that’s part time and her child is grown up

I’m a SAHM. I have a 2 year old son and am pregnant with a little girl due in March. It just works for us for me to stay at home while our children are so young. We have no family support and childcare for both of them would be more than I could earn if I went back to work. I will most likely get at least a part time job when both are at school.

I work full time and always have. I am lucky that I start early so I am home mid afternoon. I also work from home 3 days a week.

17, 11, 9 and 8. Two have autism and high care needs so it makes sense for me to be home. But honestly even without their additional needs I'd find it difficult to fit in work around the 3 younger.

Part time here (3 days a week.) DDs are 8 and 6. It's actually the other way round for us, in my circle of friends I only know two other part time working mums. Most went back to full time when the children started school. I don't know any SAHMs.

We do live in South East England where property prices are crazy so I think that feeds into it. My plan is to increase my hours in a few years when DDs can both walk themselves home from school.

Work 37.5 hours per week but term time only. Poorly paid but enjoyable role. Two kids in primary. Always worked same pattern since end of mat leave with first child, full time 52 weeks before. DH works full time year round. No remote working for either of us and no family help so using wrap around care. Feel like I never get a break because the kids are always there any off time I have.

Full time plus. Always have been, went back when DC1 was 4 months old and when DC2 was 8 months old. They are now 20 and 15. Will be retiring at 55 with a fat pension, mortgage paid, both kids privately educated and fully funded through uni, with a house deposit each. It has been bloody hard work at times, but now the end of the tunnel is less than 2 years away.

I work 3 12 hour shifts a week and do a spot of cleaning as well

Two children aged 8 and 10. I worked part time until dd2 finished reception and have now gone back full time (45+ hours) but my DH works from home so can drop them at school, and my mum also helps with pick ups. Most mums I know work part time & I would too if I didn't have the family support.

I have 3 kids - 9,8,7 year olds. I work full time from home. DH also works full time and goes into the office 3 days a week plus works away on average at least one week a month . I would love to drop to 4 days as I'm frazzled but with the cost of living I can't so have to keep at it. I am just very grateful to be able to work from home!

I worked 3 days a week with my first 2 and gave up work when my third was born as they were so close in age, childcare was crippling and my husband was working away alot so I wanted one of us to be with the kids so was a SAHM.

When my youngest started school nursery at almost 4 I went back to work 3 days a week. When she started school I upped to 4 days a week and went full time in January 2025. I feel very lucky that i was able to have that time off with my kids and that I was able to relatively easily get back into work again.

To each their own I say. Whatever works for your family.

I’m a SAHM. DC are 5, 3 and nearly 1. Planning to have at least 1 more DC.

DH has his own company, so no need for me to work again. Legally it’s half mine, as is our mortgage free house, plus the ISA in my own name; so I’m protected.

3 DC, all secondary school/ college. I’ve been full time since the youngest was 8 years old (Y4).

25 23 19 13 , sahm all my circle are sahm . Some have kids the same age as mine others have younger . Live rurally common here for women to be sahm or maybe have a small part time job

Im impressed with how you manage
full time! I think a lot of families struggle as not all schools have before and after school club places and even then a lot of jobs would not be able to get back in time for that (especially if you have a commute!) I don’t know anyone wealthy enough for a nanny.

Current SAHM. Youngest is 18 months.

Wow that secretly sounds awesome haha.

2dc 7 &4 I'm part time, 31hours over 4 days, I've done variations of 22-31 hours since ds1, expecting dc3 next year and will probably return to 31 hours, needs must. Use mu of wrap around and grandparents to help with pickups, Most mums I know are part time, and some have stayed that way even once dc grown and left home

I've done various combinations of work patterns depending on the age of my kids and our home circumstances.

I became a SAHM when DS2 was a year old because I was offered voluntary redundancy after maternity leave. I didn't want to go back anyway, the juggling everything along with a long commute was tough. I really loved my years at home and feel very lucky that thanks to DH's job we were able to take that decision.

I had a third child, then decided to go back part-time when he started school. By the time he started secondary, I was ready to go back full-time and have built my career up again since.