To feel guilty for not working ft?

[LaughingGiraffe]

Firstly I acknowledge that this thread has been inspired by another recent thread, sorry if this is bad form. I have always worked, ft, pt, nearly ft, sessional, you name it. I am a Social Worker, so I do find stress can be an issue for me. I find everything much easier to cope with when I am pt. I have 3 dc. 11, 8 and 4. I currently work 3 days a week and this works for me. However I currently find myself feeling guilty as I will have some child free time for two days a week. I was planning on catching up on housework, batch cooking and doing an OU course in this time. So am I being unreasonable? We can manage with my pt wage, but I worry about saving money for dc in the future, university etc.

Not BU, and dont let anyone tell you you are, you do a worthwhile job and your hardly planning sitting around in your spare time.

And you arent putting yourself in financial difficulties, so stop worrying.

YANBU.

If you can manage, you can manage.

Don't be thinking of messing up something that works for you for the sake of appeasing other people. Suit yourself, nobody else cares beyond passing the odd remark.l

< ahem >

I work 2 and a half days a week

Both my dc are in senior school

I don't have one ounce of guilt

Thanks for these comments. This is very helpful. We can manage financially, but I worry about dc coming out of further education, (if they chose to go that way) with huge debts. I hate debt and have always avoided it myself wherever I can. I also think that I should be working more to further 'my career'. I have been treading water for the past few years, but I am not the most ambitious woman in the world. I do realise I have just outlined a major issue for women. We all want want to develop and do our jobs well, but I am not really interested in promotion.

I worked full time for 16 years before DC. Had 8 years at home as a SAHM. Worked part-time for 2 years and have been full time for the last 6 years. DC now 16 and 13. The hardest years of my life were when I worked part-time. Tried to be a professiona, tried to be the perfect mother, tried to be the perfect wife and didn't feel I could justify any paid help. I think part-time probably works best for all of you at present - in a year or two things might change and as the dc get bigger you will be able to push your own needs up the agenda. IMO happy mum = happy family whether your work f/t, p/t or not at all.

I am lucky though, that I work in a profession that does not penalise PT workers

I currently job-share a senior position

I do think that the pressure I put on myself is the hardest to take. AnyFucker, my profession is largely female, but I do find a lot of new jobs are advertised ft. I guess I should just relax a bit, but I do find it hard. Your comments make a lot of sense marriedinwhite pt is quite hard, I constantly feel that I am doing a less than good job anywhere.....

You can apply for jobs advertised as FT and request PT

they are obliged to consider it (if you work in a recognised profession)

I know that you are right AnyFucker. I need to think hard about what I do want, which I have not really done for a while. I think confiendence issues are around for me, but that is another thread. Useful comments though, I shouldn't feel guilty. Am not sure what I will feel though.