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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if working part time is harder with a baby/toddler or school age kids?

33 replies

newmummytobe79 · 02/11/2012 16:04

Just thinking about my future really!

I work part time and when not working I fit housework/food shopping etc around a toddler that demands my attention all the time! [knackered face] Grin

So I'm wondering if those who work part-time with school age kids find it easier to get things done or if homework/friends for tea/sorting out uniforms and hobbies etc make it just as hard/harder work?

I'm dreaming of hoovering Confused! on my own without a little person attatched to my leg all day ... am I misguided? Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
newmummytobe79 · 02/11/2012 16:05

and Christmas shopping! On ... my ... own! Without it turning into buggy/screaming wars! Grin

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 02/11/2012 16:10

The day you can clean the toilet without a toddler trying to "help" is a beautiful one, whether you work or not.

VerySmallSqueak · 02/11/2012 16:12

I think it's easier when they go to school.
If you're part time,dependent on the hours you work,you might just get some alone time while they're at school.

VerySmallSqueak · 02/11/2012 16:16

The only thing I found a bit trickier when they went to school,particularly if you have more than one in different schools,is trying to attend the many things that they allow/encourage parents to come to.
I found nursery tended to do these things to allow as many parents as possible not to interrupt the working day,but because of the nature of school hours,they are much more limited in when they can stage events.

ramblingmum · 02/11/2012 16:17

For christmas shopping I book a days leave and do it while they are at nursery.

mrsmplus3 · 02/11/2012 16:23

Is this thread a wind up? Grin

  1. Of course it's harder with toddlers.
  2. You are so lucky you're part time to begin with.
  3. When they go to school you'll be on your own all day - heaven!
Enjoy it. I was part time for 4 years and just as my youngest is nearly ready for school I have had to go fulltime. I could kill, scream, run away etc Grin I was dreaming if ironing to loose women but no such luxury for me now. Maybe one day. When I'm the granny watching my grand kids maybe?
Acepuppets · 02/11/2012 16:31

Glad to see this thread - I work from home and have found it increasingly more difficult as my son has reached toddler stage, he is now three and a half and requires my input all of the time when he is at home. I was stupidly under the impression that they got less demanding as they get older but obviously the opposite is true and they want every opportunity with you to be a learning/helping time.

emma123456 · 02/11/2012 16:31

I found working harder when kids at school. Nursery covers childcare 8-6, rather than 9-3 and doesn't ask u to do anything else within working hours. School has open afternoons, class assemblies, coffee mornings....
Most toddlers nap for an hour or so which is enough to get housework basics done.....

thebody · 02/11/2012 16:39

Ages 6 to 9 are lovely.. Before and after this its fucking hard...oldest 23! Still hard...

VerySmallSqueak · 02/11/2012 16:41

thebody.
Oh crap - I reckon I must be in the eye of the storm. Grin

WilsonFrickett · 02/11/2012 16:49

It is hardest looking after a toddler, no doubt. However, the childcare for pre-schoolers is more regular and flexible than school. They only go to school 180 days a year yes I counted so that's an awful lot of days to find cover for, plus events, meetings, snow days, heating breaks down days, strikes...

Wallison · 02/11/2012 16:54

Money is easier when they're at school though. Time? Yes, I'd say so, on the whole. It depends how organised your school are because there are things you'll want to be there for and unless you know about them well in advance it's difficult to get time off work for. Having been caught on the hop with this a few times I now ring them at the start of every term and ask for details of everything - they're supposed to send them out in a newsletter but they never bloody do. They probably hate me Grin but I just keep on asking because otherwise I'd never be able to get there.

Wallison · 02/11/2012 17:03

Oh yes and as to doing chores etc it is difficult when they're toddlers but I don't know about yours and they might be different but mine wanted to constantly 'help'. I let him, even though it took longer, because it was better than letting him run around unsupervised and getting into everything he shouldn't. It's paid off in the long run because now he has chores that are his responsibility and he does them and actually makes a good fist of them, which genuinely saves me time and effort. So if they're following you around and wanting to do stuff, make the most of it, I say. I'm sure it will all fall apart as he gets older, but for the moment it's pretty good.

chchchchanges · 02/11/2012 17:24

Would it be rude to suggest you get a grip?

What, in terms of housework, does the children's father do? I mean surely one of you can mind the kids while the other does the hoovering? It takes about 10 mins to Hoover our big-ish three bedroom house.

thebody · 02/11/2012 17:30

Lol squeak!!!

Dozer · 02/11/2012 17:32

Childcare-wise, school age is harder, due to the need to cover holidays. Eg if have a before and after-school club or CM they may not cover the holidays.

redskyatnight · 02/11/2012 17:59

Depends what hours you work. I used to work school hours so I never had any time to myself and as well as housework/shopping etc I had to fit taking the children to their various activities, having their friends round and helping/supporting them with homework. It was pretty much non-stop from 4 till they went to bed. Whereas when they were toddlers I tended to get home, flop and just play silly games with them.

A friend words 3 days a week, so now her children are at school she has 6 hours free 2 days a week - much easier than having toddlers under foot.

DrCoconut · 02/11/2012 18:50

Childcare is much harder for school age kids. Less availability and flexibility. Which can affect your availability for work and hence the convenience of the hours you end up with.

sittinginthesun · 02/11/2012 18:57

Both toddlers and school age are hard, but in different ways.

I work until 2pm each day. Stressful job. When they were toddlers, I picked them up from nursery, and then fitted housework around walks, trips to the park, meeting friends etc.

Now, I do have a whole hour completely to myself (but I do have to drive home from work, and eat). The downside is that, after school, I am basically a taxi service between clubs etc, then there is homework, reading, music practise etc. Theoretically less stressful, but I am pulled in more directions.

BackforGood · 02/11/2012 19:03

Both have their advantages / disadvantages.
In terms of childcare, it's much easier when they are little - they stay in one place from when you drop them in the morning until you pick them up at night, and don't need transporting to swimming lessons or fitting in dance class or whatever. Nor are you "invited" to attends event after event in the middle of your working day. Also, the childcare is all year round, not involving covering school holidays when you perhaps don't usually use childcare. Nor do you have requests for friends to come round to play, etc.,etc.etc

However

The 6 hrs a day you get at home or out shopping or going to appts on your days off, once they get to school, are heavenly Smile

theoriginalandbestrookie · 02/11/2012 19:05

Definitely easier in terms of hands on parenting when they are older as can play with friends, watch tv, clean own bottom etc.

However logistics are much harder once they are at school. At least with a nursery/childminder the full day is covered whereas with school you are reliant on having a good afterschool and that can be expensive.

I keep the activities after school fairly minimal as he is in afterschool 2 days a week anyway and restrain myself from volunteering for anything much at school. I have a day off a week which is brilliant - I did think about totally working around school hours but I really enjoy that day off and don't want to sacrifice it.

It is hard work when they are young and I am surprised at how some posters can be so dismissive.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 02/11/2012 19:07

I'm finding combining working part time with school and nursery so tough that i'm quitting after Christmas. I'm weak! Grin

CaurnieBred · 02/11/2012 19:14

I decided to delegate the whole housework thing when DD reached toddler stage and just wanted me and my input on the days I was at home (worked 3 days a week). I told DH that the reason I worked part time was to spend time with DD, not to do housework, so we got a cleaner. Obviously understand that this might not be an option for everyone, but it solved the problem for me. However, now DD is at school there is def a bit more time in the day to do stuff around the house (but I still have the cleaner).

mrsmplus3 · 03/11/2012 14:37

When my youngest goes to school next yr I am definitely going to spend that monthly nursery fee on a cleaner. That way i wont need to spend my weekends cleaning my house like I do now (she says sitting on the couch with a coffee while the kids are playing with their friends Smile)

EdithWeston · 03/11/2012 14:55

I found the primary years most hostile to working - unless you have arranged it so you work school-friendly hours every day, rather than a fewer number of ordinary length ones. Having to either pick up, or arrange someone else to pick up at 3ish, really does cut into the day and then there are the holidays to deal with too. With younger ones, if you have a place at a year round nursery, a CM or a nanny, then the logistics are much easier.

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