to slowly slide off-course in my career?

[ClockWatchingLady]

Sorry - I know this is a bit of a boring one, but I assume others must also have this issue.

I'm in a reasonable, if slightly frustrating, job. The area's interesting and useful, but I don't get to do very much of the useful or interesting stuff, IYSWIM. I'm very much playing second fiddle to people who in many ways less well-qualified than me, and I get very little autonomy, etc.

The reason I'm staying is that the pressure levels are much lower than in other jobs within my career. I can escape to go to school sports days, pick up the kids at short notice if they're unwell, eat with them in the evening, choose my annual leave days....

But am I going to regret all this later, when I'm years "behind" the people I started out with?

I'm in a similar situation.

Currently on mat leave with DS2 and have realised that can't face going back (especially as went part time after mat leave with DS1 and ended up working full time for part time salary while not-so-well-qualified Director comes and goes as she pleases harrumph!).

So have taken decision to hand in notice at end of mat leave and go freelance. Financially it won't make a huge amount of difference as my part-time salary would only just cover the costs of childcare and petrol. I think it will help me mentally enormously (as long as it works .

that's what teaching assistants do! all the ones I know have been teachers, bankers, senior nurses(me) solicitors.

that's my school anyway.

No YANBU. I think it is a decision that you're making in the here and now for valid reasons. In the future, if/when you're ready to pick things up again you will be able to although yes you may be "behind" people you started out with who haven't put the brakes slightly on their career progression. But that's fair ... they haven't had the work/life balance you have had. Ultimately I always think: what will I regret the most when I look back on my life? Not being with my kids as much as I could when they were growing up or not being in the office as much as I could. Pretty sure it would be the first one and hence why I'm doing the same as you!!

meh CWL, its all about the loong game. Imagine if you will...

Scenario (a) you have swarmed up the greasy pole, zoom zoom. View from the top is lovely, mmm. Except you are 48 and there are another 20 years to go before retirement, so now what?

Scenario (b) you sat back a bit when DC were little, they are grown up now, you have swarmed up the same greasy pole a few years later, view from the top is still excellent but you are 63 and you can retire in five years' time, even better.

I was fulltime SAHM for 6 years and PT largely at home with some commuting to the Office for the following 5. They then offered me a shiny promotion to Director- only snag being, I had to work in London and either commute daily or stay overnight. I said no, left and started an entire new career.

People look at me now in my shiny senior management job and they kind of vaguely know I have adult kids, except they don't care. not one of them ever thinks about the fact that I am 10 to 15 years older than others at the same career stage.

Its still f*cking years till retirement.

OK you may be less rich. But in career terms? you have literally forever to build your career. relax.

Thank you all.

I think it's really reassuring to hear others say they've made similar decisions. The point about different regrets certainly rings very true. As does the point about retirement being a very very long way away (assuming the best-case scenario of good health, etc).