to take a four day job?

[soorplooms]

DH works away, 3 teens doing exams, have been offered a 4 days per week job when I really only want 2- 3 days. Not sure I can cope, do I give it a go or say no thanks? I have to give them decision tomorrow.

[kelda]

Congratulations, hope it works out for you.

[soorplooms]

Thanks all, I have said I'll take it. As Braganza rightly says I can always leave if it doesn't work out.

[Braganza]

It really depends on the job - is it a foot in the door to something you really want, or just a way to get back into work. If there is a chance of something you want coming imminently, don't take it, but otherwise you should. If it's not what you want you can leave, but if you don't take it you'll never have the chance.

Your children will cope whatever you decide.

[Llareggub]

I'm a single parent. I won't have this angst about whether I should take a job or not. I have to work.

My DCs would be hell of a lot more stressed if we were penniless. Our job is to make out DCs fit for adulthood. This won't happen if we've spent their teens toddling around after them, cleaning up mess.

I also don't know what home admin entails.

[Pigletin]

Sorry, I don't get the angst...your children are teenagers. Surely you can leave them at home by themselves? I thought the whole point of having kids was to raise them to be independent individuals who can take care of themselves and find their own way. I can't believe you are actually asking the question. Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, just genuinely bewildered.

[dreamingofsun]

i think your real problem is that you are lacking confidence in your ability to do the job. I think the teenagers and hours are things you are trying to use as reasons for not taking the job. They have recruited you, so they obviously think you are capable. Why don't you give it a few months and see how it goes, accepting that all new jobs are challenging at first until you get used to things - employers expect this too.

[nkf]

I work full time and have teenagers. It's fine. It's hard work but it's fine. I do a lot of overtime too. If you are single, you need the money more.

[soorplooms]

Decision time approaches - any more thoughts?

[soorplooms]

Any other 'single' parents working f/t or nearly f/t with teenagers? I find sixth formers around the house more (only have to be in school for actual lessons) tantamount to more mess.Easier when they were younger and at after - school clubs However,they will just have to learn to be more responsible!

[soorplooms]

Fairly clear consensus from the mumsnet jury! They can feed themselves actually and we probably just need to reinstate our weekly menu planning which has slipped since I finished my last contract and have been at home more.

[Goblinchild]

No one is saying that your family need to become house elves and subjected to a brutal regime of coping with all the chores, like distressed Cinderellas.
But at 17 and 18, it is healthier for them to get off thir bums and do a bit of hoovering, laundry and cooking on a regular basis.

[linroz]

Take the job, your teenagers need to take on the basic household duties eg cooking washing etc that they will have to do at uni... My oldest is 18 and next one 14 they put dinner on/ prepare dinner before i get home from work with the two younger ones, put washes on clean their own rooms etc. they then have some idea about how to be independent when they leave home. I am sure you can make it work

[soorplooms]

No option to work from home, it's a customer facing role providing a service.

[Lomaamina]

Could you work from home on one of those days? That way you can chuck washes in etc when you're taking you're statutory computer breaks.

[soorplooms]

I guess I just want to do the job properly if I take it on but worry it will completely absorb all my few remaining little grey cells ( I am an old mother!)

[EverythingCounts]

On the hours question, you need to be very firm about saying no to excessive extra hours. The occasional bit of unpaid overtime in response to some specific need is one thing but regularly expecting you to work extra is not on. However, that's something that you won't gain from bringing up at the start but I would make a point of asking for clarification exactly what the hours are. Then you will need to stand firm when it comes up and say what you can't do as it is unpaid.

It's perhaps a good opportunity to sit down and talk with your teens about what their responsibilities are. With regard to uni, once they are there they will need to motivate and manage themselves, so it is as well they get used to that beforehand. It's all very well 'getting them in' if then they can't cope with working independently.

[dreamingofsun]

lots of people work saturdays. i've worked a 4 day week for about 15 years now and don't work over the hours - i guess this depends on the company though. a lot of the FT people i work with do way more excess hours than i do. if i work over one week, i work less the next. i think you are worrying over things that may never happen

[soorplooms]

I get you all think I'm being wimpish and the teens need to do more. I suppose my main worry is the previous post - holder worked way over the hours she was paid for and Saturdays are involved also but maybe I just give it a go.

[nkf]

What is home admin anyway?

[dreamingofsun]

agree with others, surely teenagers should be able to look after themselves. I have 3 and husband who works away normally and i dropped from 5 days to 4 - 4 is very manageable. i do have a cleaner though as i hate cleaning.

you are not going to be able to look after them once they are at uni, so surely they might as well start being responsible now.

how much home admin do you have? I've always thought that people generate work to occupy their time. Can you do things more efficiently?

[MaryWestmacott]

Do the job, use the extra day's money for a) a cleaner and b) a weekly takeaway. Use your lunchhour to do admin for the family.

They don't need a lot of support at that age, or childcare, you can do it.

[ChubbyLittleLoser]

Are any of your children SEN? Because I could see why you're hesitant in that case.

If not, then I think your over thinking it and should bite the bullet and take it. You can always keep an eye out for other jobs whilst working and leave if it really doesn't suit you and your family.

[FloozeyLoozey]

I went down from 5 to 4 recently and 4 seems like a dream!

[kelda]

I was like you, my children a bit younger (5,8,10), one with additional needs, and I took the job. Four/five days a week instead of three.

Because it is shifts, every day is a juggling act with the children and their activites/therapies.

So far it is working out very well. I still have loads of time for the children, helping the with homework (we live in Belgium where the children gets lots of homework and tests from an early age) and ds with his therapy. The babysitter helps out sometimes.

It helps that I really enjoy the job and am generally not too stressed out by it, although I admit to being tired.

My advice would be to take the job.

[Thewildsofnarnia]

Another that would take the job here. If the children are at school would 4 make much more of a difference than 3 days?