To use childcare when I don't really have to?

[Writerwannabe83]

I have a 7 month old DS, currently still on Maternity. My 'current' job is 9-5 but I have accepted a new job that means between Mon-Fri I will only have to work 2 days and my 3rd shift would be on a Sunday.

DH would obviously have DS whilst I work on Sunday and we have found a childminder to have DS for whatever two days I'm working in the week.

The shifts will be 13 hours and I will be out the house from 06.45am-21.15pm. It's a very long day which from experience is very tiring.

I was talking to my friend about it this morning and she suggested that as I was likely to be shattered it probably wouldn't be very nice to be out the house for 14.5 hours a day and then on my days off be looking after DS. She asked when is ever get a break or chance to relax. I told her that I wouldn't.

She then suggested that even though I only need childcare for 2 days why don't I send DS to the childminder for 3 days and that 3rd day can be for me to just relax at home,recuperate from the long shifts and to just have some "me time" amongst all the chaos of shift working and parenting.

I was a bit sceptical but sounds very tempting. I plan to discuss it with DH this evening and was wondering if anyone else does this??

I'm glad people seem to think that generally it's ok. I spoke to my DH about it and he's really in favour of it. He knows that me taking on the job is for our financial gain as a family and so wants us to do whatever it takes to make sure I don't start to resent the fact I changed my job to benefit us but am being left exhausted because of it.

DS will probably have more fun playing with other children and doing lots of arty activities or having trips out with the childminder anyway as opposed to spending a day with a tired and ratty mother.

When I worked 1 day a week my son was at preschool 2 days a week.
I had a cleaner too!!!