To turn down a three day a week job?

[Sodabread]

I have a two day a week Job some distance away and am on maternity leave with ds. I also have another ds who is 2.

Whilst on Mat leave I applied for a local job which is less money, and three days a week.

Now I am due to start said job, I realise I really think three days a week is too much in terms of balance of work/family. I have requested to do two and a half, but have been told no. Am I being unreasonable to consider turning this local job down over half a day?

I haven't given notice to my old job yet....

Working only three days a week sounds like a pretty damned good work/life balance to me.

I do 3 days a week and have 2 young kids (3 and 1). It's the perfect balance for me and the 20 minute each way commute walk is also perfect.

I found 3 days the perfect balance myself. 2 days and I wasn't in the office enough to feel like I was making progress, missed out in socials, team meetings, too high expectations of what I could achieve in 15 hours etc.

3 days was much better.

Another who has tried two and a half, and it was fine while I could sensibly work the half day from home, but is a PITA now I have to work the half day in the office.

I'm considering asking to go up to 3 days, as it would make life much less stressful if we can sort out the childcare.

Bottom line - which job is worth spending time away from your kids for?

Genuinely don't mean that in a goady way - I went back to work 3 days a week when DD was 18 weeks. The job then relocated further away. It was worth hanging in there as I lived the job, the money was good and it was a difficult field to get into where I live.

If money is not an issue then choose the job you will enjoy more.

3 days a week working is great in terms of work life balance.

loved the job - I wasn't that dedicated!

I think a bit U to say 3 days is not good work life balance, but everyone's balance is different I guess.

If you are career minded and doing work that has scope to develop up the chain (your OP gives nothing away on this) then pick the job you will a) most enjoy and b) offers the most opportunity to develop and progress when you are ready to accelerate. Your DC will not be young forever and you will possibly want to step up the career in a few years, choices made between babies/during the preschool time directly impact this.

Of course if it's not a career, the above doesn't apply so much. I have found a short commute makes a world of difference to my balance and ability to be flexible.

It depends what your commute to the two day job is and how much you think you will like the new job compared to the old job.

I'd prefer to do two longer days than three shorter ones (I assume commute time can't add up to more than 2hrs max), especially if I were being paid more for it.

A local job is worth a lot, IMO.

I think 0.5 makes a big difference. I used to work 2.5 and have gone to 3 and I hate it in some respects. The half a day gave me flexibility and meant I could pop to the supermarket on the way home rather than having to travel quite a way to it on one of my days off which often had pta meetings and things happening at the children's a school so never time to do the jobs I want around the house.

You've got to make a decision based on what is right for you, I'm sticking with 3 days as the job is a lot more interesting but if I could drop back to 2.5 it would suit me better.

Those who work full time will think you are mad as any days off are a bonus (which is true).

Good luck with the decision making