Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To stop work

374 replies

hurtingbackachingheart · 13/01/2017 16:10

I can never make my mind up, so quick thread to get other views.

Pros are, I like my job, it's school hours, it's worthwhile and it pays reasonably well.

Cons. Oh, the cons.

I'm not making a huge amount. In fact I make barely anything, due to nursery costs. This will change obviously.
I have other things I want to do ... I have got really into some voluntary work, and I could help out more there, I want to do some more voluntary work with animals but don't have time.
The house is a mess.
I have another interest I want to develop but really don't have time.

Any thoughts? I made a vague enquiring about PT but was essentially told NO.

OP posts:
Original poster
hurtingbackachingheart · 15/01/2017 19:06

Thank you wits, that's a lovely post. Flowers

OP posts:
Hercules12 · 15/01/2017 19:08

I'm assuming you're a teacher hence the not part time hours point. Not common to finish earlier and I think you said in your first post you couldn't cut down your hours. Perhaps apply for a part time job in another school but keep up the same childcare?

5amisnotmorning · 15/01/2017 19:16

I work 2 (long) days a week so definitely part time! Tbh I have found motherhood very tough mainly from 2 non sleeping children. I luckily had the option not to work and would have had more time off etc as the little one is now in preschool a couple of mornings a week. Organising childcare and covering illness is extremely stressful and I now don't have any time 'off' as I work on the preschool mornings. But, I have a pension, financial independence, my DH works at home on one of the days so does bedtime and the school run and makes him much more appreciative of what it is like at home. Prior to me going back he had started to unintentionally treat me like the person who did everything except go to work. If anything ever happened to him, I can provide for my children. I wouldn't willingly give those things up. Could you look at a job at a different school that might accomodate part time? Could you work compressed hours?

BackforGood · 15/01/2017 19:33

Thing is OP - you have come on to MN to ask if other posters think you should give up work.
Unusually for a MN thread, the overwhelming majority are telling you the same thing. That you'd be silly to give up a job that fits in so well with also being a parent. People are telling you this, from their experience of how rare it is to be able to work in a job that can be completed in school hours and gives you all the school holidays off. They are sharing their experiences.
At the end of the day, it's totally up to you and your partner whether you work or don't work - absolutely no skin off anyone else's nose, but - you asked - so people have taken the time to give you the benefit of their experience.
The 'being in denial of the fact your job is part time' is a bit irrelevant. As I said further upthread, because you are out at work every day, and because it's a fairly high % for a part timer, and because you go straight from work to picking up your dc, it may not feel like it's part time, but the facts are facts. However, that doesn't matter.
If you want to give up work, and can afford to, then do so, but you will now do so in the full knowledge it will be virtually impossible to find such parent friendly T&Cs again.

Original poster
hurtingbackachingheart · 15/01/2017 19:34

🙄🙄🙄 I feel like a stuck record here, but I am not part time!

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 15/01/2017 19:36

So full time teaching posts are all part time and can be completed in school hours then?

BackforGood · 15/01/2017 19:41

You posted your hours upthread hurting
If you have 30mins break per day, you work 30 hrs a week
Even if you don't, you work 32.5.
A full time worker is considered to work 37.5 or more per week.

Original poster
hurtingbackachingheart · 15/01/2017 19:45

That's because schools finish early because of the children. Gosh, I hope you don't all start the "you're part time" thing at your children's parents evenings!

OP posts:
Hercules12 · 15/01/2017 19:47

Teachers aren't part time. Many hours are spent outside of the contact time working both term time and holiday time.

Hercules12 · 15/01/2017 19:48

Op- it's probably a good time of year to find part time teaching jobs in the TRD.

Original poster
hurtingbackachingheart · 15/01/2017 19:48

But they work less than 35 hours Hmm

OP posts:
Hercules12 · 15/01/2017 19:49

I'm a teacher and no way have I pr dh ever seen my hours as part time hence housework etc always shared. Sadly you will need childcare still when your children are at school though as you need to be at work before and after school times.

Hercules12 · 15/01/2017 19:50

TES not TRD.
I think most people are aware that teachers work outside the contact hours so full.time.

Guitargirl · 15/01/2017 19:52

Are you a teacher OP? I had the impression you had another kind of job in a school as no teacher I know leaves work 15 minutes after the school day ends. If you are a teacher then you must have to fit in a lot of prep from home. No wonder you're struggling to do that and everything else with a husband as hands off as yours seems to be and volunteering as well?

bloodyteenagers · 15/01/2017 19:52

Well that's gratitude. I have given many ideas how it works, you have dismissed them all without actually trying. I point out the government descriptor of part time and I'm told to go away.

When you ask other people's opinions they will give it. If you only want views that agree with you don't bother asking.

You keep going on about it's so hard because You have no one. You have no one
To help and support. You are clearly not seeing the other adult in the house. Oh I forgot he works full time so is excluded from doing a thing. But why aren't you also excluded from doing x,y and z? Afterall you keep telling us you both work full time.

.

Original poster
hurtingbackachingheart · 15/01/2017 19:57

I certainly don't mind opinions but there comes a point where some opinions aren't helping. I know many teachers who leave promptly for the same reasons as me - young children.

OP posts:
Rattusn · 15/01/2017 20:01

If you work only school hours, then yes you are part time.

You say you only work school hours because of childcare, this is fine but you are still working part time hours.

Most parents manage to work full time wraparound care. You don't need to have someone you can rely, there are plenty of paid options (after-school club, nanny, au pair etc)

Pumpkintopf · 15/01/2017 20:02

So are you a teacher then who leaves at end of school to pick up her kids then spends the evening doing school work once kids are in bed? If so you're right you're not part time.

If however you finish at 3.15 and that's you done i.e. No extra hours needed because you're admin or support staff, then that is by any definition a part time job. If you don't think it is-try working til 6.15 and see if you notice the difference.

I would never go to a parents evening and call the teachers part timers-because clearly, they are not.

Please clarify rather than just keep repeating 'I'm not part time'.

Some response to all the useful suggestions might be nice too, as well as the flowers for those posters agreeing with you...everyone is giving up time to try to help/advise you.

Original poster
hurtingbackachingheart · 15/01/2017 20:05

I thought I had responded, even if only to desperately repeat that I'm not part time!

OP posts:
Hercules12 · 15/01/2017 20:06

Do you not have to stay for meetings and such after school sometimes? I've been teaching for nearly 20 years and can't leave the building till 4pm at the earliest and have to be in and ready to go 8.30 at the latest. You either need to then to the rest of your job at home or stay in the school building.

Original poster
hurtingbackachingheart · 15/01/2017 20:07

Yes, I said this a few pages ago: every Tuesday we have a meeting for an hour and a half. We can leave fifteen mi Utes after the bell.

OP posts:
Hercules12 · 15/01/2017 20:08

How about an official letter requesting part time hours so they have to consider it?

Pumpkintopf · 15/01/2017 20:10

Op-
A) teacher who works in the evening
B) support staff who finishes at 3.15?

If a) both you and your husband are full time and housework should be split more equally BUT (importantly) with QTS you'll probably find it easier to get back into work when you're ready as opposed to support staff/admin roles which are like hens teeth with school hours.

That's why I (and presumably others) are asking!

Original poster
hurtingbackachingheart · 15/01/2017 20:10

Yes, I probably should but I'm just worried that after they've said no unofficially they might think I'm a trouble mater by asking officially.

OP posts:
Original poster
hurtingbackachingheart · 15/01/2017 20:10

I'm not support staff and I'm sure I've said that at least three times, not meant rudely.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread