To feel guilty for working full time

[Lellikelly26]

My kids are 15 and 8. I’ve gone back to work full time to finish qualifying in an area I have studied for years for. It is quite demanding and my 8 year old just said that she is lonely at school and at hone. My DH works from home so very often picks her up from school. She’s just spent the day with her cousins of a similar age (I was with her too). I feel really guilty that I’m working full time and not there for her after school. I’m not sure if she really feels like that or whether she lays it on to make me feel bad.
There have been on going issues at school with the girls in her year, they are awful to each other. I have looked into moving schools but there is nothing available. Do any of you feel guilty for working full time?

I'm going to take a punt and assume you are a woman, OP
this is why you feel guilty
your DD has a dad who works from home and often collects her from school, she is getting more parental input than many children her age. If anyone should be thinking about how to support your dd with the issues about the girls at school, it should be her dad (maybe organise some after school activity with school friends?)
you are being a GOOD ROLE MODEL for your daughter
get a piece of paper and complete the sentence
'I'm a good mum because....' 5 times. Put the piece of paper in your work bag and get it out at lunchtime and read it.

I regularly feel guilty working full time (and am guilted by comments from kids upon occasion) but:
-we need the money
-I worked bloody hard for a long time to qualify and I am good at what I do
-I really believe my job helps others
-I want my boys to see that girls work hard, have responsibly jobs and earn money
-I usually enjoy my job and happy mum etc etc
I don't always get it right, I'm sure I could have a better work/life balance somehow...but we all do the best we can...

I feel guilty all the time I've worked full time since my son was a baby. I'm on my own with him and have no choice really to keep our home and lifestyle.

Why do you feel guilty - you’ve done nothing wrong. I went back full time when DT’s six months. They are now both at Uni and great adults who were incredibly proud of. They went to breakfast, after school club and holiday clubs - they loved them. Loads to do and their friends with them.

DH is a GP and I’m a Director in a global consulting firm. Neither of our careers would have progressed as they have if we’d worked part time or stayed at home. Our families don’t live in the UK so life was often complicated but we are a great team and have shared home and childcare responsibilities.