WIBU to not go for this job?

[jobblejobjob]

Need some advice... although not really sure what answer I'm looking for.

I've worked for a large organisation for 13 years. I've gradually worked my way up to a fairly senior position and I'm happy there; the job can be very stressful at times though and I often take work home although I try to limit this.

I'm currently on maternity leave with my FB. I go back in August but am naturally very anxious and upset about the idea of leaving my baby to go back to work. He will be 13 months when this happens.

Here's the dilemma... a job offer has come up within the organisation. It's a higher position for 12k more a year with more responsibility, development etc. It's the job I ultimately thought I'd want one day... just not yet??? I had planned to only go back 3 days a week as my priorities have changed, I want to spend time with my son and not put him in nursery five days a week. The three days has been agreed, but now this new opportunity has arisen. This job is full time, no negotiation. Would it BU to not go for it? Has anyone found it hard going back full time after Maternity Leave? Would I be setting myself up to fail? (All of this is obviously presuming I would get the job which is not at all guaranteed).

Any advice is welcome!

Apply for it! Working full time with kids is HARD but do you know what makes it easier? A love you love and extra cash!!!
You will regret it if you don't.
Remember you only have to decide when offered the job, and further down the line you can still apply for flexible working (eg I work full time, over 4 days, from home). Extra cash gives you options, perhaps your DH could drop an afternoon or day from work too?

APPLY!! And good luck

*a job you love.

You will never regret being there too much for your ds.

I had to go back full time after my first and because I have a job where you bring stuff home it was really hard. I would've done anything to have a three day working week and two days at home with my baby. The way I see it, if you can afford to be part time, go for it. You can always earn more money, you can never get your child's early years back

I would go for the promotion.
It's easier when you have a baby than juggling school.
You might be able to drop to PT or WFH at some point.
It's unlikely you will get a promotion from being PT, especially if you have more children.

It has to be your decision. I went back part time after having my son but hated it so ended up full time. Its down to each people preference, would you be unhappy if you miss milestones or would you be unhappy if you never got offered the job again. Some people may criticize that you put your job before being with your child but that's not always the case it's just how some people feel.

I made the mistake of returning part time. When I went for promotion, this was often cited as an issue. I currently work below the level I'd achieved when I left and it's only now that I've managed to get FT that opportunities are coming in again.

Unless you need the money right now then I would stick with 3 days. I went back 3 days after ML and found it a good balance. However, lots of people do go back FT and if you want to go for this opportunity (which sounds great!) then you shouldn't feel guilty about it.

I think you should go for it.

1. Applying for a promotion from a part time position will be harder.

2. It’s easier to work full time when they’re little than when they’re at school; it’s harder on your heart when they’re small, but in terms of cold, hard practicality when they start school is when it gets trickier to be full time - get the job now, get your feet under the desk, and then negotiate hours in time for that, because when they start school is when the extra pressures start to come (and I don’t just mean with the shorter school day vs a nursery length day).

3. if you’re planning another child then would the promotion have to wait even longer? Or would you get better occupational mat pay and benefits if in this new role? Either way, if planning more children, it will be easier to adjust to another if you’re already doing the job instead of trying to adjust to a new child plus a new job on top of the child you’ve already got - that would be incredibly hard I think.

I really do think that if the promotion is something you want then now is the time otherwise it’s likely not to happen tbh.