To think this is possible?

[MagisCapulus]

I have been offered a job 10pm to 6am. 4 days a week.

Three DC, all over 10.

DH thinks it is madness. I think it will be doable because

1. DH wfh two days a week, so I can sleep then. Also weekends I can catch up. Thats four days out of seven I can sleep if needed. So more than half. 2)atm all the DC are sleeping in until about 11 anyway. So home by half six, asleep for half seven, there is a good few hours there. Plus by the time school work is done, I can then snooze a bit on the couch and sleep again wheh DH gets home.

This is just for now.

When the DC are in school I can stay awake, do the schoo l run for the youngest then sleep in school hours.

So yes, I may be shattered a couple of days a week, but I can catch up on the other days. And my body will get used to it?

Or am I mad?

Have you done night shifts before? I tried this granted it was with a younger child but I found it to be a nightmare!

Sort of. Starting and finishing a bit later. And quite often then I wouldnt sleep all night anyway. And I regularly get period related insomnia where I dont sleep all night.

Why this job? Why not a more conventional set of hours? Let me guess, your DH won’t switch jobs/rearrange his schedule to accommodate you working 8.30 till 5?

I'm another who did nights. It seriously screwed up my sleep, and continued to do so even i'd left the job.

You are beyond mad to consider this.

Childcare mainly. School not going back etc. I have worked lates for the last ten years as then we didn't need any form of childcare while the children were younger. Although eldest can be left alone, and is technically old enough to look after the youngest, they have ASD so it wouldn't be suitable to put them in that position. While I am in the house able to snooze it is okay though as the youngest just needs to know I am there, really.

I did move from lates to traditional hours/school hours at the start of the year but the job didn't work out (it was horrendous) plus you know, corona.

Dh has been very good and flexible during this whole thing, hence the WFH two days and has increased it to three days whilst my current boss insists on me being in the office while I work my notice (despite me WFH during lockdown ) He is very good and does school work with the dc, and housework etc on the weekends.

Sleep s screwed anyway tbh. Used to finish at midnight on weekend evenings (so fall asleep at what, 1?2?) then turn around and start at half seven in the am.

Are you a good day sleeper?

Depends what the job is. Train driver, no. Call centre work, possibly.

Can you afford to try it? It might work. I kind of like the idea myself; I'm definitely a night owl!

I think just be prepared for it to be too much.

@Warpdrive

Depends what the job is. Train driver, no. Call centre work, possibly.

Like picking online orders. But not heavy stuff.

And yes, good day sleeper. I can fall asleep anywhere as used to minimal sleep! -plus if I eat carbs it knocks me out pretty instantly no matter how much or little sleep i have had-

Can the DC amuse themselves quietly for a couple of hours once they are up to give you a couple more hours?

Make themselves brunch and the watch telly, xbox or whatever?

I think if you want to try it then it’s definitely worth a trial period.
If it’s undoable then you can always leave ( unless there are more complex issues such as changes to benefits which can take ages to sort out).

@Pertella yes, definitely if their screens are charged!

No benefits to mess up.

I think I am going to give it a go.

What is the job? Will you be on your feet all night as such? Or will you have the opportunity to rest at all? I say that because a few people I know do night shifts but get to sleep for a few hours? Or is it like nursing?

Try it!

I'd give it a go I think, it's probably not ideal but doesn't have to be for ever, You can still look around to see what else is out there

what will you do at school holidays?

I would for an online picker job. My friend was made redundant and registered with an agency who offer her shifts, many are the same as yours, and she loves it. She is tired but makes up for it on the days she isnt working by having a reasonable bedtime etc. She has done shifts before though, so is used to nightshifts.