AIBU working pattern

[TotallySuper]

So returning to work in 2022 after mat leave. I need to work 25 hours a week to fit our budget, I'd love to do 21 hours but it makes a difference by several hundred pounds a month which I can't afford.

My options are do 5 hours per days for 5 days a week - 9.30am-2.30pm to enable school runs for my older daughter

Or 3 full days of 9-5pm (7 working hours as we get a 1 hour lunch break) plus a 4 hour day on a separate day to make the total 25. DD would be in after school club on those 3 days but thats ok and affordable etc. I could still do school drop offs before work.

My thoughts are do 3 full days + 4 hours as this will be easier in the school holidays to manage.

My DH thinks 5 hours per day spread over 5 days per week

So those experienced and juggling 2 (or more!) Kids and working around school etc what would be best??

YABU - 5 DAYS PER WEEK FOR 5 HOURS
YANBU - 3 FULL DAYS PLUS 4 HOURS

Thank you

I think the three full days plus four hours because…
You have one day a week free if someone is under the weather/to arrange appointments/to get stuff done/to yourself
Easier to arrange holiday care
One less day of rushing everyone to school/work

I would do the 3 x 7 + 4 hours as 1 day off makes a big difference. If you did 5 x 5 would you have travel 5 days a week as that would be the final decider for me.

I do 3 full days of 8.20 hours each. I also work 25h week.

I would spread the hours and avoid after school care if possible.

I know not everyone can avoid this but I believe that school is a long enough day for a child and would try to have time with them instead. It also seems like a gentler schedule for everyone.

I've just gone from 3 days to 4 days.

I'd say the full day off in the week is more valuable. You can catch up on household stuff or do something for yourself. Otherwise you will feel constantly run down and no time to yourself rushing from work to the school run.

Maybe I could tack on a few hours across the 3 days to fit the 25 hours into 3 days - never thought of that. I work from home and will be for the foreseeable future so no commute to worry about. My job is very 9-5 office hours so not sure if I could stretch 25 hours over 3 days but worth a chat about that.

3 and half days.
I need that day off sort my shit out

I do 34 hours over 4 days in an office.
If definitely do the 25 over 3

@tootootaataa

I would spread the hours and avoid after school care if possible.

I know not everyone can avoid this but I believe that school is a long enough day for a child and would try to have time with them instead. It also seems like a gentler schedule for everyone.

I do agree but sometimes unavoidable. Grandparents and friends for play dates etc may collect on these days but wouldn't want to rely on that so would sign her up for after school club anyway.

I've been in this position and valued my day off.
I found when I worked 5 shorter days, people booked meetings as I was leaving, or a phone call came in, couldnt find a free day for school shows etc, didn't have any 'me' time, had to do hsir, travel in every day, work viewed 5 days as full time as I was 'always' there.

I do the 5 short days. Child care of school holidays tends to come in one week blocks anyway and it’s great to be able to do school pickup.

you'll be so glad for that one day off, which will allow you to do things just for yourself (like hobbies, remember those?)

4 days, that free day is our household life admin/delivery/appointment/food shop day.
I also carve out couple of hours of me time.

My sister also does 4 days, but we have a different days to make childcare easier to plan in holidays.

9 until 6 with 30 mins lunch is 25.5 hours.

So 9 until 6 x 2 days and 9 until 5.30 x 1 would be 15 hours.

I am partial to an exceptionally selfish but very much needed spa day every now and then so I guess the day off would give me that. Don't think my DH doesn't step up, he'd love for me to be able to work less or he could do more school runs etc but his job is longer hours and less pay than me as he's not career driven and I'm happy with that as he does love his job and is happy there.

@SeasonFinale

9 until 6 with 30 mins lunch is 25.5 hours.

So 9 until 6 x 2 days and 9 until 5.30 x 1 would be 15 hours.

I'm sure I could discuss 9-6 with a 30 min lunch break as I never use a whole lunch hour really anyway. I thats just stretching office hours enough without making it seem unworkable from the business point of view. Thank you food for thought.

I'd work Tues/Wed/Thur full days, plus a Friday morning. Save yourself using annual leave to cover bank hols.

5 short days is a pita.

I'd choose 5 shorter days. I've just changed to do longer days and regret it - doing shorter days allowed time for 'life admin' each day too - staying on top of stuff in the house and being able to nip to the shop before pick up etc - and maybe a walk by myself for an hour or so. I'm finding the longer days mean I have time for nothing but the essentials each day, leaving all the other crap for my day off.

@tootootaataa

I would spread the hours and avoid after school care if possible.

I know not everyone can avoid this but I believe that school is a long enough day for a child and would try to have time with them instead. It also seems like a gentler schedule for everyone.

It depends on the child - we went to some effort to arrange things to avoid after school club 5 days a week but our son is desperate to go every day

Iv done both. From kids perspective 5 short days work well as can get home, get homework done, do playdates, afterschool activities, no childcare costs. However I have a job that doesnt work well with shorter day as cant get my teeth into work, no lunch break means no chatting with work friends or downtime - constantly on the go with 5 short days. I now work 8 to 6 with 30 min lunch. Much nicer for me and not so stressed.

If you do three days, make sure they are together - ie Mon- Weds or Weds-Fri. I once did every other day and that was a pita.

I'd go for the longer days. It fits in better with inset days, sickness, school holidays etc.
It also takes me a little while to get focused when I start work so I feel like I achieve more, plus no clock watching worrying about school pick up.

If you do 5 short days then you will constantly be on the go as it's drop off/work/pick up. You also never get any time with the baby without your older child there.
If you do three long days or 3.5 days then you're still around for two pick ups (and two days of after school clubs or play dates) and get a day with your baby.

I'm compressed in 4 days a week. Work slightly more hours at 30hrs (4 x 8 - 30min break.)

I much prefer the extra day off as one of them is completely childfree as both are at school/nursery. I work weekends as that is the nature of my job but it works well for us. I'm also then not trying to find as much holiday care.

With a little one I’d not do 5 days- it’s much nicer to have a full day so you can do baby/toddler groups etc. if you do the shorter days you’ll never get any 1:1 time with the youngest. I work 4 days and have found it hard enough dragging my youngest to activities and school run. I’d consider shorter days over 5 when my youngest is at school but not convinced my life would actually be any better for it.