Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

To go part time

16 replies

SunSetDreaming · 09/05/2022 09:15

I am constantly mulling over a dilemma.

I have always worked full time & have a good job paying a decent wage.

I am now a single Mum to a teenager (with additional needs) & a 10 year old.

I am constantly spinning plates, always stressed & seem to be fire fighting constantly.

I have the opportunity now to reduce my hours without reducing my income too much but I don’t know whether it’s worth it at this stage as in a couple of years the kids will be more independent & perhaps I should suck it up & ride the wave till I get out the other side.

WWYD?

OP posts:

Happityhap · 09/05/2022 09:19

I'd ease off now and you can maybe increase your hours again in a couple of years.

MatildaTheCat · 09/05/2022 09:21

It depends on your long term aims I think.

I always worked PT with DC and it was great but it seriously hampered my promotion prospects. It sounds as if you’d be looking at several years before being ready to return FT ( or maybe never if you find you enjoy having the free time) by which time it might be much harder to progress further- if that’s what you want.

I have no regrets but I wasn’t a single patent and wasn’t very career minded.

NoSquirrels · 09/05/2022 09:23

You haven’t mentioned any downsides to going part-time, except for a small reduction in money and a sort of generalised sense that you ‘shouldn’t’.

What downsides can you think of? Because it sounds like a bit of a no-brainer to me…

NoSquirrels · 09/05/2022 09:26

For instance, is part of your income child maintenance related? If so you need to factor in that this will stop when youngest is 18 - will you be able to do more hours again easily at that point etc.

itsmeagainlol · 09/05/2022 09:31

Definitely reduce your hours and your stress levels. You can always review later on.

Original poster

SunSetDreaming · 09/05/2022 09:31

I think a lot of not wanting to go part time is the thought that I shouldn’t which is ridiculous really.

it is the money really, I’ve always earned a pretty decent wage & have been fortunate not to have to think about budgeting much. I’m worried that I’ll regret choosing to earn less although if it didn’t work out, I could always go full time again.

Career progression isn’t important to me at this stage.

OP posts:

Discovereads · 09/05/2022 09:34

I would stick it out due to the cost of living increases. I don’t think it’s wise to reduce income in this environment, as it will likely cause its own stress. Also the stigma against PT workers is that they are less committed, they are also the first to be made redundant if things get bad for the employer- which could happen as the cost of living crisis is also a crisis of increased supply, transport, rent and labour costs for businesses.

Your DC are old enough to do a fair share of household work, I’d be asking them to step up a bit as you are stretched too thin as things are.

NoSquirrels · 09/05/2022 10:12

if it didn’t work out, I could always go full time again

Can you discuss a time-limited trial of part-time? Would your employer be open to that?

Original poster

SunSetDreaming · 09/05/2022 10:13

I thing it’s a good point about the kids doing more as they do nothing at the moment.

Although that battle is probably one I’ve been putting off because I’ve been too stressed!

OP posts:

jackstini · 09/05/2022 10:21

Think about the benefits to your work life balance and the difference it could make to your DC - write your pros and cons

Can you afford the temporary drop?

It's hard to get past the 'I shouldn't really' but it took someone saying to me 'why the hell not?!'

If you can, I would. I did and have never regretted it. Not been plain sailing with various contract changes and Covid, but life is infinitely better and I cannot image ever going back to full-time now

Original poster

SunSetDreaming · 09/05/2022 11:11

Yes, I do think the kids would get a better Mum out of it which has got to mean more than the financial benefit that I feel I’m giving them now.

OP posts:

WalkingOnSonshine · 09/05/2022 11:15

I’ve got part time returning after mat leave & I’m never planning on working full time again!

I was lucky in the sense that I negotiated a significant pay increase that left me better off, but even when my children are older, I’ll always work part time.

Its not just about being there for them, but about being there for yourself.

BettyCake · 09/05/2022 11:27

You can't put a price on health, well-being and happiness. If you will be happier and lessed stressed overall and a better mum to your kids,
and you can afford it, then do it.

HSKAT · 09/05/2022 11:30

Put your health first and your kids.
It will make a massive difference to you all.

Can always up again if needed/when needed.

OhamIreally · 09/05/2022 11:32

OP I agonised over how to drop my hours without damaging my career.

I'm also a single parent (although I wasn't when I first negotiated these hours). I work 32 hours from 9:30-5:30 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and Wednesday and Friday I finish at 3pm. When DD was little it meant I could pick up from school twice a week. Now those early finishes just give me more time to get stuff done and can have an early get away on weekends away.

The advantage with work is that I'm there five days a week and can be flexible where needed. I've taken this work pattern with me for three jobs now. I'm quite senior and think in reality I'm doing a full time job in those hours, just like someone who works 4 days probably is.

Hope that helps anyway!

Happityhap · 10/05/2022 11:11

Then if you aren't taking a big risk with the wages, I'd say Go for it.

Flip