How to get the work/life balance right?

[P0mbears]

My children are 2 and 4 and the oldest is starting school in September. I've gone down to part time to work around the nursery/school drop offs etc but now I feel like I'm not progressing in my career. I'm pretty happy with spending part of my time looking after the little one and making sure I'm there for school pick ups etc. but I feel guilty that I'm not contributing as much financially as my husband. Anyone else in the same boat and will it be hard to get back into proper full time work one day, or is this my life forever??

I feel guilty that I'm not contributing as much financially as my husband

Does he feel guilty because he isn't doing even remotely the amount of parenting and domestic work you likely are? I highly doubt it. Finances aren't the only contribution critical to running a family and a household. Let go of this ridiculous, misplaced guilt. What you're doing is every bit as valuable as what he's doing. Don't worry about your career. You've got plenty of time for that.

I increasingly think the 'balance' is just what makes you happy. I'm happier with more time to spend with children and my hobbies. I wouldn't give up work but no longer care enough to work weekends and evenings, which was always bullshit anyway - working extra hours to progress. I do it the odd time if needed but not a norm anymore and I take many more leave days

It's completely possible to both work full time if you want to, assuming you have wrap round care available for breakfast and afterschool club and both parents share the family load 50:50.

Well we both work full time and then feel guilty for not spending enough time with the DC 🤷‍♀️ Can't win whichever end you're at I think

We need to pay the bills though so if you can afford to work less then enjoy !

And now add one stomach bug or temperature too many to get any promotion ever, summer holidays hoovering up the A/L so you get no time off to yourself, "D"H who thinks hoovering the living room (BADLY) is the extent of his helping out duties, while asking him to take over a feed at 5AM after you got up three times in a night results in "why do I have to feed her", and a year with one major sporting event after another, so he's glued to the TV and you get why what you're talking about is utopia.

(I'm planning the exit, and no, there were no hints whatsoever he'd turn up to be so useless, there will definitely be no more babies and yes, my patio was that close to gaining a tennant that night).