To drop a day at work ?

[ohwhattodolostlamb]

3 under 4. 3 boys !!!!
Days at work are easier than at home.

I work full time and love it but im exhausted and feel such guilt for not seeing the children as I am out 8.30-5.30 .

i Fear I will miss out on the children growing up !

Children are so happy and thriving with the child minder. I am health visitor which I love and would like to work for promotion in the future. But I do get home late and it’s bed , bath . Mornings are getting people out the door.

I am considering dropping a day at work to spend with the children .

If I drop the day at work it means we won’t pay for the childcare so that balances out financially .

I can’t work out if I will end up getting behind at work because I’ll miss stuff on my day off. Will I end up working 5 days but in 4?
or will I love a week day with the boys ?

I can’t work out If it will unsettle my 3 boys when they seem perfectly happy with their week at the childminder. Will I really enjoy this day off? I don’t know ??

I am exhausted . Tired and confused . Would I be crazy to drop a day ? A day at home isn’t an easy one with the 3 but they are my babies and I fear I’m missing them grow up.

Try taking a couple of random days holiday and see how they go.
Remember you can also take parental leave.

When I go back after ML I’m condensing my hours and having every Wednesday off. If I could afford to reduce my hours I would. I have 5 children and I hope that having a ‘reset’ day midweek will help us all and break up a long week

I worked 3 days for years when kids were smaller and now work 4 days and have Friday off, apart from spending time with the kids it's fantastic to be able to switch off from work one day a week. If you can afford it, go for it!!

I dropped down to 4 days from 5 when they were early school age. So much better for me, loved having one day I could do school pickups and it makes it easier to do play dates and after school clubs etc (eg if they want to do swimming or something). I am basically doing a full time job over 4 days but I cut out bits I can’t manage and make sure my workload is manageable. Completely recommend it.

Probably both.

I work part time too and don't ever want to be full time again!

It was harder when the kids were small, much better now they are in school.

I reality, my work load hasn't changed that much but I am used to it now. You realise a lot less gets done on Fridays but you probably will end up feeling a bit resentful of some of what you have to cram in.

That said, I'd much prefer to have to do an hour on. Thursday evening to tie everything up and then have the mental break on Friday.

Other things to consider are the impact it can have on career progression. This doesn't really bother me but being part time in lots of places does mean you are overlooked.

I think the advice to book a couple of Fridays (or whatever your day off would be) is good.

I loved having that day and work, although still stressful, is more manageable for me doing it less days (even if those days are busier).

I've only just gone up to 5 days a week, the youngest of my 3 boys is now 8! I'm so glad I worked part time when they were small and I'm.yoiling a hit with the return to full time even now they are older.