To ask how many kids you have, their age, and how many hours you work a week?

[TemporaryPosition]

I'm curious how normal it is to work full time, 40+ hours a week with kids. I feel like everyone's life would be so much better if I did even just one day less. What do you do for an evening meal? I find this hardest and spend a fortune on convenience food (not take aways, but super easy comfort food) for the family. Does it matter if its a career? As in its worth it because it will pay off long term or if its just a job and you simply need to.

Aibu unreasonable to try and work out what is normal?

now... none and both myself and DH work part time hours.

before the kids flew the nest, i worked full time hours for about 3 months after my first was born and i was exhausted, so i reduced to Pt hours (20 a week i think) and this continued after 2nd was born. I told my DH that i would not be returning to full time work and we managed on what money we had.

2 kids age 2 and 7. I work 20 hours a week over 3 days. When littlest goes to school I'll prolly do another 6 hours on another day.

1 child. 1 on the way. 37.5 hours a week. Will have 1 year mat leave and then return.

I mostly wfh so I can do things like stick the slow cooker on or do laundry during working hours. Makes a world of difference.

Both work FT 5 days a week Monday/Friday- I also have an additional position that I cover and can do anywhere between 20 and 60 hrs of additional work per month.

2 teen DC , one working, one still in secondary school however both are professional athletes (county and country level) which means we are out the house from 5am to 9/10pm 5/6 days a week.

I meal plan everything and use the slow cooker alot . I do most of the cooking while ds ferries the boys to their schedules.

it’s hectic and exhausting however they boys are thriving and happy.

4 (although eldest is now an adult). Others are 16, 10 and 7. Work approx 40 hours p/w across 5 days.

FT professional services hours. So 10 hour days. Some travel away.
Two kids 8 and 10.

We have a lot of slow cooker foods, batch cooked meals, air fryer meals. I'm super organised. Laundry is done at night and hung up when the kids have their breakfast.

Organisation and efficiency are key.

I used to do 4 days but unless it's a paid by the hour job, everyone wants 5-6 days work for 4 days pay.

22.5h. 14 and 15. Both complex needs, eldest is severely disabled. I don't have that much time for cooking despite working only a few hours but do a lot of stir fry stuff with rice which is quick. Or roast chicken with tons of veg on a tray. Leftovers get turned into soup.

And curry style things which we can eat on 2 consecutive days - just cook new rice.

Not a fan of batch cooking and freezing.

To add, one child ASD and another awaiting assessment

I have a 5 year old and work full time.

Full time, 3 kids in nursery and primary. I've done a mix of part time and full time but find this the most manageable. When I was part time my role didn't shrink so I was constantly do over my hours anyway, when I worked compressed hours I found my kids were worse as in after school club so long days for them too.

For me what makes a difference is my husband is a fully equal parent. Beyond that, I'm in a senior role so control my diary to an extent, I've done it a while so can coast a bit, and I work from home regularly so I'm not knackered from the commute and can do a few things during the day.

I've also cut back on the bits that aren't necessary to reach an equilibrium of kids having what they need whilst I'm still relaxed enough to be a decent parent. It was a journey to get there, driven in no small part by the number of people around me breaking themselves to be seen to be succeeding.

The people I know who are really stressed have all taken on far too much pressure in some part of their life or are basically parenting solo because of the other parent being mediocre/absent.

Kids are DD9 and DS5. DS ASD/ADHD/ODD and very hard work.

I work 9-5, M-F, from home and I do an in-call rota which is a week on-call 24/7 every 6 weeks.
DH works F/T hybrid.

I find meals quite draining really, especially as everyone is so fussy. Often end up making 2 things! I go for quick during the week and anything more time consuming at the weekends.

Life is pretty relentless at the moment but I keep reminding myself that things will change. Neither child is very independent and DS needs a lots of support.

DH shares school runs, we each put one DC to bed each evening. I do all cooking but he does most of the housework. If I was doing all of that myself I would definitely be struggling!

2 primary ages kids and work part time from home 26 hours a week, have done so since I had the first. The vast majority of my mum friends are part time too, with most having a day or 2 off work per week. I would say we all consider ourselves to have careers and be successful despite being part time! Most are a mix of professional services, teachers.
I use wrap round care on the days I work and the kids have school lunches.

One DC (now grown up). I worked 25 hours per week during school hours and term time so I didn't need to pay out for child care. Once DC in their mid teens I moved from term time to having a day off in the week so I could help my parents. I was lucky that at the time my employers were very flexible.

My role was administrative.

I have four ages 12, 10, 8 and 5. I work 4 half days (20 hours) in a professional role, WFH 3 days a week.

DH works 14 hour days and travels at least one week a month so I can't work any more hours at the mo moment. I plan on upping my hours when my youngest is around 9/10.

I work 30 hours a week but cutting down to 24 after half term. Work in a school. Two children 11 and 6. Only reason I am cutting down is because the 6 year old has additional needs and we have been and will continue to need to be around for him more than we needed to be with his brother.

Three kids (5, 3 & 7mo), work FT, 9-5pm every day. I'm also on-call for a week every 3 months or so, but that's 24hrs a day. Those days I find the hardest 😆

I have 2. 18 (works part time and at Uni full time) and 12. I work full time, 40+ hours a week. Hoping to drop down to 4 days a week from September around 30 hours a week.

A three year old and a nine year old, we both work three days a week, 21 hours for me and 24 hours for him.

22 hours over 4 days, do all the school runs bar one drop off.

I would struggle to up my hours much more and financially it would only make sense to pick up the extra weekday and do another 5 1/2 hours a day. Working full time wouldn't be worth it at all with the cost of childcare because I earn minimum wage.

I will probably do something like 8.30-3.30 starting spring when my youngest is in year 6. He will be walking home by himself and I will probably arrive home at the same time. When he's in high school I can up my hours further if necessary and go from there.

2
13, 16
32 + on call

I work about 25-30 hours a week, my husband works about 35 hours a week.
We have a 3 year old and one on the way.
Honestly I don't like the 3 days a week my daughter is in nursery, its such a rush doing the morning & evening routine, no quality time as a family it feels. I'd hate to do that 5 days a week.
Started out as a necessity as I couldn't get anymore days at nursery but we decided to commit to it instead as prefer this work/life balance and with the new funding its more affordable than it was before (only bill that's gone down!)
Planning to do 5 short days once both children are in school to facilitate drop offs/pick ups.
I don't think it matters what is normal for other people though, its what works for you as a family?
I was able to go back part time, though it wasn't popular and my workload didn't change so I just have less time to do my work. It's not an option for everyone.
I am not career orientated though, I want a job to get money to facilitate my life. My husband enjoys his work & earns more so we prioritise his career.

Three DC (two teens and one preteen), I have worked full time from home for 4/5 years. When youngest was born I didn't work for a couple of years, then worked part time (teen time only) increasing my hours until current job.

2 children aged 7&5.

Work 8:30-2:30pm so I do drop off and pick up.