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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have two days a week to myself?

138 replies

twofulldays · 25/05/2025 20:08

It’s been an intense few years and I’ve definitely taken on the lions share of parenting.

DS starts school in September, and am planning to stay 0.6, so three days a week. This obviously means I’ll have two days a week to myself if you like. But it also means on those days he won’t have to do breakfast / after school club.

The number of comments I’ve had about this has surprised me. AIBU to work part time with primary school aged children? I will have them all school holidays and I guess I feel I’ve earned a little time to myself in term time!

OP posts:
Trallia · 25/05/2025 20:11

Seems fine if you can afford it.

I expect to have to reduce my hours when my daughter starts school - nursery does 7.30am til 6pm - school won't!

Just ignore people. They're jealous that you're making this choice.

Once you've factored in drop offs and pick ups, it's literally just 12h to catch up on cleaning and life admin, as well as maybe squeeze in some exercise and hobby time if you're lucky. It's hardly an indulgence!

Evaka · 25/05/2025 20:11

Absolutely if it's what you want. Do you mean people are making snide comments about you having downtime? That's unhinged.

ForZanyAquaViewer · 25/05/2025 20:11

Comments from whom? Presumably you are able to support yourself on 3 days a week (or have the support of a partner who is happy to), so not really seeing how it’s anyone else’s business?

ETA: I only went back to work when DC were three, and only work three days a week. I also have a nanny/housekeeper. The combination of all this makes some people furious. It’s quite amusing.

HappyMuma · 25/05/2025 20:12

If I could work 3 days a week instead of 5 I would!!

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 25/05/2025 20:12

If you can afford it why not

Whaleandsnail6 · 25/05/2025 20:13

As long as your household can afford it and your spouse (if you have one) is on board with the set up then its noones business.

Id love to work 3 days a week but we cant afford the income drop but I can definitely see why its appealing!

safetyfreak · 25/05/2025 20:13

Same situation here,

Looking forward to having 2 days to myself!

Gustavo77 · 25/05/2025 20:14

Trallia · 25/05/2025 20:11

Seems fine if you can afford it.

I expect to have to reduce my hours when my daughter starts school - nursery does 7.30am til 6pm - school won't!

Just ignore people. They're jealous that you're making this choice.

Once you've factored in drop offs and pick ups, it's literally just 12h to catch up on cleaning and life admin, as well as maybe squeeze in some exercise and hobby time if you're lucky. It's hardly an indulgence!

That's really sad that you're waiting until your child starts school before you cut your hours and she's in care for so long, you must hardly see each other 🙁

TheyreLikeUsButRichAndThin · 25/05/2025 20:14

God YANBU at all. I had FIVE days to myself when my 2 older ones started school!

I now work 3 days and when DD starts school I will definitely keep it at that. 2 days a week with nobody in my vicinity for 6 short hours a day sounds like heaven!

Chipsahoy · 25/05/2025 20:14

I have children all in school and two are teens, I don’t work at all. Let people judge. Do what works for you and your family.

user1476613140 · 25/05/2025 20:15

Enjoy two days to yourself, you deserve it.

Chasingsquirrels · 25/05/2025 20:16

I still work part time and my "kids" are now 22 living in London and 19 doing an apprenticeship.

user1476613140 · 25/05/2025 20:17

Chipsahoy · 25/05/2025 20:14

I have children all in school and two are teens, I don’t work at all. Let people judge. Do what works for you and your family.

I have one that's just finished school, and three still in the school system. No, I don't feel guilty.

Enjoy OP🙌

Imicola · 25/05/2025 20:18

I consider it my dues after taking on most of the childcare responsibilities, and the personal financial/pension hit that being part time leads to.

I'm on 80% and on my day off i prioritise doing things that i wouldn't be able to do if DD was with me, which usually means a vigorous hike!

fruitpastille · 25/05/2025 20:18

It's very common to do this in my experience.

Trallia · 25/05/2025 20:18

Gustavo77 · 25/05/2025 20:14

That's really sad that you're waiting until your child starts school before you cut your hours and she's in care for so long, you must hardly see each other 🙁

Show quote history

:D

That's the exact inverse version of the kinda "suprised remarks" you're wondering about, you hypocrite!

Mightyhike · 25/05/2025 20:19

I did this OP and would definitely recommend it. As you say, the main reason was so that DC were in wraparound care for 3 days rather than 5 - and the two days to myself were a massive bonus!

eldermillenialmum · 25/05/2025 20:20

It's fine if your DP is happy with it and it works for you financially

2025isavibe · 25/05/2025 20:21

I don't have any kids and I'd love to work part time, I'd love to not work at all if I could 🤣
The only thing stopping me is not being able to afford it! So absolutely do this if you can afford it, mums work bloody hard.

Original poster
twofulldays · 25/05/2025 20:26

Thanks. I do want to minimise wraparound (DH wfh Fridays so as long as my days off aren’t on a Friday - they aren’t - then it’s only two days in wraparound.)

Otherwise I’d literally have NO downtime which gets relentless!

OP posts:
Parker231 · 25/05/2025 20:26

twofulldays · 25/05/2025 20:08

It’s been an intense few years and I’ve definitely taken on the lions share of parenting.

DS starts school in September, and am planning to stay 0.6, so three days a week. This obviously means I’ll have two days a week to myself if you like. But it also means on those days he won’t have to do breakfast / after school club.

The number of comments I’ve had about this has surprised me. AIBU to work part time with primary school aged children? I will have them all school holidays and I guess I feel I’ve earned a little time to myself in term time!

Can you afford it if your DH decides he would also like to only work three days a week? Doesn’t seem very fair that you have two days a week to yourself if he doesn’t also.

bge · 25/05/2025 20:26

Fantastic for a year or so. I wouldn’t think about doing it for longer, for pension reasons, partic if you’re only working term time. This is why women’s pensions are so much lower than men’s and they struggle in old age more

bge · 25/05/2025 20:28

twofulldays · 25/05/2025 20:26

Thanks. I do want to minimise wraparound (DH wfh Fridays so as long as my days off aren’t on a Friday - they aren’t - then it’s only two days in wraparound.)

Otherwise I’d literally have NO downtime which gets relentless!

Most of us don’t have downtime really btw when children are small. But when the youngest is about 10 it all changes and it’s endless downtime (mine are teens or nearly teens and I have so much time I don’t know what to do with it)

Strictlymad · 25/05/2025 20:30

As long as all is even financially between you, I think it’s perfect. You can do the cleaning, shopping life admin and then after school/evenings and weekends are fully family time. As long as dh sees and appreciates that all is good

Trumptonagain · 25/05/2025 20:34

Reality is you mean you'll have 2 days where you won't be at your paid job.

From experience within those 2 days there's every possibility that jobs/chores will come out of the woodwork, so to speak, and once you've taken your DC to school it'll be time to return and collect them before you know it.

Enjoy any free moments you do manage to get to yourself.