Working full time.

[Clueless20something]

DH and I don't have a child yet but looking to have one in the near future.

At the moment, I feel like I will want to go back to work full time because I love my job and there is chance to become a manager of a new branch.

However, all of DH family have an opinion and keep saying that I should do part time because otherwise a childminder or nursery are bringing up our child...

The initial thought is to have 2 days CM and 2 days nursery and my mum having the other day (she'll be retired and has offered to help).

On my current hours, I have every 3rd Wednesday off to work the Saturday so if it was the same, then there would be that day off.

My boss, who owns the business, works full time and she is an inspiration and her kids love her to bits but her husband is a PT so he is at home a lot during the day to help.

I know it's all completely speculative because I might completely change how I feel when I actually have a baby but I just wondered what you all thought and if there is anyone with both parents working full time and how it does all fit in.....

You will work out what you want to do and what works best for you all in time.

I've done it all. With DC1 I worked full time and she went to nursery. I loved my job and didn't want to compromise at all. Nursery accommodated our needs and she was 8mo when she started. Downsides was that we found it to be quite generic and lots of rules. Positives was that there was continuity. With DC2 I was working part time and she was with childminder. It was much more personal and suited her better than nursery, however you have to factor in childminder sick days and annual leave. Different circumstances and different needs. Now on mat leave with DC3 and am planning to become a childminder. Working part time has enabled me to spend more time with my children and I realised how much I enjoy helping them to develop and learn and want to do more of it and with other children too.

Personally speaking over time my goals have changed and my priorities are different. My children have made that happen and I don't currently have the same drive for working in corporate roles as I did before. That's not to say that happens to everyone but I strongly believe that you won't know how you feel until you have children.