My 4y/o will be in school from 7:30 till around 6pm

[wm2]

I’ve just been offered a new job, i assumed it was 9-5 because online it says the office closes at 5pm. I had 3 interviews and at stupidly I never asked to double check.

Once I got contract to sign it said the hours were 9-6 or I can work 8-5 4 days a week. Fridays are a late start and early finish which is great. After school club finishes at 6pm so my only option is 8-5.

breakfast club opens at 7:30am and I don’t drive so unless I get taxis to work I need to get the bus for 6:40am. My sister lives round the corner and has offered to pick my son up at 6:30 and take him to breakfast club for 7:30am.

My son needs a little time to wake up in the morning before I get him dressed so I’d need to be waking him up at 5:30am.

5:30am - 6pm seems like such a long day for someone in reception but I don’t have much choice, it’s been a struggle to find a job let alone one that’s strictly 9-5 and no weekends.

I feel incredibly guilty, is there any other single mums that had to have a routine like this? Did you see any changes in your child’s behaviour? Anything you found that helps?

Thank you

Most 4yos would really struggle with that. Can you carpool? Work part-time? Get a shared nanny?

I’m sorry OP I wouldn’t do this- your child will be exhausted, you won’t have the time to do the reading and homework- it’s not sustainable.

My 4 year old son just started reception and does breakfast club and after school club 5 days a week as we both have full on jobs with long hours. He's absolutely fine. Starts at 8am and finishes at 6pm. Main difference is he only gets up at 7am. 5.30 is so early 😩. Hats off to you as a single parent...I struggle and there's two of us. We also have a 1 year old. Honestly can't understand how single parents do it...I'm in awe!

@wm2 can you not do 9 to 6 and your sis picks him up from after schools instead.

I've really struggled finding a job that's good old fashioned 9-5..or 9 - half 5

Sadly the best I could find was 8.30-5.with 30 min lunch. I hate it

It's great you've managed to find a job OP but in all honesty at 4 if I woke my DD up at 5.30 she would be wanting her bed by 5.30pm. Im a single mum and work full time I'm so so lucky I work Monday - Friday and aslong as I work my 37.5 hours a week between 8-6 then my manager doesn't give a crap what shifts we work. I do 9/3 2 days and 9/6 three days. It's a mad dash in the morning getting to school and work but we do what we have to do. My DD is 10 now so not too bad. You need to really do pros and cons of both shift patterns. Can you sister pick your wee one up if you do a 9/6? Xxx

9-5 is so outdated.

It’s only 4 days a week, she leaves for work at 7:30 anyway and already discussed if she doesn’t feel like she can do it anymore I’ll just have to get taxis for work but taxis to work everyday will just eat into my money for bills so I’m confident she will help me

So @wm2 do you currently have a job and this is a step up or what?
It sounds to me like it's a change of job rather than going from SAHM to working.
If really be weighing up if the move justified this crazy long day for your son. I think it's too much to put him through

its nice to hear you were able to make it work for you! But no she works up to 7 sometimes 8pm most days so 9-6 isn’t an option and I’m the only one who can pick him up! The cons definitely outweigh the pros with the situation!

No she’s not able to pick him up she finishes work 7 most days

Ideally I wouldn’t have to get him up at 5:30 but when he wakes up he likes to lie on the sofa before I get him dressed, brush his teeth etc. I could wake him up at 6 I just know it will be a harder for him to want to get dressed etc. I’m gonna have to test it out one morning before I start the job

My daughter was in nursery from 8am to 6pm every week day from 12 weeks until she started school. I had no choice. I had a mortgage to pay, am a single mum, no help ever from her father and I had to provide a roof over her head and pay all the bills on my own. You just have to get on with it.

hi @wm2 DD used to be in nursery from 7.30am to 6.30pm.
Then DH started work at 7am, so I was up with DD from 5.30am left at 6.30am to drive then DH to work, drove back and dropped DD at nursery at 7.30am, went home and got ready back out at 8am to drive to work for 9. Finished work at 5.30pm. collected DD from Nursery at 6.30pm then collected then DH from work at 7pm and home by 7.30pm. 5 Days a week for 2 years until i found a new job closer to home.

I wouldn’t trust a local teenager/student to watch him tbh. It would be a better option to have a dbs checked childminder but they’re way out of my budget

It’s comforting to know someone else managed to push through it!

Wow so she's not even getting the minimum sleep requirements for her age, poor thing is going to struggle through this term they all get really tired by half term.

Is there a medical reason you don't drive? If not, it could help you enormously, you wouldn't have to rely on your sister and it wouldn't be such an early get up.

That’s the attitude I’m pushing to the front of my mind because I don’t really have a choice! Just helps to hear other mums have gone through the same thing I guess

Sorry I wouldn't be doing this. I also have a 4 year old, even waking him at av reasonable time (7am) is still such a long day, never mind at 5:30

Do 9 to 6 and use a childminder who will feed her a proper meal and let her chill rather than a rowdy after-school club full of kids running around.

I’ve been self employed for the last 2 years, I can’t carry on doing it because I became allergic to the products I was using and I was struggling a lot financially so I need a stable income.

Sleep requirements for a 4 year old are 10 to 13 hours the first term at school is really tiering.

You can do it but you'll be tired. 3 yrs afterwards I was a lone parent doing it all myself and working full time, it was easier then though as DD had just started Primary and did 8am to 6pm

Have you looked at UC or take free options?