Can I be forced into working full time?

[naturalbaby]

I work part time/job share but 12hr shifts on an 8 day rota.

We have 3 teenagers with hectic schedules and it's impossible for 1 parent to manage alone for more than a few days - we agreed to be amicable and flexible and have very little/no childcare support. The reason I'm part time is because of the logistics of the kids schedules, it was very difficult for their dad to manage when I worked full time. He's now saying I'll have to work full time or get a different job. I'm on UC so this makes up for my loss of earnings.
Can I be forced to change my work in the next few months for the financial agreement??
We have a joint mediation session soon and I don't want to waste time so want to make it as efficient as possible so that we can finalise the divorce asap.

If your shifts are 12 hours, is there a reason why you can’t do three shifts pw mainly on the days he has the children? On childcare, is there not an after school club / school library for the 13 year-old? On sports, I know people who have made premiership and national teams with both parents working in high pressure, professional roles. What do other working parents do about the sports? Can you not play tag team with some other families if you are expected to attend?

I would feel uncomfortable claiming means tested benefits to drive teenagers to sports fixtures knowing bereavement support payments (which replaced widowed parents allowance) has been cut to 18 months. I agree your 13 year old needs childcare when not in school / after school activities if you or your DH are not there, but plenty of parents work around that. To say you wouldn’t work full time until your eldest was driving made me laugh. Plenty of people in employment still have to learn to drive.

Sounds like you may need careers advice and possibly a new role.

I didn't say I wouldn't work full time till my eldest is driving.

Our financial agreement can be submitted in a few months but it may not be that quick/easy to return to full time work because I'm working a job share. Part of this depends on what childcare arrangement we agreed on. There isn't that much flexibility with my job role, it's a set shift pattern and it took a while to negotiate and set up a job share.
And yes, I know how lucky and fortunate I've been and also that I need to make significant changes to all of our lives once divorced. I'm also very aware that he's going to be more than ok for the rest of his life from a financial point of view and I'm going to have to start all over again.

Sorry but you did say that. Your second post

I will return to work full time as soon as our eldest is driving and a bit more independent.

Ok, I suppose I did - you win.
Hormonal brain fog isn't fun.
Although, who knows what will happen in the next few weeks/months! I'm trying to keep an open mind as much as I can - and also trying to retain a sense of routine and normality as my whole family routine is turned inside out. At this point in time, not much in my life is guaranteed to remain the same in 6 months time.