I'm wondering what you would do in my situation so I can get ideas outside of my own 'traditional' solutions. I find that I want more balance in my life,who doesn't right, but I actually am privileged enough that most options are probably open to me given the right plan is in place. Sorry it's long, didn't want to drop feed if I can help it.
Currently I'm doing:
-30 hours a week in school hours but needing to 'find' 2.5 hours a week outside school hours-usually on Thursday and friday mornings when husband WFH so does the drop offs
-i do all drop offs mon-wed and pick up everyday-the day runs 8am leave for drop offs,wfh in the middle, home 4pm from all pick ups
-the morning routine is pretty good and we manage to get most housework done-we rotate who gets the kids ready and the other one focusses on the house. Anything straggling like emptying dishwasher or hanging washing to dry that's been running in the day I will sort between 4-5.30 while I'm home aswell as cooking dinner.
-evenings are dinner, kids bath, bed, typically a busy evening but kids down by 8pm usually giving husband and I the evening to do what we will
Writing it out it all sounds very well organised and like we have plenty of time, but the reality is I'm burnt out, with a 2yo who doesn't sleep and a 4yo, they are typical toddlers who argue a lot, cause dramas etc and generally stop things running as smoothly as I've layed out in the above. My husband also has mental health difficulties so while he can be hands on helpful round the house he needs very specific instructions and hand holding so I'm holding the entire running of the house on me,if I fail, the whole system fails.
I find I just want more space in my life and I don't know how to get it. I do ballet once a week on an evening and I've started yoga from home aswell on some dinner times (no chance when the kids are around and I'm too tired by the time it's evening). I'm lucky enough to have a role where I'm valued and they put family and health first, so I can probably ask for any working pattern I want given the right things are in place to get the job done and the financials work. But is changing my hours the answer? Before my eldest started school I did 4 days a week, I now do less hours but more days and find I'm feeling the impact significantly in the loss of breathing space. Every minute of the day is alloted for something now.
Any suggestions?