Work??

[sweetno64]

How many of you work in a paid job as well as being a mum of many??

I currently work 16 hours (monday and tuesday 8.30-5.30) in a ok job and have 4 little uns. My DH was allowed to work a 4 day week when I went back to work last November but he has to go back full time in January.

I really think I want to give up work but am conflicted with lots of different reasons about whether to go for it or not...

(i.e. we will be down a bit on money, should I give up a very reliable job when I will be looking for something simular in a few years time, will I be able to get another decent job, will I be able to cope with being a sahm (I feel I am not massively maternal mummy - I like time to myself too!), will I feel isolated without work colleagues, will people treat me differently with the whole stereotype large family/benefits thing)

But essentially HOW on earth will I cope working 16 hours a week ferrying all the kids around the whole time and being solely responsible if they are ill etc as DH works loonnngggg hours (gone by 6am back around 5pm).

Sorry v long post - where is everyone at with this?

we haven't managed that either. Au pair?

so do you work too??

I dont have room for an au pair......!

I kept a full time job throughout 4 dc but handed in my resignation in June as I wanted more time with dc (2 new arrivals in Dec). I now work from from home with no set hours that allows me to pay bills and be a SAHM - this has turned out to be great as we're moving country. When all DC are in nursery/school. I will be going back to work. It's not the greatest situation but it works for us.

DH is a WAHD. If we both worked we'd have to do a whole patchwork of childcare (twas ever thus).

Yeah i work( just got home) and i'm starting uni in september!

I work evenings. It does mean that during the week I leave for work as soon as dh gets home (when not on maternity leave). I worked during the day as well until dc4 was born but found the list of school meetings, hospital appointments (dc2 has special needs), children being ill and all the housework made it too much to juggle. Once you take into account how much you save on childcare we found it made little difference financially.

My dh used to leave at 6.45am and get home around 7-7.30pm depending on traffic. I'm lucky I have an evening job because it helps to make ends meet financially.

I am currently on maternity leave after dc5 and if I'm honest, not looking forward to going back to work. After rushing around all day the last thing I feel like doing is going to work for the evening. Dh is now in a new job and gets home by 5.30pm ish, so at least we will see each other for about an hour in the evenings before I leave for work.

I have 5 dcs and currently 28 weeks pregnant with dc6. I work 4 long days Monday-Thursday (full-time compressed hrs). I find it ok although monster commute (don't ask) is so draining. I think to make it work (for me personally) you need to have a dp who doesn't assume/or is unable to for whatever reason think that you will be the default setting for sick children etc. I'm lucky in that I can work from home for one day of the week, in addition to being 'off' on the Friday but I won't deny it's not the most stress-free scenario in the world. So yes long hrs and lots of dcs can work, but everyone needs to be clear about their role/responsibilities otherwise resentment can kick in!

I have been working about 18 hours a week, and increasing to 24 next month but I will get most of the school hols off. My dc are 9, 6 and 4 yo dts. It's reasonable pay now that all 4 will be at school, I wasn't making anything for a few years when the dts were born. I am a bit torn, I nearly gave up 2 years ago when the juggling got too difficult (and I had a bit of a breakdown). My eldest is being investigated for ASD, I think if that wasn't going on I wouldn't think of giving up. It's just the stress of his behaviour on top of the rest. It's not easy to get a job that works around the kids, and is interesting and decent pay. You've got to consider what happens down the line when you'd like to go back. I wouldn't get a job as good as this, they've been incredibly flexible through 3 lots of maternity leave and changing my days 5 times!