Any WOHP whose OH doesn't do a standard 9-5 job?

[Thurlow]

I've been thinking about this ever since the first debate about starting these boards.

I work M-F 9-5 (with a commute). DP is on a 10 day shift pattern, doing different shifts, rest days often cancelled. This is great for work as it allows us to both work f/t with a manageable amount of childcare. But it's crap for family life and for a personal life.

A lot of the things SAHM's were saying they wanted to discuss completely rang true for us. Not being able to arrange a haircut, trying to get all the housework done with young DC around, that sort of thing. 90% of the time DP and I are solo parenting - for example, it's been me on my own with DD(3) all weekend as he's been out pretty much the whole time.

Sometimes it feels that most other people all have lovely standard hours. They talk about OH's helping out in the evening, or how to split lie ins at the weekend. What's a lie in?

So I wondered if there is anyone else out there juggling shift work or opposite hours who fancied a chat as we sit so weirdly between the two boards?

MrNC works 11-7 plus a telecom every morning at 10am, but only 4 days a week, with building work on the other day.
Until the last few months it has been a few years feeling like ships passing in the night. I only work 3 days as I couldn't go back to 4 and do school run then commute.

Finally dd is old enough to sit around at the hairdresser while I have a quick cut, but I did go a couple years without one. Now she's 3.4 and getting free hours at nursery, life is easier in so many ways.

I'm SO glad the haircut thing is an issue for other people! I haven't had mine done since before I went back to work in Nov. All the other Mums at work are always immaculately coiffed! Pregnancy has made my hair AWFUL this time around as well so it's just scraped back all the time but with a lovely halo of frizz. Nice. I'm tempted to just have a go myself... but I know that's a bad idea.

Sorry, I realise this isn't a thread about haircuts

We've got MIL to stay at the moment, so DP can work during the day and we got to spend an evening hanging out for the first time in ages! Managed to watch a whole movie. A rare treat.

No, seriously, I swear things like haircuts become the most important thing ever. No one tells you this before you have a child - "you will never sleep again", yep, got that one... "you'll have a small person puking on you", yep, heard that one too... "you will not manage a decent haircut between the ages of 6 months and 5 years" - er, what was that?!

I work ft and DH works in apart time management role, but his hours are often over the weekend and a couple of days a week in afternoon/evenings so we have that too.. He will do drop off and pick up and prep dinner, as I get home (about 445pm, start at 8) he heads out. We do get half the evenings in the week together and maybe one weekend a month, but often my very demanding job means that when I know he's around,I generally catch up with work or sleep!! It's manageable but bloody busy and I have grey streaks in my that I have NO IDEA when to get sorted!!