Anyone with small children and a husband in the forces?

[pocketsized]

I am looking at going back to work after the birth of DC1. My commute/hours will be such that I will really need DH to do at least 1 pick up from childcare when he is not deployed, so that I can bank enough hours (via my employers flexi-time scheme) to tide me over on weeks/months that he is not available. My question is whether anyone's DH's have managed to negotiate a guaranteed (when in the office) "early" finish (17.45) one day a week? He would be able to start/finish at any time the other days. I know HM Forces are exempt from the flexible working laws, but my employer has said they'll be flexible when he is away. IF I can commit to working an extra 1-2 regular hours a week the rest of the time.

If this isn't possible I don't think I will be able to go back to work. We have no local family.

Thanks.

Are you on camp? Can another family possibly assist on an ad hoc basis?

Or perhaps a childminder? You may have to pay for the times you don't use them but it could be worthwhile

We will have moved camps between me going on mat leave and going back to work (luckily to somewhere I can still commute from) and so will not know anyone to start with.

Maybe I do need to investigate childminders a bit more. It's so very difficult to work out what to do for the best I am not really willing to go back if it costs us significantly more than I earn (as I will have to leave the job on our next posting anyway, so won't be promoting or anything as "payback" for investing a few years of paying to go to work) and as it is not possible to rely on a serving parent it is looking like it will be too expensive.