Did any of you go to work/uni full time with a 2 year old?

[LaceyLou42]

I have an 8 month old and I am going back to work in August part time and I am looking into doing a distance learning access to high education course to start in September. The aim is to become qualified to do a full time degree to potentially start the year after, which would make my boy 2 years and 4 months old. Am I crazy?
I’m not worried about child care costs but I am worried about feeling like I’ve abandoned my baby.

I went back to work full time when my little one was 2 months and now she’s 18 months. Worked for us, she’s with her dad two days a week and nanny for three. I get a lot of judgement but it was a good choice for me.

I went to work when my DD reached one. I used to do 2 full days and a half day. She was left with a childminder. I really missed her and felt incredibly guilty about leaving her but I managed to make it work somehow. I was still breastfeeding too, but from one she could have cows milk and breastmilk morning and evening

I've worked full time since DD was 4m. Zero regrets, and zero guilt. I see her plenty, she has two days a week with her daddy, 3 days at nursery which she loves, and weekends with both her parents. She's fantastic, and I don't feel like I'm missing out at all.

Full time when ds1 was 8 months. Ds2 will be 8.5 months when I go back also full time. Its what works for us

My sister went back to college full time when her child was 7 months. She went on to uni (full time course) when her child was nearly 3 years old. She should graduate when DC is 5.

I went back to work - 3 long shifts a week when DD was a year old. I'm pregnant again and plan to only take 8 months maternity this time.

I did a full time doctorate course with a 3 yr old and 10month old. It was manageable. Now the r in school and need collecting at 3pm, I work.part time hours ...

Work pt 18 hrs per week and full time uni have done since dd was 10 months. She's 3 now - don't regret it at all. Also get May - Sept off Uni.

I’ll be going back to work full time when my baby is 9 months old. Not worried about it at all. Many families have both parents in full time work and it’s fine.

I went from self employed (at home most of time) working varying hours when DS would be in nursery to full time employed with DS in full time nursery when DS was 2 years 3 months. DH worked away M-F so everything fell to me.

It was hard and I did feel guilty at times but it was definitely worth it in long run. It was an opportunity to get into a different area of work which is something I really wanted and I couldn’t turn it down - partly for financial reasons but for my own needs as I’d become very bored with what I was doing and there was no other way to change that.

We were fortunate to be able to afford a cleaner so didn’t need to do cleaning at weekend. We made sure to make the most of the weekends, spending quality time together.
Lots of cuddles and attention in the evening when I picked DS up. I made sure to really focus on him until he went to bed, not be distracted by other things. He loved nursery and was a happy sociable soul.

I got good annual leave so enjoyed taking days off to spend just me and him

I was able to drop a day when DS started school - it means I can drop him off and pick him up from school that day, instead of using breakfast club/after school club. Could also let DS have friends round after school on a Friday

Was full time with a 2 year old in full time nursery difficult? Yes
Would I do the same thing again? Definitely

I worked PT (9 day fortnight) from 9 months and also studied part time (2 evenings a week) from 1yr-2yr, partly while pregnant with DD2. Not going to say it wasn’t tough, but it needed doing to get me where I am today.