When did you return to full time work after children?

[Harriet433]

At what age did you go back to full time work after having a child?

My child is 3 turning 4 in the summer and will be starting pre school

i am currently working 3 days a week and plan to increase to 4 days when they go to preschool.

I am then thinking it makes the most sense to increase to full time once the child starts P1

does this work for most people to have both parents working full time at that age? We have flexibility to work from home at least once a week just dependent on work schedule

I went back FT 7 months after each of my dc. I wasn't allowed to go PT. I worked a compressed week for a while, but when I moved jobs, I didn't have that option.

It's been hard at times, but some WFH days and short commute juggling with a similar working pattern DH has been ok. Missed a few school assemblies and events.

On the plus side, I have a decent pension and have had several promotions. Longer term, I think it was the better option for me.

To add, an on-site pre and after-school club has been vital.

Went PT after mat leave. DD is 6. Best decision ever. I do term time only as well.

I worked 5 days once my youngest started reception but in self employed so my “full time” hours are all over the place - sometimes I do 20 hour a week, sometimes 50!

Went back full time at 20 weeks old for my eldest and then twins. I was the main earner and had no choice

At six months old.

Not until my DC were both at senior school, age 12 and 15.

I worked evenings and weekends up until then.

I went back to work full time when my twins were 6 months, and my husband took the next 6 months off in parental leave. We both worked full time from when they were 1yr on.

I did 4 days from when DD was 10 months old. I now do 5 shorter days so I can collect her from school one day a week, and leave early enough make it back in time before wrap-around closes for the rest of the week. I’d be FT if my commute wasn’t 1hr 15min.

I went back 3 days a week after 12 week maternity leave, as this was the length of mat leave back then. I went back up to full time when my youngest was 4. I’m now on the verge of retirement and I always say having kids was the best thing I ever did, and returning full time was the second best thing. Even just those few years of part time have knocked quite a chunk off my pension. I do have a very good defined benefits pension so I’m fine, but it’s made me aware how vulnerable people make themselves if they have a lot of time out of the workplace or only working part time. You don’t always think about these things when you’re younger but believe me, when you’re heading into your 60s that’s when you really want to be able to slow down and maybe reduce hours a bit.

Didn’t go back to work till youngest was in primary, so basically a 5 year career break ( though working would have been vastly easier than dealing with 2 toddlers). Then went full time for 3 years, then after a promotion went to 4 days (which neutralised the pay increase, but I valued a day off more and my boss actually suggested it). Still p/t ( well, 4 days) and mine are both in secondary. I won’t change now from 4 days until I retire.

9 months. Never went part time or stopped working.

10 months and 11 months

I never went back full time. I did part time from when oldest was 6mos until he was 8. I then became a SAHM and he is 12 now.

Mine are both primary school age and I have actually dropped hours since they were at nursery to be able to pick them up on time 3 days per week, love to see them after school.

swings and roundabouts
the cost of childcare if even available is often prohibitive

I went back 2 days a week after 1st mat leave then went back doing 1 night a week after my 2nd. When my 2nd started pre school I started my own business and ramped it up to pretty much full time when he started school. But I dialled it right back in the summer holidays and could be over flexible.

I worked 30 hours over four days, until my youngest was 8, then went full time.

Kids 11 and 5, still part time. Most of the mums I know work part time or not at all.

Never! Went back 3 days a week after first and continued that after second. Then went up to 3.5 and eventually 4. Could have done 5 once both were teens but never got round to it - my 4 days are pretty full on and it gave me some catch up at home time. Pretty much all the mums at their schools also worked part time, at least during primary, as did most of my friends. Younger mums I know now with primary children - about half to three quarters still work part time. But I realise that's getting a lot less doable for many families now.

6 weeks. Thats what you got as a single parent in the 1980's. I cried everyday.

4 months and 8 months.
I was the main income earner at that point so I went back when my enhanced maternity pay ended.

Main breadwinner so 6 weeks after first, 12 weeks after 2nd, 4 weeks after third.

30 years ago with a fairly crap employer who made me feel my job was insecure. Looking back it wasnt but I felt it was.

DH became SAHP after 3rd was born which made this possible.

I have never gone back to full time. While they were in primary I worked 5 days a week, a mixture of school hours only, or some short days so I could still do school pick up, and some long days where DH picked them up or they went to after school club - which didn’t exist when they first started school, I think we only managed to benefit from it for a year or two.

Once youngest was at secondary, I moved to 35 hours compressed over 4 days. I don’t intend to return to full time.

Went back full time when DC were 1, straight after mat leave. Whilst most parents I know do work and use wraparound care, it does feel like I am the only mum doing FT, most have Wednesdays or Fridays off.

It makes me feel down/jealous sometimes but I am the higher earner and we need my full salary.

On the plus side, I work from home and have a lot of flexibility so I have never missed a school event or anything. I can make up any time later in the evening when DC are in bed.

Overall I think the balance is OK, but if I ever need to commute again, I will have to reconsider.