Going back FT with young DC

BlindTV · 2023-02-06T21:50:43+00:00

I’m currently working 0.6 job sharing role but I am considering going back full time. My DC are 5 and 7. I think I would be happier at work if I was full time, but my main concern is the DC and how they will cope. We don’t have family nearby to help out. I would feel guilty to never collect them from school, and I am worried they’ll be too tired with such a full on week. How does everyone else manage?

UsingChangeofName · 06/02/2023 23:31

Personally, I stayed at 0.6 and never went back.
I thought it was the perfect balance.
Down to only working about 33 - 36 hours a week and therefore finding work and being a parent both more enjoyable. It meant the weekends were school work free and everyone benefitted.

Margo34 · 07/02/2023 09:47

Do you work in the same school as your DC attend, OP? That might be something to consider.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 07/02/2023 18:01

I know teachers who do this because they need to financially, but it does mean they never, or almost never, get to go to school events like sports day, assemblies etc. It can also make it harder to liaise with teachers in primary. But is there any capacity for the other parent to do this?

Their children cope okay as far as I am aware.

Often, they work in the evening after their children have gone to sleep.

I think it depends what matters more to you if it's not out of financial necessity? How much is the situation at work impacting your wellbeing?

careerchange456 · 07/02/2023 22:56

My kids are around the same age OP and I work full time. However, they are at my school so I don't miss anything going on. Well I do I suppose - I'm not watching my own kids when I'm running events on sports day I suppose!

We don't have family nearby either so they're in breakfast club and wraparound. It's not easy but we do ok. They love school which helps a lot when I feel guilty that they're still there at 5! However, they're never the first kids in nor the last ones out, other kids are definitely there longer!

Original poster

BlindTV · 08/02/2023 23:12

They go to a different school to mine, but the schools aren’t far apart. We ‘cope’ financially but there are no luxuries.

OP posts:

likeafishneedsabike · 18/02/2023 19:52

It very much depends on whether their other parent can pick up a lot of the slack and has some degree of professional flexibility. We are both teachers with no family support so both working full time only became viable for us with older children.
OP why did you think full time would work better for you on the work front?

Original poster

BlindTV · 19/02/2023 22:10

At the moment I work on my days off too. I’d rather go to work and be paid for the work I am putting in.

OP posts:

UsingChangeofName · 19/02/2023 23:22

But that doesn't really make sense.
Lets say, on average you put in 10 - 12 hours per day you work.
Whilst you work 0.6, that means you do 30 - 36 per week.... the 3 days at school and then some work during the day whilst they are at school, on your NWDs. Which leaves your evenings and weekends free.
or
You work FT (50 - 60 hours) then it means you are at school 5 days, plus need to also work at weekends and / or evenings to keep up with all the extra work involved in doing FT.

Now, obviously some people manage it.
Financially some people might have to.
Some might choose to.

But your logic about working on your days off doesn't make sense.
Working 0.6 means you can say no to doing anything at the weekends and have that time with your family.

likeafishneedsabike · 20/02/2023 19:31

UsingChangeofName · 19/02/2023 23:22

But that doesn't really make sense.
Lets say, on average you put in 10 - 12 hours per day you work.
Whilst you work 0.6, that means you do 30 - 36 per week.... the 3 days at school and then some work during the day whilst they are at school, on your NWDs. Which leaves your evenings and weekends free.
or
You work FT (50 - 60 hours) then it means you are at school 5 days, plus need to also work at weekends and / or evenings to keep up with all the extra work involved in doing FT.

Now, obviously some people manage it.
Financially some people might have to.
Some might choose to.

But your logic about working on your days off doesn't make sense.
Working 0.6 means you can say no to doing anything at the weekends and have that time with your family.

Largely agree. I used to plan and mark on my non working days so that weekends were enjoyable. I now plan and mark at weekends or during school holidays instead.
That said, part time is a mug’s game in a lot of circumstances. When I did 0.8 I had full responsibility and accountability for all of my classes (secondary). The teachers who taught the classes on my day off treated it like cover supervising and took no responsibility for outcomes. So the only task that I actually relinquished by being part time was actually physically teaching the students on one day of the week.
I got mugged off - but appreciate others’ experience could be much better.

Youreatragedystartingtohappen · 20/02/2023 19:37

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 07/02/2023 18:01

I know teachers who do this because they need to financially, but it does mean they never, or almost never, get to go to school events like sports day, assemblies etc. It can also make it harder to liaise with teachers in primary. But is there any capacity for the other parent to do this?

Their children cope okay as far as I am aware.

Often, they work in the evening after their children have gone to sleep.

I think it depends what matters more to you if it's not out of financial necessity? How much is the situation at work impacting your wellbeing?

Their children cope ok? Damning with faint praise there!

I work full time with two young school aged children and I manage fine. Yes it costs me a kings ransom in childcare cost but my work are flexible in terms of letting me attend things such as school assembly's, sports days and anything else I need to. I either cover someone else's class to get released for that period or we work out another way.

If for any reason I wouldn't be able to their dad attends but as yet that hasn't happened. I'm the main breadwinner so working anything other than full time wasn't an option but every day I'm home by 4 with the kids unless there's a meeting or other late finish and my kids are much more than coping ok! I also don't work evenings or weekends.

Mum guilt can be toxic and potent, do what works for you. Good luck x

UsingChangeofName · 20/02/2023 21:53

@likeafishneedsabike That's precisely why I always advise on these threads to never do more than 0.6 if PT (Primary here) so the other people teaching what you aren't are made to take responsibility. I think 0.8 is the worst.

likeafishneedsabike · 20/02/2023 22:06

@UsingChangeofName precisely my experience in secondary too.
0.6 was a fair deal. I was treated as half a teacher and paid just over half the wage. I shared classes in the true sense of sharing classes.
0.8 was dreadful. I was treated as a full teacher who was missing one day a week and who should set cover for their absence.
I would advise anyone who wants part time to do 0.6 and make up the money doing a side hustle (if necessary).

Margo34 · 20/02/2023 23:51

0.8 was dreadful. I was treated as a full teacher who was missing one day a week and who should set cover for their absence.

This sums up my year group partner (primary). Except she treats her 1-day a week off as a working from home day and treats whoever covers that day like a supply/cover supervisor by leaving them with very detailed (minute by minute) notes. She may as well just work full time as she's doing all the work anyway. I genuinely don't understand but it's her choice!