Part time workers, what hours do you work?

[OverflowingMum]

I have recently gone back to work after 5 years as a SAHM.[shcok]
I have gone back to a 60% post, working 24 hours a week. I was lucky as I was able to devise by own timetable as to how to fit the hours in (within some limitations) and currently I work Mon, Tue, Thurs 9.15 till 2.30 and Weds 9.15 till 5.00
then have day off on Friday.
I arranged it like this because I have 6 kids. The youngest (2.5) is at nusrsery and not really a problem , but the older ones obviously would require out of school care on the days I work longer. Currently they go to an out of school club which charges £5.50 each on a Weds. This is a reasonable cost I believe, but obviously with 4 of them there it adds up!(oldest DS at secondary school comes home alone anyway...)
The problem is I am hating my shorter days for a number of reasons. I am finding it hard to get certain things done at work, I often end up really rushed when leaving. It is a frantic rush getting to school to collect DC, then home etc.. and I feel like that that time at the end of the day can't usefully be used for anything else, as it is all taken up with after school activities, homework, baths, dinner etc...( you know the usual awful after school chaos LOL)So I end up feeling as if I am working more than I am IYSWIM because I only have 1 day off, which I then try and fit everything else into...(appointments, shopping, spending nice time with DS2, organising things,buying presents for dc friends parties,washing, ironing, cleaning, tidying, etc...)
I would really love to change to working 3 full days a week, but I am torn because I don't think the older dc would like going to after school club 3 times a week, plus it would cost us nearly £200 a month more BUT I do feel that having 2 days off from work would make things so much easier and better for me, plus I would get more time with DS2(who has found it very hard to get used to nursery)....
I have considered going to 3 days and getting a nanny as this would probably be cheaper than paying after school care for 4 DC 3 times a week + ds nusrsery...but remain undecided...
I know I am lucky that I can collect dc from school 4 days a week...but I just feel soooooo stretched and overwhelmed at the moment, and actually I am getting quite down with never having time to get done what I need to...
Do I just need to tough it out and get used to it do you think? I'm so fed up at the moment...sigh...
Any views???

Wow!! I am a SAHM and have been thinking of the possiblility of going back to work. Reading your post scares me...I am amazed how you do it!! Well done!!

I work 2.5 days/week (18 hours)
On my half day, I achieve way less than half what I achieve on my full days. Not sure why, but it's true. I may have opportunity to split my hours across the week when DD1 starts school, but I am not sure I could be as effective at work.

I do 4 days per week, Mon & Thu 9.30 - 5pm and Tue - Wed 9.30- 2.30pm, this seems to be working quite well at the minute as although on Tuesday and Wednesday I do have that harassed feeling all day at least I have two days with solid blocks to get things completed, particularly on the Thursday where I try not to have many meetings in the afternoon. It also means DS is only in nursery plus 2 days per week.

I have to admit to being in complete stunned awe of you for having 6 kids and working 4 days a week, I can just about manage with one DS.

If your work is flexible could you trial the different working pattern, for the older children could you maybe do play swaps for say one of the days to cut down on the after school, or another option is childminder.

Hope you get a pattern that works, you must have amazing coordination skills to get everyone out of the house in the morning, so I'm sure if you put your head to it you will come up with a plan that suits.

I do Mon - Weds 8am to 6.30pm

H does 8am to 6pm Weds - Fridays.

Although if I do more hours I sometimes get time off to make up for it, H's overtime is unworked (but on the other hand doesn't go in on his off days, we only ever stick to those days. if anything extra is needed it just means an extra long day or early start really.)

"H's overtime is unworked" - should be "H's overtime is unPAID" it wouldn't be work if he wasn't working it, lol

I work Mon 3-11pm and Tue - 7am-3pm = 16hrs and occasionally do a thursday or sunday extra.

I do full days, can't do half days at my work, so I do Monday, Thursday and Friday 1000-2200

I did part-time (20 hours) until I was made redundant recently.
With DS1 I did five half days a week working from home. I didnt get much done to be honest. The (working) day seemed to be finished before it started. After DS2 came along, I switched to two full plus one half and it was way easier to manage. If I manage to get another job, I want to do three full days, 9-5

I work Tue, Wed, Thurs 9.30 to 2.45 - the rushing off problem never goes away unfortunately, unless you don't have any work to do (unlikely). Fortunately, I am in a reasonably well-paid job, so only working this small number of hours is still worthwhile and I only need childcare in the school holidays. When one of my 2 dcs is ill or has medical appointments (dd2 has severe SN), my boss is flexible and lets me move days around. So I'm pretty lucky overall.

I work 3 days, just over 22 hours per week. I have flexi time so could have changed to do 4 shorter days to fit in with school when ds started in sep.

However i feel that shorter days are leess productive in terms of getting the work done so i use the breakfast club/after school club on my work days. I dont have 4 children to pay for though so i can see why this is prohibitive for you.

Does your school offer a breakfast club? At mine it is cheaper than the after school club. If so could you use the breakfast club to work the longer hours but still do the after school pickup?

What about your partner (if you have one) or family, can someone do 1 pickup or drop off a week for you so that you could work a long day to get your hours in.

Another thought from my original, maybe you could keep the hours you have but still put the DCs in after school once a week. Still less days than they would be there if you changed to 3 full days, but gives you an afternoon to either work a bit late if you need to, or do all the household and child organisation stuff.