Anyone have 3 kids ( 2 under 3yrs) and still go to work?

[DungunGirl]

Help! Am I mad?
Would just like to hear how others have managed to do this.

My boss is lovely and I have told her that once I have my 3rd ( unplanned ) that it will be near impossible to afford 3 children in childcare! She has agreed for me to suggest some options that would enable me to still work even in a much reduced part time capacity.

So many options going through my head!

Just need to make the cost of childcare for what will be a 7 year old ( at school ), a 3 year old and a 8 month old stack up against a salary drawn from maybe only 2 days a week work! Oh my husband works full time...so it isn;t JUST my salary....but I usually pay the childcare and he pays the mortgage.

I have only ever used childminders....could nursery turn out more reasonable for my 3 year old as I am assuming that 15 hours free pre-school education time for over 3 year olds would apply?

Help....anyone got a tale to tell?

Sorry no advice but watching with interest - due number 3 in June when ds is just 16 months (dd is 5). When I return to work DD will be 6, DS will almost be 2 (2 weeks away from his 2nd birthday) and this one will hopefully be 7 months.

I actually have childcare sorted but am wondering how those who have very small children (not of school going age) cope.

Ill be working full time and completing my law degree at night. (Ill be in my final year when I return)

Huge congratulations by the way!!

I work fulltime and have a four year old, a three year old and a one year old. I use a childminder for the two youngest and she is going to be accredited soon, so she can receive the pre school funding. I find the hours of a childminder more flexible.

I use breakfast club for my four year old and then relatives pick her up from school

Am a teacher, so no school holiday care to organise which helps.

Also do private tutoring some evenings for extra ££.

I also have children who sleep quite poorly - am tired but happy still :)

Congratulations - you will find a way to make it work

Wow you're crazy sorry only joking, I have 3, 7 years, 3 years, and 18 months and don't work at the moment, barely coping as it is

But anyway, I was going to say that you can use the 15 hours for pre-school children with some childminders, I think they have to be registered or something for the scheme, if you go with a private nursery instead, there is something about them only being able to use one voucher per session, so it wouldn't cover the whole day.

Or what about doing just during school hours, my local pre-school offers whole school sessions, so 9am-3pm ish, your middle child could do that for 2 1/2 days for free with vouchers, oldest at school all day, childminder for youngest, childminder for all in holidays.

Where I used to work we had a lady who did school hours during term time and less days but longer days during holidays, so she could have more days at home during school holidays.

The main reason I gave up after 3rd was worry about having to have time off work when they are sick it does seem to be quite a lot of time with 3 by the time it's gone around all 3, and work were already getting quite fed up of it even when I just had the 2 children, mind you, you might be luckier than me health wise!

But I can see it might well be worth keeping your hand with a view to returning to more hours once all at school, I did consider it

sorry that was meant to say, 'my local pre-school offer whole school day sessions'

A colleague of mine had an unplanned pregnancy when her DD was 3, it was twins! Back then maternity leave was 12 weeks, she was exhausted but she survived.

Don't think short term in terms of salary / childcare - you are keeping your working life / career going.

Think it will only work if your DH pulls his weight.

I have 3, a 15 month old, 6 yrs and 8yrs. I also work full time and am a single mum. The youngest is in nursery - they are great, the other 2 go to a childminder. I drop off at school which is great. It is hard, especially fitting in homework but we are getting there. Also, hard to see children for only short time in the week. But, we have a great time at weekends and really enjoy the time together. you will get there, anything is possible. One word - planning. Have a large diary and fill in everything. Two different school timetables / after school clubs / projects / homework etc - write everything down and plan when you can get costumes / projects etc done so you don't miss any deadlines - important kids don't feel left out or shown up at school!.

I have a five year old, a 3 year old and an eight month old. Currently I work days anh DH works evenings...childcare wouldn't add up, sadly.

We're holding out for our 3 year old to start school, and then we intend to use a nursery for DD and afterschool/breakfast clubs. Breakfast club is free at our school.

I have a just turned 4yr old, 2.5yr old and 1 yr old, I work 27 hours per week shift work including 2 weekends in 5 til 0300hrs, I find it hard but worse now DD1 is in preschool as a lot of our leave is used covering childcare for the other 2 - usually work 2 days which they are in nursery for but 2 weeks in 5 also work a tues. DH & take it in turns to take these as A/L, so struggle to get time off in the holidays for DD1.

how about an au pair or somebody who is studying at college (childcare qualifications maybe?)

I have a rising 5 (starts school next week), a 22 month old and am pregnant with an unplanned third, due in June. I work 3 days a week and will carry on doing the same (if I can find the energy).

I have the oldest with a childminder, the younger two will be in nursery and I will get the 15 hours (term time) free with the middle child.

Childminder is actually slightly more expensive than even nursery, but I think I live in a particularly high cost area - all our childminders are over £5 an hour and charge extra for outings / meals etc.

It is going to be expensive, but not forever. It's mostly the juggling sickness and so on I am worried about as I have zero family support and DH works long hours and has a huge commute. But I couldn't imagine giving up work, I really couldn't.

Wow thanks for all the stories and suggestions ladies!

I really want and need to keep my hand in work, but like you have all raised it is the childcare element as well that I have to consider.

I have given notice to my childminder that my current 2 will stop over my maternity leave period so that I can sort it all out.

I think I will send no.1 who is at school, to after school club and am really needing to either find a childminder who is registered so that I can benefit from the free hours once no.2 turns 3, or look into the nurseries.

The childminders round where I am are cheaper than nurseries, BUT not many are registered to for the free hours for over 3's. So I have a LOT of digging to do!

As for nannies - I was thinking about a nanny..but my DH is so anal about safety and qualifications etc etc that he flatly refused the idea of a nanny in whatever form.

I think most of my problems will stem from my DH being so particular as well...grrrr....

Anyway, loving hearing how everyone has made it work/sorted it out...keep em coming!

Well I have 4 children and about to go back to work next week!

My youngest two are nearly 3 and 1 too, and my eldest 2 are at school.

I am opting for nursery for the younger two exactly for the same reason as you, ie being able to claim the 15 hours. Especially as there are rumours this will be scrapped soon, so I might as well make the most of it while it lasts!

Also, my DS2 already goes to a nursery 2 mornings a week, so it will be less disruption just adding more hours rather than changing him again!

Finally, I love the fact that our nursery has 7 acres of land for the kids to play in, so they get plenty of outdoors time...

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, no you're not mad, and it sounds like you have a boss who would really like to work something out, that is a big positive. Not sure how much flexibility your job type allows for, if half-days are an option for example...

I'm going back to work in about 6 weeks, my children are 5, 3 and 9 months. Going from 2 to 3 children was a much bigger deal than I had expected, in terms of sheer volume of things to do for 3 people, and even 9 months on I am still scratching my head a bit at how on earth I'm going to integrate work into the equation again.

To minimise childcare and allow me to be with the children maximum time, my loose plan is to work school hours Mon-Thurs (probably 8-1) and be around for the children each afternoon plus Fridays. On top of this I hope to have a certain number of flexible hours, (say, 20 core hours and 5 flexible hours) which I do as the business requires and fitting around my family.
I have a laptop connected to the company network, and have quite often done things in the evening. It doesn't suit everyone but I so much appreciate the half-days or days at home with my children that I am only happy to work odd extra hours like this. Rather than work-life balance, it's "work-life integration", which some people would hate. Usually the flexi hours are evenings, but sometimes I get called for 7am conf calls and things like that and it quickly adds up.Many people I work with don't have a clue that I don't work fulltime hours (we aren't in the same office very frequently). I have had a childminder (usually aupair type arrangement in our own home, this works for us because 90% of time either DH or I work from home.

Good luck with sorting something out.

Anna