Childcare solutions advice

[Cookiemg]

My DD is almost 2 and she is currently in nursery for 3 days to allow me to work 2 days a week and 1 day to enable me to start my own business. Needless to say that extra day becomes filled with errands and housework and the business has been neglected. I am feeling that the balance in life is unsatisfactory, I hate being at home as much and I'm starting to really resent all my homemaking duties and my husband and I are arguing all of the time about it. My friend says that I need to be out of the house more and start establishing a new career for myself, I know that she's right I love work, the workplace and the the divide between home and work. My problem is that I do not want to 'farm' my DD out to nursery for another day, it really feels wrong and we have no relatives who live near buy who could offer any childcare. I can't see any way out of it but I feel as though I'm needing more of a professional life.

Could your dh drop a day or compress his working hours into 4 days?

If you are working 3 days a week (1 at home and 2 not at home, by the sound of it) then imo the "homemaking" duties as you describe should surely be divided more equally?

Is your dh generally a reasonable person? If so then have a discussion. If not then the problems may run deeper than who hoovers etc.

I haven't looked at it that way, dh does seem to help around the house a lot, he will clean the kitchen most nights after he comes home from work and put DD to bed but other tasks for running the home like shopping, paying bills, washing, ironing, cooking for DD, organising our social life, taking DD to activities and generally driving and maintaining her daily routine all fall to me. I could be guilty of taking on more as I am in the house more and I forget that my days at home with DD are still work days. His work wouldn't let him change his hours.

thanks

Why do you feel you are "farming" your DD out to nursery. She will have lots of little friends at nursery and a 3rd day there will make little difference except prolong the fun I hope she has there. Nursery can be very stimulating and educational and she will be learning lots of skills there eg sharing, socialising, numbers, letters etc.

Also, to add, I work from home and for me that time is work time. DH and I share housework - not 50/50 (I admit) but we both do housework on the weekend (limiting it to a quick hour) and then I top up max 30 mins a day (including laundry; DH does ironing on Sunday). I cook but it doesn't take long each day and DH often cooks if he's home before 8.30pm. Shopping happens on weekends with DD and we do alot of online shopping.

If you want to make a go of your business be absolutely ruthless about working on your 3rd day. Your DH sounds quite reasonable so I am sure he won't mind doing a little more errands/housework/shopping too.

Good luck :-)