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Original poster

Is there anyone who'd like to share the trials and tribulations of working full-time?

234 replies

Ladylay · 28/02/2011 16:45

I love perusing MN in my lunch-hour Blush. But there dont seem to be any threads for those of us who are in full-time work whilst bringing up a family.

Whilst I share a load of the same concerns as SAHM's and part-time workers, I also have different stuff to deal with, like just trying to get everyone out the bloody house in the morning on time!! ahem. And wondered if anyone fancied comparing notes, advice etc?

OP posts:
StoneBaby · 15/03/2011 18:35

dontrunwithscissors I'm well impressed! I like your set of clothes arrangements.

I too order all DS clothes on line but do that during the sale in order to save a few quids. So all next summer clothes are under my bed at the present.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 15/03/2011 19:13

don't run with scissors some fab tips in there !! You are a working mam goddess. Love the outfits one especially.

dontrunwithscissors · 15/03/2011 20:29

This routine has evolved since I went back after DD1. Funnily enough, I've found working with two children easier than having just the one. I think it's because it's forced us to be super-organised.

Blush I certainly don't feel like a goddess, but I am very proud of how DH and I have developed our lovely little family life. Smile My girls are happy and bright. I'm busy, happy and satisfied. It's blooming hard work, but I wouldn't change any of this. However, I am very lucky to have a short commute and a very flexible job. Things would be much, much harder otherwise.

Drizzela · 16/03/2011 16:44

dontrunwithscissors I love the outfit tip I'm going to use it! Gettuing dressed is the only thing in my routine that's not slick!

madamedeluca · 16/03/2011 17:10

Also loving the dontrunwithscissors clothes tips, what a good idea. I'm doing a cheaper version on Sat at ASDA, going to buy lots of t-shirts and summer dresses.
Also like the breakfast fairy, am sick of debates in the morning over what they're going to have.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 16/03/2011 18:37

DH is taking DD to Ireland next week. So he is going to get clear bags with outfits in them for her! Grin

Mercedes519 · 16/03/2011 19:22

I love the moonpig idea as well - no chance of missing birthdays etc. then.

Question please for those with a cleaner when do they come? Have worked out we can afford 2 hours a week and wondering if I want a clean house for the weekend (Thurs/Fri clean) or for the week (Mon/Tues). I'm thinking I'd like to have a clean house at the end of the week but then is it too depressing to have a dirty house all week?

scottishmummy · 16/03/2011 19:42

i keep stash b'day,and thank you cards so not caught out last min.and amazon is fab for last min pressies too

cleaner: 2hr twice week and deep clean once per year.

Mercedes519 · 16/03/2011 21:42

Envy scottishmummy can only afford two hours a week and figured they would be better used together.

Sigh...oh for a housekeeper...

scottishmummy · 17/03/2011 19:01

2hr week is still adequate,get em do stuff you hate

this is a good thread,im reassured im not only one who habitually does lists or lays all clothes out for week

PlasticLentilWeaver · 17/03/2011 20:32

Mercedes - we didn't get a choice, as we use a cleaning company (rather than a self-employed individual IYSWIM), and had to take the slot they could offer. We have Monday mornings, which for a long time I hated, as I wanted clean house for weekends if we had visitors. But, now that I am back at work again post-mat leave, Monday is actually a good day for us, as it gets the place sorted out after the chaos of all of us at home at the weekend, and stays relatively clean all week as we are not there to mess it up. I am almost always in the office on a Monday, so I don't get disturbed by them, and I am out of the way so they can get on with the job. Then, if we have visitors, a quick hoover round seems to be enough to get on top of it again.

sleepneeded · 19/03/2011 17:16

Just popping to say I love this thread.

I do the outfit thing and it is invaluable.

Mercedes I am going to go for a cleaner early in the week. I always find I do some housework on the weekend or friday. My plan is to try do some tidying/cleaning myself thurs and/or friday but then to relax over the weekend and know that hopefully I can come home Monday night to a clean house?

Ambi · 20/03/2011 10:29

I'm Envy of the mners with cleaners, but I do flylady and the house doesn't seem to get too dirty, just messy with toys etc and tend to get a bit lax with ironing, I spent an hour yesterday doing 3 weeks worth but stuck a movie on and wasn't so bad.
I'm thankful that DH gets DD ready in the morning and takes her nursery/ GPs, so I get myself ready and leave the house at 8pm, back at 6.15 ish depending on traffic. Cook dinner, put DD to bed. I make that I spend some time with her when she's in bed to talk about her day. Once she's in bed, I tidy up or work on DHs business. I go shopping on the way home from work once a week and go to Zumba on a Mon night.

I try to keep weekends free to relax.

Ambi · 20/03/2011 10:33

We also do the shared weekends lie ins. Mine today Grin

MsInterpret · 20/03/2011 13:28

This thread has been really interesting for me as I'm just struggling with whether or not to go back to FT work.

Am also a teacher (primary) and this academic year I have been working 5 mornings per week (so 0.6FTE). Looking after DD (now 15mths) in the afternoons has worked well, but been tiring! A FT job teaching Y1 has just come up in a nice school but across town so will have a half hour cycle/drive there and back - appreciate that's not a huge commute but when the day starts at 8.30 for kids means I will be leaving home between 7 and 7.30, rather than the 7.45-8ish i'm used to at the moment.

I was wondering about how tired you all feel, esp. re the time you spend with DCs. Especially teachers. And how much work do you find you do at home, perhaps because you leave school early'ish in order to see DCs? I think I am slightly condiitioned by working pre-DD in a school in London which was really full-on and where we were all virtually married to our jobs. It doesn't always have to be like that, does it!

bringinghomethebacon · 20/03/2011 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Ladylay · 21/03/2011 13:05

MsInterpret teaching I go through periods of being very tired but more mentally. Kids (your own or other people) will take as much as you can give AND some more and sometimes I feel like I've spent the whole day discussing each childs ideas and running around after them just to come home and everyone wants a piece of me there too and theres nothing left for me!

On the flip-side I love it and I wouldn't change it as I keep telling myself soon enough DD will be grown up and not want to talk and play like this. Also feel extremely lucky (tho' not in the depths of autumn term) to have all the holidays that so many parents have to struggle through.

I never take my work home, even if it means some late nights here and there. THeres a limit when you've got a family and you have to do the best by them too. I know the pressure schools put on you and they, like the kids, will suck every ounce of flesh if they can possibly get away with it.

OP posts:
LCarbury · 21/03/2011 21:57

Had a good day today, saw both children in the morning, got them dressed and breakfasted before I went to work, and this evening, tube and train ran properly so had a nice time with them and to top it off DH got home at a reasonable hour too! I have been sooo busy at work all winter but now our busy season is over I've got my fingers crossed we can carry on like this until the end of September.

scottishmummy · 22/03/2011 08:59

yesterday dc drew nice mummmy at work pictures,got them on my desk. we frequently talk about mum and dad work. been at work for over hour checking emails,responding,planning day etc

MsInterpret · 22/03/2011 16:23

Thanks for your thoughts Ladylay. I know exactly what you mean about the depths of the autumn term and with a half hour cycle commute in the morning I'm sure I won't be feeling quite so positive this time in October but I'm applying for a new FT job in aschool that seems lovely.

All the ideas and tips and thoughts here will help me along the way come September I'm sure. Thanks!

LCarbury · 22/03/2011 20:45

Also you can watch "Me too!" together - although the parents seem to have very strange jobs in that, always putting on shows for the children etc.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 22/03/2011 21:21

Well DH and DD have been despatched to Ireland with outfits all set up!
Is it wrong to be looking forward to being able to leave work later for the next couple of days!!

madamedeluca · 22/03/2011 21:26

You'll all love this one. Met a stay at home mother on Sunday (child's birthday party). Explained at one point I worked full time, she responds with 'oh I'm so sorry'. It's alright luv, no-one died!
Made me laugh.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 22/03/2011 21:31

That's class. I'm not sorry. I can eat my lunch and drink a FULL cup of tea.
My aunty asked if I had been forced to return to work. Like I was from Angela's Ashes picking coal up off the road.

OfflineFor30Seconds · 22/03/2011 21:35

bringinghomethebacon - I went back last week and had to get a whole new working wardrobe (pre-maternity clothes didn't fit) so I know the feeling. But don't do what I did, and swish about the office thinking I looked all sophisticated in my new gear only to realise mid morning that I still had half the tags hanging off the clothes Blush.