What hours - chat tomorrow and I have no idea???

[norksinmywaistband]

I have just been offered a job :)
It is job share so 18.5 hours a week and they are calling me tomorrow to find out how I want to work those hours.

So the question for those who may have more of an idea than me is...
Would it be better to do 2 long days and put the DC in breakfast and after school care club and only have to find child care for 2 days a week during school holidays.

Or to do 3 school hour days and find childcare for 3 days in the holidays

In a way I wish they would tell me - I hate decision making

Childcare is very expensive any way you do it IME, but you can miss so much of your LO's growing up when you work. I have been at home with Dd, but wasn't as fortunate with Ds. If I was returning to work as in your case and had the choice, I'd work longer days and less of them.

Good luck!

Thanks I think that is my dilemma. I have been at home with them during their early years and am just returning to work - also during that time I have become a lone parent.
I would hate to miss out on them, but think school hours will mean they still get a decent tea rather than something rushed or very late. and would be able to use annual leave so that time in childcare was limited in school holidays.
Would be better if I could guarentee exH would help out during the holidays

What's the job? Some things you might like to spread out!

How old are your DC? If they are school age, I'd go for 3 shorter days. Childcare for shorter days is usually pretty easy to find in the holidays with holiday clubs etc.

TBH though, if you are spreading 18.5 hrs over 3 days (and I guess you can't spread it more because it's a job share rather than a standalone PT job), they're going to be fairly long days anyway. 2 days 9-4 and 1 day 9-4.30 is 18.5 hours (plus lunch).

But it'd only be two late or rushed tea's and they'd get more of you...
My Ds is now 12, but back 3 years and I gave him the choice of being unable to do very much because money would be absent but he'd have me at home or me going back to work ~ still no guarantee of any spare cash and me not being around much and he chose to have me at home and definitely no money. I'm a lone Mum too norks and it's no easy decision.

I do 18.5 over 2.5 days but in my work I need the time after 4pm

I am a physio. I am hoping to do 8 -6 x 2 days or 9-3 x 3 days
The DC are only 5 and 6 and I think the long day may be too much for them as they have not been in childcare since they were babies and the afterschool club does not provide tea.
I think tbh I would do 3 short days if I was going to have to work on 3 days as I would have no child care costs during termtime.
Would prefer to bearound for the children but the NHS trust don't seem to go for term time working sadly

How did it go norks?