Part Time WOHM - full days or all mornings / afternoons?

[FrayedKnot]

I am currently applying for part time jobs. Can't decide whether working full days (2 or 3) or all mornings / afternoons (Mon-Fri) is a preferable scenario.

Would be interested to hear thoughts on what works for you.

In an ideal world I would work mornings 9.30am - 1pm

Full days definitely.

Then you get full days to yourself also. Otherwise you feel like you are forever working and feeling too tired afterwards to go and do anything.

i would also say full days, then they are done and dusted

Full days - easier on the children (and you!) and it seems better workwise (people like knowing you're there for the day).

Full days IMO.
Have done both, and it is MUCH better to have a clean break for a few days.
On days when you are doing am or pm you are always thinking about work , either preapring to go or shattered from being there!

Interesting - thanks. was thinking full days would be harder on DS as he hasn;t been in childcare before (he's nearly 2).

I'd also say full days, I used to do 5 mornings just after I had dd, I found that no soon as I got there and started work, I was winded down to finish. 1 whole days work was almost taking me 3 days, I didn't feel as if I was doing much good at all.

Also makes your days off more special.

I think it depends on your commute, your work and your child. I used to work between 2 and 4 full days a week when dd was at full time nursery and I had a longer commute. I currently work mostly mornings 9.30am - 1.30pm with a 20 minute commute so get to drop her at school nursery and back not too long after her.

Work-wise prefer the latter actually - I kept finding things piling up or feeling out of touch just working one end of week. But I manage a fair-sized team, might be different if the work was different.

Childcare cost wise probably whole days will be cheaper if you are using a nursery. My friend only works 4 hours a day and half her money goes to the nursery. She could send him for a whole day for around 2 pounds more (and obviously earn twice as much).

Also save on petrol, clothes (need fewer outfits as fewer days). And you will get time to sit down and eat. In the morning only scenario you will never get a lunchbreak.

This is coming from someone who work little bits of 5 days - but I work from home.

IME ds doesn't seem to notice the difference between his full day at nursery and his half day. He was 20 months when he started and he's nearly 3 now.

I love the fact on the the whole days I don't work we can go and do exciting things. I don't think I would do as many exciting things if I had just spent the morning at work.

When I first went back to work, I asked for reduced hours, but going in 5 days in week. I wanted to reduce the separation time because dd was still bf-ing. I found out I was the first woman employee to ask for this arrangement (and mine is quite a big company) and HR got confused how to work out my holiday entitlement!

But I continued the arrangement even though dd is now weaned from nursing. Just got used to the structure and find it quite agreeable. If your commute is not too bad, I agree with Phillipat about being easier to keep on top of work. But then again, my role was not a job share.

Hmm suppose there's no easy answer to this! Bobbybob how did your DS settle into nursery at 20 months? I am wracked with guilt atm, feel it would have been easier on him if he had started nursery at 6 months not 22.

Interested to read replies. I have chosen/requested to work 2 full days and a half day. DD will be nearly a year old by then. Someone else at work does mornings only and feels that she doesn't get much advantage of the afternoon off - her DS is at school though so maybe that makes a difference. I think best to get it out of the way at the beginning of the week and the rest of the time is your own (as much as it can be with children!)

Message withdrawn

just to say dd1 was 1.8 when she started with a childminder for 2 days a week. we were lucky that we could build this up to full days over a 4 week period but she settled really quickly and loved the 6mths she had with cm. dd1 been at home with me whilst on mat leave and will go back to cm in 8wks - don't forsee any probs this time -shes currently in helper mode, so prob will look after dd2.

We were lucky as the nursery opened and Bob was the first attendee. That means he has always been the king of the castle, and didn't have to get used to 20 kids at once. First it was just him, and then him and another kid and then 3 and so on.

He's been going a year now - and he loves going, he waits by the garage door with his basket.

I orginally put him in so I could decide what I wanted to do work wise, so he just went 10 hours per week. Now it's going to be around 19 hours this year, but he does have 2 whole days were he doesn't go. He has never cried, or not wanted to go.

I would say put him in when the stakes are low - ie you haven't got a job. It will free you up to have your hair done, go to interviews etc. and will mean you will have lots of time to settle him in.

My tip is to let him choose something to play with and play with him for 5 mins. During this time a member of staff should gradually take over. When he is absorbed with them, say you are going, but will be back after (afternoon tea, lunch, storytime - whatever).

A year on we still say "daddy is picking you up in the blue car".