Working part time - best days to do in your experience?

[Arcadia]

I have been back at work for over a year now but am thinking about changing my days. I have a 2y.o. DD and work 3 days per week. My original boss told me I had to do Monday Wednesday and Friday which has worked OK as I'm never in the office 2 days in a row which is nice, never away from DD 2 days in a row also nice for me and her, good for my clients who never have to wait more than day to speak to me, good for my colleagues don't have to cover for me so much. HOwever, it is hard switching on and off being a mum and being a professional, and the week can feel long and disjointed, so thinking about changing, and have new boss more flexible.

I know most people do three days in a row but am thinking Mon Weds Thurs so not out of office two days in a row. Just wondered what days other people do,what works for them, and if they've changed them?.

They are always Wednesdays here!

In the past I have worked various combinations.

However, I would try to avoid Mondays and Fridays as once your DC are in school then they will get INSET days, which you will need childcare for if you work on the same day.

At the moment I work Tuesdays and Thursdays. I like this as it gives me a chance to catch up with my marking (teacher) on Weds, and I don't have to do it late into the night like I used to.

In your situation I would ask for Tues-Thursday.

Also check with school when they have most INSET days and with your employer whether you will sometimes be able to change your days/work flexible hours. I have Fridays off but find most INSETs are on Mondays, which is really annoying! I am able to make up hours by working on a Friday every now and then though.

When my children were little I used to do Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. I liked that because I never had to work more than 2 days before I had a day off. I liked having Fridays in case we went away for the weekend.

Now both my DDs are at school, I work mornings. Whilst I don't like working everyday, I do like the fact that I can be there to pick my children up from school, they can do all the after school activities, play dates and so on...

Thanks for all the helpful replies! work deal with the bank hols so it's neither an advantage nor a disadvantage to work on Mondays. I will need to speak to nursery about what days are available - I believe they're very quiet on a Thursday - and also talk to my boss, but on reflecting I know that two days backlog of calls, post and emails would be two hideous and client's won't want to wait two days to speak, so will prob go for Mon, Weds and Thurs. I'm not in a job share. Not worrying re school yet as three years to go and will change my hours again at that stage (hopefully shorter days). Thanks.

I do Tuesday's and Wednesday's in the office and Friday's working at home. It's good for me to do the 2 days in a row as it's easier for people to remember the days I work and I can deal with alot of responsive queries on those 2 days. Friday's at home I can get a lot of proper 'work' done ifykwim.

I have full day Wednesdays off to break up the week for DS2. I also have Thursday afternoons off for no other reason than I had to choose one!

I think it depends on whether work for you builds up while you're away or if someone else is covering.
I did Mon, Tues, Thurs, which meant there was never more than a day of me being out of the office, so it didn't look so bad, but I had to get used to Tuesday lunchtime being halfway through the week!

I also liked a break in the work week and it was good for ds too. And Weds was the only day he couldn't go to nursery - so many people do Mon-Wed or Wed-Fri or Tues-Thurs there were never any spaces. Fri off is nice as so many other people have it off too.