Which of these would you prefer/did/do prefer if forced to return full time: longer days with a day off or full time all week but evenings with your child? Please read and give your thoughts :(

[JimmyChoo17]

My flex/pt request has been given no consideration and my options are.....leave or take my old position full time basically. I can only return to the same work pattern carried out previously or annualise my hours...

I have a childcare issue every other Friday and my options are based around the below...

Option1....Work longer days from being out the door at 730am and picking my child up at 515pm from cm every evening then obviously starting the evening routine of dinner bath etc then for 5 days one week and 4 the next. I'll be off on weekends. This would mean long days short evenings with him and one day just for me and him....every2 weeks followed by a weekend.

Option 2......work the same pattern as I did before pregnant meaning I would be starting my day 730am and be at home with him by picking him up by 415pm so more time for evening routine and with him.

Either way they both suck but i Have no option other than these and I'm sure there are people with experience or thoughts on doing either of these? Even those who have had a Friday off every week. How have you manged hours if having to annualise hours.

Is it better to have that little extra time each evening or get that one day every other week? do they (children) benefit or you benefit from one more than the other?

Option 2 - I'd much rather have the time every day, and a chance to relax a little.

I'd say option one- you won't really notice an hour each day, and a whole day together once a fortnight will be fab ( and lovely for you when he's at school too!).

Agree with talking - an hour at the end of the day isn't as valuable as a whole day. You can do outings etc!

Option 2. I pick up ds no later than 4.15pm. On the odd day that I've had a late meeting, he has been grumpy all evening.

Was the same with dd. The later I picked them up the grumpier they were.

It's so hardto decide...

I'm appealing but guessing by the corrupt nature in which it's been dealt with so far....there will be no change!

Yama do you have any days off with your little one?

No, I went back to work after a year's maternity leave with both dc. I'm a teacher though so finish early and of course the holiday entitlement is great.

The dc just know that we all leave the house in the morning and we all are home for dinner (dh finishes quite early too).

Dp works shifts, and I Will be returning to shifts in a fortnight, so no choice for us.
But the longer day means childcare is easier to sort for us, and we have time off (not always together but still) more often.
I would go for option 2
hope it all works out for you :)

(whispers) - Do you definitely have to go back to work? It's very strong to describe it as being "forced" to work full time.

I work full time out the door at 7 am and home between 4.30 and 5.30. Works quite well as DD has always preferred to stay up and goes to bed about 8, so we do have time together. Also, DP is a SAHD for now so don't have to get her up and out in the morning. I would find longer days harder. Could you use some parental leave to have extra days off, at least at first?

MrsJamin - do you think the OP would be agonising over this is if was optional?

Agree with anton.

Re the original question- option 1 every time for me. It'd be lovely to have that day with your DS to look forward to.

Ps would your cm give him his dinner? Then you'd just have bath story and bed to do. Ime it's really tough with tired, whingy and HUNGRY DC. if he's fed he should be in a better mood.

I to would go for the full day off once a fortnight. So much more you can do than in that grumpy few hours between picking them up and getting them to bed.

I do three 8 hour days which translates as leaving the house at 6.30 and picking DS up at 5.15. He has dinner at the CM now which is so much better as I get to see him until bedtime (between 6 and 7 depending on how tired) instead of cooking!

I'd go for the extra day. It's about quality time for both of you and making good memories. I went back after 1st DD on this basis and I'd recommend it. She also had an 8pm bedtime tho which meant when I got home at 6 we'd have time. I feel your heartache tho. Have just been made redundant on mat leave with DD No.2. I was expecting to go back 3 days per week and it's walking distance from home. Instead have had to find a new job full time half hour commute and say they won't let me compress hours because it's not fair to other staff who work longer than contracted hours without benefit! Shiny new job but feel like I've been handed a prison sentence. So sad :(

Option 1 definitely. And see if the cm can give your dd/ds their tea.

Otherwise you have five days a week of the stressful early evenings with no days off. But don't plan too much for the day off, the cm will be taking him /her to toddler groups etc so you don't need to.