Working 4 days a week with 3 children, is it practical?

[Mustbememory]

I have 3 children, 2 are in school and one is nearly 3. I currently work 3 days a week which works perfectly but have just seen my absolute dream job advertised and it is 4 days a week. Not applying isn't an option as I have been waiting for this kind of job to come up for a couple of years. It is a step up in terms of salary and responsibility and would be my first opportunity to move into senior management.

However, I really don't want to work 4 days a week as I simply cannot see how it won't impact on my children in the school holidays. I feel ok making arrangements for them 3 days a week but 4 seems to just cross that threshold into missing out on being with them, on the other hand, I don't see how I am going to make the step I want to make without seriously considering 4 days. It is not a sector which requires long hours so I would be home by 5.30.

How do parents of older children find working 4 or 5 days and how do your children truly feel about it if you are rarely at school / around in the holidays if you have increased your hours once they older and therefore have been used to having you around?

My DH would be able to do some drop offs but pick ups would be down to a nanny / aupair / late club arrangement.

I think it is all relative, I used to do 5 days a week and have finally managed to switch to 4 days and it feels wonderful.
My DH does morning drop offs and I get home a bit early as I start work at 7am, I save all my leave for kids holidays obviously so I feel I do see them in the holidays

Thank you. I don't think that the holiday allowance is particularly generous but if they agreed I could take a couple of days a week over a few weeks which would mean that I was around a lot more in the holidays and I guess DH could do the same and spend some one on one time with them which would also be good.

I think if it's your dream job, you absolutely have to go for it. Is there any way your dh could reduce his days? Four days is better than five. I work full time with two and it works, we cover 10 weeks of the holidays (generous annual leave allowances) and I do one day a week from home. Would working at home be an option one day a week?

I work full time and have under 7. It's hard work but doable, I work long hours and travel a lot. Life is chaotic

I am hoping that a day from home would be an option but unfortunately there is no way DH could drop any days or hours, he earns multiple times more than I ever could in a very unfamily friendly profession. He could certainly use leave to cover some of the holidays though as he usually carries over a couple of weeks each year.

I just need to get the application form done now.....