Full time working mums - effect on your kids?

[Moknicker]

I have two DCs 3.5 and 2 yrs. A potential job offer has 50 hour weeks and DH also works long hours. For me part time will not be an option if this job comes through. I either have to take it full time or not at all.

We will have a nanny for the kids.

Please let me have your thoughts on what you think the impact on your children have been - short term and long term. Has it been positive? Negative. Do you regret it or was it the right thing to do for your family? Is it worse for boys (2 year old is a boy)

Thanks

[princessx]

getagoltoof you are right about ask the adults. I had a boyfriend whose mum was a single mum. She worked full time as a teacher but also worked evenings as a tutor. He must have been very lonely and I'm speculating that he developed attention seeking behavioural problems. I was ver critical of her when I heard the story. She was working so much so she could send him to private school to get a good start in life. But what he needed was some time and attention. He was an only child.

However now I am a single mum with 2 kids, and I think it's very hard to get it right in that situation. I was working full time (on mat leave now) I had to take a job otherwise would be unemployed single mum which is pretty low in the food chain. But never saw DD who was at nursery 8-6pm. Going back in the summer on reduced hours, hopefully working 4 short days. I won't be making any money really as nursery for 2 Dcs will cost over £2000 a month. But it's important for me to keep a job.

Think I've gone off on a tangent but hope that story helps.

[Wishihadabs]

I like the phrase super full time. I have worked "Normal full-time" , "super full-time" (promotion) and now do "super part time" (super fulltime job let me do it part-time) if that makes any sense. I found the normal full time possible, but super fulltime, I just never saw them. Getting back at 4:45 (normal full-time) is a different ball game to getting back at 730 -8.

I now get in at 730-8 2-3 times a week. I wouldn't want to do it every night, but I do realise I am lucky to be in this position.

[orangeandlemons]

I do think that on 50 hours per week, you aren't going to see your kids much, and also I am a teacher, I feel I only ever really get to know my dd during the holidays, sometimes during the week I feel like ships that pass in the night.

[orangeandlemons]

Getagoldtoof, I'm with you. When I was little my mum worked full time ( no choice, she was a widow). I hated it, I just so much wanted her to collect me from school, be there in the school holidays. It wasn't as bad when I was really little, but at about 6 or 7 I wanted it very much. Also she was always tired so very bad tempered a lot, but that was probably beyond her control. My elder sister and brother often looked after me, but they weren't particularly nice to me.

Dd now 6 wants me to pick her up and take her to school every morning. I can't but I do mange 2 times per week. It'easy when they are very little, but then they get older, and start having opinions about what they want.

[getagoldtoof]

You're asking the wrong people. Ask adults who had parents who worked ft with long hours how it has affected them.

I work full time and I believe it is negatively impacting my son.

When I was growing up my mum was out of the house all
day at work, I always felt she put work first. I took on a lot of care of my younger siblings, in the form of emotional and social support, rather than care as we had an au pair.

[theoriginalandbestrookie]

DH works f/t and I work p/t so am able to pick DS from school 3 days a week.

I just got contacted about an excellent opportunity with a really high day rate far more than I am on at the minute, but they wouldn't want anyone p/t, had to be f/t minimum of 40 hr week.

I decided that I didn't want to do it and I'm glad to say that DH backed me up. DS likes being at home, isn't one of those children who revels in organised activities. DH works pretty long hours, so if I were to work long hours too I'm not sure who the uniform/school organisation, meal planning, sticking a load in the washing machine would fall to and yes I know we could do it in the evening but I prefer to mumsnet and write my novel oh and spend a bit of time with DS.

I guess it also depends on the job. If you love what you do, or value financial independence very highly then you will find the sacrifices worthwhile or indeed you won't see them as sacrifices.

One thing I have learnt is that nothing is in stone. If you want to why not try it for 6 months and see how you get on.

[lljkk]

2 parents working 50 hour weeks is more than full time, though, there should be a phrase for it. Super-Full time?.

My parents both worked ordinary FT (so 37-42 hour weeks). I was raised by nannies & housekeepers which was fine, but I don't know what it would be like if they both had worked 50+ hours. Maybe better?

[Mosman]

We've both worked full time since September, prior to that I worked full time and DH was very flexible.
TBH it hasn't worked out at all, even with a nanny it's quantity time not quality with little kids. The older they get the more they need you and I find that all their little "problems" come gushing out at 8am on a Monday morning.
UNless you are earning serious money, £60k plus and can pay people to take away all the drudgery of housework and have two dedicated days of child centred activities I don't know why anyone would voluntarily put themselves through it tbh.

[scottishmummy]

we plan and it works,both work ft.unproblematic
happy kids,they know they loved,we happy to work.no regrets at all
plan,lay out clothes night before,online shops.get used to the face and precious moments crew

[orangeberries]

I think generally people who don't have family around or a close network of friends as emergency backup struggle a lot more.

Most friends I know who work full time have nannies or use nurseries but have grandparents or relatives doing emergency backup, attend some school events and even do the odd errand or extracurricular with the children.

In the absence of this is is very difficult because any small hiccup is yet another crisis, unless you have a hugely understanding employer.

[PowderMum]

I have worked full time, never less than 45 hours per week since both my DC were 3 months old, employing a nanny on a live out basis solely to look after the DCs nit to do errands or chores up unitil the youngest went to secondary school I can honestly say neither have shown any negatives from this experience, I have managed to juggle any sickness or school events with the support of my close family and to cope with a husband that travels abroad on a regular basis. Both DCs are in the top 10% of their peer group and expected to do well in their exams and at university and have had the opportunity to travel around the world. They have tried many extra curricular activities ans stuck at those they enjoy. My career has continued at the same rate as my peers and I have never had the guilt feelings that many others experience.

[Yama]

Up at 6.45am that should've read.

[Yama]

I have always worked full time. We have one child in school, one in nursery. Dh does school run (before and after school care), I do nursery drop off/pick up. Both have short commutes.

Dh and I share school events, sickness and pick up each others slack if one of us has a busy week.

Both dc seem happy. This is life for them. We all leave in the morning, we all come home at night. Early nights for them as they are up so early (am).

You asked about boys. Our youngest is a boy and is also 2. If anything he has coped better that dd. He had less change to deal with in early life and is a stickler for routine. The only time he gets upset is if I pick him up before afternoon snack.

[higgle]

P.S. I hated school events and was very pleased to have an excuse not to go to them.

[higgle]

I've always worked full time and when my children ( 2 sons) were little I often worked 70 hours a week with the support of a cleaner, nanny and a DH who sorks office hours. In my experience you need a nanny who you can rely on, trust and delegate to. The nanny is the expert so don't micro manage her. My sons went to a prep school and stayed late for activities so they didn't miss out on any of the things that parents usually have to take children to. The school did hotel boarding but we never actually used that.

DS1 went to Oxford and is happy and settled in independent life as a civil service fast tracker, DS2 will be off to university next year and also got good GCSE grades, seems well adjusted and liked. Don't worry, they will turn out fine - the only thing that might stop this happening is if you ago;nise too much over it.

[difficultpickle]

I've always worked full time. Ds went to a CM from 9 months, 7am to 6.30pm (some nights 7pm) so was out of the house 6.45am to 7.15-7.45pm. Easy when he was little, harder once he started school and homework appeared. He went to a school that offered wraparound care 7.30am-6.30pm and holiday clubs but I still wanted to be around to help with the homework some evenings (the school offered homework clubs).

He is now 8 and weekly boarding (chorister). He is happy, sociable, has boundless confidence and is a very loving and lovable little boy.

One thing that I always prioritised was attending nursery and school events, even if that meant using annual leave. Easy to do when he was under 5 as I would then just take unpaid parental leave for annual holidays. Harder once he turned 5 but I now do a mix of annual leave and working from home (if it is a quick event like a morning assembly).

The hardest thing I find is sometimes the lack of notice for school events. I can't drop everything to attend an event with only a few days notice. This term I missed ds's school play as I was abroad on business and I've yet to make it to a school match this academic year.

Only you know what is right for your family. Quite a few of ds's old schoolfriends' parents have been decidedly sniffy at the fact ds is now at boarding school but it is what ds wanted to do and works for us.

[Zhx3]

I just returned to work full time. Prior to that I've spent the last 4 years either on maternity leave or working 4 days per week.

Returning to work FT (promotion ) has been much tougher than I thought. When I tot it up I probably work about 50h per week. We have use a nanny/nursery/after-school club combination which isn't the cheapest, but I think is an all round good solution. Our nanny is great, we are lucky to have found her. She provides great care and is very flexible. And the nursery are great too, the younger dc love going.

The children seem to be ok... At least one of us is home by 1815 most evenings and we leave at around 8am normally. I work from home one or two days a week too, which helps. I'm sure they would like to see me more and have become clingier, it isn't that long since I was on maternity leave so I think they will take some time getting used to it.

I have to plan the week quite rigorously to feel as if things aren't running away from me. I have two sheets on the fridge, one with the weekly meal plan and one with the plan of everyone's whereabouts and daily activities (on Powerpoint ). It's nice because dd can also get her homework in and have friends round. I tend to cook or prep most of the meals the night before, which I probably don't need to do, but I can't quite relinquish yet. Knowing how hard it can be to cook when all dc are grouchy or the toddler is having a velcro day!

At the moment it is tough but I think it will become easier as the children get older, and as I become more familiar with the job. I am sure it is the right decision in the long term - for everyone.

I have found it harder with my boys than my girl, but that might be because she is the eldest.

[BackforGood]

Well, it's very individual.
I thought I could do it all, but got to the stage where I just felt I wasn't doing anything well enough. Might just be me, but I doubt it. That said, there's no way I could have been a full time stay at home Mum. Maybe it would have been easier with the money for a cleaner and perhaps a nanny rather than having to get them to CMs, etc. Also, perhaps in doing a job where I could have been more flexible with my diary. It's so difficult to compare, as we all have such a different combination of circumstances.

[Moknicker]

Shakey/Brian - hats off to both of you.

I dont need to take the job for the money - its more to get back into the workforce, restart my career etc - so I suppose "selfish" reasons from a family perspective. Back - from your post, I take it you think then it isnt worth it.

I would gladly go to work (love DCs but I find it hard) if I could do so guilt free and knowing it wont come back to bite me in the future if the DCs need therapy coz of it.

:)

[BrianButterfield]

I know the pack horse feeling - I commute on the train with DS in his pushchair and as well as nappy bag/my work bag I always have at least one plastic bag of something hanging off the handles, sometimes two or three, and the other day a full homemade Nigella Yule Log on a festive plate as well. I had a mile walk in gale force winds at the other end too, which was fun. All in the dark (though more like 7.45 than 6.45). I do feel sorry for myself at those moments but it's not so bad overall, just knackering. And we enjoy our holidays (DH and I both teach) and as we both work FT have the money to go away 2-3 time a year, buy any present we want for DS, have all the food and drink we want for Christmas, and basically enjoy ourselves without (too much) worrying about money (of course everyone worries in this day and age but I feel like we're pretty well off in comparison to some people).

[Shakey1500]

It is Bonsoir, especially in the freezing cold! Fortunately DS has always been an early riser (dropped his naps early as a baby) so waking at 5.30 is no great shakes for him.

I put his uniform on the radiators to play the wriggle-into-warm-clothes-game (gets it on at least), then we turn into "intrepid adventurers" for the walk "battling" our way through any weather (coz that's how we roll ), obviously we always triumph against the weather being the superheros that we are. We see the moon and stars so we giggle that we're being "naughty" being out so early. All very upbeat. Inside however, I'm a wreck! I look like a pack horse with my work bag, his sandwich bag, book bag etc. I hope desperately that the nursery is open on time else I'll miss my lift, worry that school will ring with an emergency and I'm 40 miles away, worry he'll miss me too much, worry that he won't eat his lunch. And then I work a full day

Still worth it though!

[housesalehelp]

I started work full time - 37 hours is in september - youngests is 2 - however have a fair amount of flexaiblity - and DH as well - kids are fine - both boys -I am tired and get very little "me" time - and agree outsource everything you can so that you can concentrate on kids when you are home

[Bonsoir]

Oh, Shakey, 6.45am walk to nursery sounds really tough for both of you!

[Shakey1500]

I've returned to FT work, DS is 5. DH also works FT and is on shifts.

DS has coped very well, but has always thrived on routine and knowing in advance what's happening. A large whiteboard in the kitchen filled in on a Sunday by all of us lets him know what's happening the week ahead.

When DH is on "earlies" it's also a very early start for DS and I involving a 15minute walk to nursery at 06.45am. He's normally well behaved but had a complete meltdown one morning last week. And I just thought, do you know what, I don't blame you. I tend to pick my battles even more now. Fridays I finish a little earlier so that's our "treat day".

Housework (apart from ironing!) is crammed into Sat mornings to leave the rest of the weekend free.

Won't deny it's bloody hard at times but I'd rather do it than not.

[Bonsoir]

Moknicker - I don't work, but I have many friends around me who went straight back to work when their children were very little (I am in France) and the ones whose marriages and careers have survived (vaguely!) the pressure are the ones who prioritised their relationships with their children and partners over all else.