Can I make this commute work?

[thepobblewhohasnotoes]

I've got the possibility of doing my dream job. It's just a contract for 6 months but it'd open doors and I'd love to do it.

However I'm just not sure it's possible, can anyone help me work this out?

(It's long, sorry!)

DP works away a lot, so it's basically me on my own with the kids most of the time.

The dream job would be 21 hours a week, and I could chose my hours. But it's over an hour commute from my house (not including dropping DD & DS off at childcare). DD would be 15 months, DS is at school, but this would start in June, so it would cover the summer holidays too.

The journey is 1hour 20 in all, each way. But then I have to factor in dropping off at the CMs. I haven't found a CM yet, but let's be optimistic and say that would only take an extra 20 minutes. Then the whole journey would be 1 hour 40. Twice a day.

I don't mind doing the commute myself, what I mind is such a long day for the kids.

If I did 9:30-5:30, 3 days, I'd be away from the DCs from roughly 7:50am to 7:00pm. It's too much, isn't it?

An alternative would be to do 4 days, fewer hours per day. But then that's more time away overall as it's adding over 3 extra hours commute a week.

Or maybe I could get a CM near work, we could travel together (I did this when DS was little, it worked well for us). However that'd mean DS and DD being at different CMs when he's at school, that seems a bit silly - doesn't it?

Or, the back up is a not so great job in my town. 9-5, I'll be 20 minutes away from the kids, if that. But the career prospects in my industry not so great in this town.

Is there some solution I haven't thought of?!

WWYD?

[thepobblewhohasnotoes]

OK, I think I'm getting nearer to a solution.

DP says he can shift his week so he works Saturdays and has a day off in the week. He's really missing being with the family anyway, so is looking forward to having a day with DD, and doing the school run with DS.

I've reconsidered, and I think doing it over 3 days is untenable: 11 hours + away from the DCs on a regular basis is just too long when I have a choice about it I feel. I did think it was a but silly to add another 3 hours commute, so time away from DD especially as she's so young, but I think I have the answer.

If I work over 4 days, and DP has the DCs one day, then it's 3 days a week we're looking at. If I'm spreading the hours over 4 days at work, I think (need to confirm this) I could do DS's school run myself if we're able to use the breakfast club and after school club at his school. DD can go to a CM near my work, so we'll do the commute together. (This is not as bonkers as it sounds! It's a lovely train ride, beautiful views and not mega-packed. I used to do it with DS when I was at uni, which is in the same city.)

Also as the city my work is in is bigger than our town, and more of a progressive place in general, there are so many more CMs there, just looking on childcare.co.uk for a minute I saw 3 that looked absolutely amazing, (on "paper" at least).

I'm feeling so much more positive about this, thanks everyone who has posted, this thread really has helped :)