I jut don't think going back to work full time is going to work

[jojane]

I currently work fri and sat nights in a busy badly run resturant. Had an interview last Friday for a full time job, min wage, ok job. Should hear back tomorrow, probably havnt got it anyway but after doing as many different scenarios with different shifts, different types of childcare etc for 2 school age kids and 1 playschool age kids I have come to the conclusion that
I won't be bringing home any more than I am now
Weekends will be spent doing swimming lessons, ballet, reading, maths homework, etc that we currently do after school
Kids will not be ablt to have playdates
Weekends will also be spent cleaning, batch cooking, popping to bank/post office/buying birthday presents etc etc that I currently do in the week
Will need to use up lots of holiday for attending patents meetings, school plays, playschool days out where parents are needed to take them, kids illness, consultant appts, physio appts, inset days, sports days etc etc
School holidays are going to be a nightmare to sort out care for for school age kids

I just don't see how people do it? Do they have much better paid jobs so can afford cleaners/ nannies to do it all for them?

Brilliant - well done you thats fabulous

That's great! And as your DCs get older you probably have the potential to increase your hours. Sounds like a good move.

Why would you need full time child care for 2 (your OP says you have 2 at school and 1 pre-school)?

Even so, I don't think its financially viable if you have to pay for a full time nursery place, plus wraparound care for 2 others. I would wait until all 3 are at school and then your child care costs would reduce dramatically.

I work 4 days (with 3 now all at school) and we've juggled hours so H can drop them off in a morning, the we use a mixture of after school help / club / H finishing early one day. Have to pay for after school care therefore 3 days/week. Costs for all 3 are about 360/month (but we get some tax relief on that).

My "day off" is spent franctically trying to run errands / do admin / housework / shopping / washing etc but inevitably that spills over to the weekend so with extra cooking and homework, plus kids activities, its hard going.

But as others have said, it would have been career suicide for me to have not worked at all and as the children get older, potentially my earnings should increase as childcare costs go down!

OOH x post. Congratulations

Another so called 'self-employment' spammer. So transparent. Yawn.