2 Days vs 3 days at work

[Moomin]

I've posted about this before and I apologise if anyone has already tried to help me and think I'm ignoring their advice -I'm not, promise! I jusr really cannot decide what to do about work and I need to make my mind up in the next 2 weeks.

Since having dd1 I've taught 3 days a week in a school 40mins journey from home but it's a really good school, I love the staff and I've been able to keep on dept. repsonsibilties which has made the job much more worthwhile and enjoyable. I feel valued and motivated for the vast maj of the time.

I had dd2 a year ago and went back to work in June on 2 days a week. Dd1 was in preschool then doing half days and I found it very hard spending so much time with both dds who had such different needs on top of the travelling, even though it was only 2 days. Originally I had planned on doing 3 days from Sept just gone but I chickened out and I just do 2 now. I had to drop one or two projects that I was working on at school which I was disappointed about but there just weren't enough hours in the day to carry them on.

Since dd2 started school full time life has got much easier, so much so that I was very seriously considering going up to 3 days after christmas. If I do this, I can get involved in some mentoring and coaching, which I do a bit of already within the dept but would love to be officially recognised for this and do an course next year as part of a whole-school initiative. BUT part of me (a big part) loves being at home with dd2 at the moment. I've only recently starting feeling that I have the energy and ability to get my act together at home (clearing stuff out, decorating, general housework - stuff that I have avoided for ages) and I've also just be recently told that I need long-term treatment for a back problem that I've had since dd2 was born which has taken a lot out of me.

If I go back for an extra day, after childcare, I'd be earning £40 extra a week, which would help, but doesn't seem an awful lot for the extra travelling and organising I'd need to do.

Dd2 is great company at the moment and just starting to develop soooo much personality. Shall I carry on doing 2 days until next sept and ask the Head if I can be considered for the mentoring next year, or do I just bite the bullet, up to 3 days and get some more mentoring experience under my belt on my extra day? I usually have a good instinct for what to do but I'm really lost this time - help!

anyone please?!

give it a go! I am in a similarish position, I was a full time retail manager, and had intended to return to work 2 days as staff. this would mean a drop in salary of over 10k. BUT no nursery fees, as my mum will have ds 2 days a week. problem is i have now been offered a job, same company, different store, as a pt manager 3 days a week. means only a drop in salary of 3k. but ds will have to go to nursery 1 day a week and i dont know if i can let him go. i love my time with him and its so different leaving him at nursery to leaving him with my mum. After much deliberation I have decided to bite the bullet and accept the job. I am doing a 6 months trial, after which i will be sitting down with the district manager and we will both air views, have a coped? is george happy? is the travelling too much? has the store been ok? etc etc.
At the end of the day, if you dont try it you will never know! and you can always step down if it doesnt work out how you expected. Theresa

I would give the 3 days a go. You'd still spend more of the week with dd2 than not, and an extra 40 quid a week is quite a bit really - it does mount up! If you find it's too much I presume you could go back down to 2 days again?

I would say only you can answer the question.

My personal opinion is that you should continue doing 2 days per week whilst you are enjoying time with DD2 - provided you know the opportunity to work 3 days per week and the mentoring programme will be available next September. 10 months isn't really a long time to wait.

If you continue working 2 days for a little longer, you can focus on some of the projects you want to get done around the house as well.

I went back full time, teaching, after Ds and gosh how I loved the buzz! But I only lasted a few weeks before I asked to go part time. I hated leaving him and felt that the childminder was having the pleasure of bringing up my son instead of me. I worked for 3 days but it didn't work for me really. I found that as I was spending more of the working week at school I was frustrated that I couldn't do more. Also I couldn't settle in the 2 remaining days and felt quite depressed and useless on my at home days. After dd, I left and am now a SAHM. Everyone is different and situations are different. However, they are little for such a short time. If you are enjoying it at home make the most of it. You've many many years of work to come and only a short amount of time with your little one.