Since having dd1 I worked 3 days a week which suited me fine. When I had dd2 I returned at just 2 days per week. The intention was that I increase to 3 days from Sept (I'm a teacher). Since having kids I've had management responsibilities but I gave up my official role as 2nd in dept as I thought I wouldn't be able to do the job properly on 3 days. Now my old job looks like it's coming up again in Sept. My boss has already said he thinks I'm more or less doing the job at the moment anyway and he'd be happy to have me doing it again on 3 days a week. I also feel much more motivated about work than I did say, a year ago.
BUT our Head is down on part-timers generally. He doesn't have any kids of his own and although he 'talks the talk' and says how valuable the part-timers are that wokr at our school I know full well that he doesn't think a 'proper' job can be done part-time. I know it can, and my HoD agrees that I've done more than the actually 2nd in dept in the last year on just 2 days a week compared to the 2nd in dept's 5! There are 3 other Head of depts (Smaller depts admittedly) who work part time (3 or 4 days) and I'm really keen to push myself forward for consideration. As a trump card, I might even consider going up to 4 days. But aprt of me resents the notion that my commitment and effort would automatically be less if I worked just 3 days. The dds are 5 and 17m. Worried that if I go up to 4 days there's no going backbut also scared to miss the boat with this job. ARGGGHHHHHH!