Back to work full-time - need a hand hold

[singingpinkmonkey]

Hello,

My son is 18 months old and I currently work 3 days per week. Its been quite a nice balance up to now as he goes to nursery for 3 days I work and then I have him the rest of the week.

Unfortunately the situation just isn't working financially and I think I'm going to have to go back full time. I know I'm being irrational but I'm panicking that I will hardly get to see him when factoring in commuting and full time hours.

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance from parents that work full time with young children that it's not all bad. I just feel a bit guilty at the moment.

Hi, sorry that you’re feeling down. I’m not there yet but will be going back to work full time soon. I also feel sad that I won’t have as much time as I would ideally like with my child. But I don’t feel guilty and neither should you. I know that I’m providing for my child. Making sure that they have a home, food, clothes, and basically a secure life, or at least as secure as I can make it. Those things are the most important. Especially when you think of all the children in the UK today growing up in poverty. Also just a thought but could you consider compressed hours - either 4 days per week with a day off or even spread over 9 days so that you have one day off every two weeks? Or flexitime (where your employer lets you build up time to take back as a day off or half day off)? Or working from home one or two days per week to cut out the commute? It may help to make things more bearable.