Returning to work -4 days a week

[Yas0000]

I’m going to be returning to work on 4 days a week with one day working from home.
Most of my mum friends don’t work or are returning to work on 3 days and now I feel quite guilty that I can’t make that commitment as we need the extra money.

I’ll be having Monday off, in work tues weds thurs and fri with thurs as a work from home day. My partner will work from home on Friday so he can pick our son up early from nursery and I’ll do the same on Thursdays. Is 4 days do able? Im worried I will miss out on so much and my son will no longer recognise me as his primary care giver.

Any advice is welcome!

I felt like that as a lot of my friends managed to do less but I found 4 days fine but I was strict that my day off wasn’t for housework or shopping etc; it was for doing things with my DD even if that was playing at home as at first I was quite tired.

I’m also the same with my evenings in that the time between getting home and DD going to bed is my time with her and once she’s in bed I can do any other jobs

I felt the same. At first I had to go back 5 days for a couple of months and didn't like that. Especially as I couldn't do the ease yourself in approach where people use annual leave to build up. When I went to 4 days it was better; I'd love to work two or three days instead, but we can't afford that. I do feel jealous of others, but there are plenty of women who work 5 days, and long ones at that. My dd loves nursery and I feel she learns so much more there than she does at home. So I don't feel guilty about that. It's just I want to be with her more!

I've gone back 5 days, always planned to as i love my job. My dd does 5 mornings at nursery then grandparents for the afternoons. I work 7:30-4ish so get a good few hours in the eve before she goes to bed at 7:30