Asking to reduce hours

[Heathrug]

I was a SAHM to my now 4 & 9 year old for a few years until January this year when I returned to work for a global company. Working from home, 9-5 Monday to Friday which will change to 2 days a week from the office soon.

I like the job- it’s not ground breaking or particularly fun but it suits me and I am good at it. My manager has said I am one of the top performers in my team of 4.

One of the team members has went off on long term sickness. The other team member has said she wants to go to uni to do nursing in September and is considering asking to go part time to work within her uni schedule. The other is happy doing full time. We all started at the same time.

I’m struggling with the full time hours and want to reduce to 3-3.5 days. I hardly see my children and my daughter’s behaviour has really changed and I feel it’s because she has went from having me around 24/7 to barely ever.

I finish at 5pm. Collect kids. Start dinner then DD is ready for bed at 7pm. She’s exhausted and over tired and such a nightmare so the time I do get is awful with her and it breaks my heart.

I couldn’t sleep last night thinking “why am I doing this?” Something needs to change. I’m not the mum I want to be. Etc etc.

I couldn’t sleep from thought running though my mind of being unhappy and now Im exhausted as I only got 3-4 hours sleep.

thankfully I go on holiday after today for a much needed rest. When I return I want to ask to reduce hours but I feel 1. Guilty 2. Bad for asking 3. like I will never progress. But OH is in a high paid job so we don’t “need” the money.

I returned to work for a bit of purpose and to try to pursue a career but I’m just struggling so much. I miss my kids.

Be mindful that to apply for flexible working you have to give 12 weeks notice.
Rather than reducing to 3 days have you considered asking for a shorter working day suck as working 9-3? As your children are school age this will allow you to collect them from school earlier and you are still working core hours. If you work 3 full days you are still going to have the same issue 3 days of the week otherwise.

I think you need to keep working to have your sense of self. Ultimately it's up to you though.

such as not suck haha

Thanks, the issue I have with finishing at 3 is I would still need to go into the office for 2 days so by the time I’m home will be almost 5pm anyway so I’m thinking if I do 5pm for 2 days in the house at least I get two full days off and then one feom home.