Should I go full time

[KCpip]

So I’ve continued to work throughout the time my kids are young. They are 7 and 4 now and I’m working part-time hours. Pretty much a 50% week. When I’m not working this means I’m home with my youngest on the days she doesn’t have nursery and I can do a lot of the school pick ups as my hours are flexible as well as part time.

The issue I’m having is that despite keeping a job going it feels like my career has slipped away partly I suppose because I’m not working enough hours to be taking any big strides in my career. I’m not 100% sure but there seem to be opportunities at work just now but I know none of them will come my way while I’m working so few hours.

At the moment I feel a little like I’m trying to have it all but instead not really having much of anything. Should I bite the bullet and go full time? Financially we’re unlikely to be any better off as my increased hours would just cover childcare but it might give me an opportunity to progress in future.

Has anyone in this situation taken the leap? How did you find it?

Totally go full time, your career is important to uou and you are more than just a mother. Now is the time to go for it. Good luck.

I'd increase a bit but not full time. You'll still miss out on promotion opportunities, but it will give you a chance to try a new balance. Also once you're increased your hours they're very hard to reduce again.

@Metabigot women can absolutely have it all just not necessarily at the same time. There has to be a little compromise.

Compromise means you can't have it 'all' though. Or else there'd be no need to compromise on anything.

I get you can have a balance of sorts. But that's not the same thing.

Thanks everyone. It’s giving me lots to think about and interesting to hear different perspectives. For a bit more context we have very limited family help and my youngest does already get two free nursery days a week which we are using. My OH works full time, due to shifts we can share the school run but it varies a lot each week depending on his shifts so some weeks I do a lot more than others. My youngest won’t start school until Aug 2023 due to the system here in Scotland and when her birthday lands in the year. I’m thinking I probably need to sit tight for a further 18 months then things could be different. I might look to increase my hours even if it’s just slightly for now.

I agree with comments to look at increasing hours once DC2 has settled into school. I'm sure you know from DC1 how phased their start can be over the Autumn term. I still wouldn't necessarily go full time though.

I have always done 4 days per week and have gradually increased hours. 80% hours, then 4.5 into 4 day, now do full time hours into 4 days. My DS is nearly 9 so I'm looking for a new job externally and am likely to move to 5 days per week.

Important to note that my DH also went 4 days per week when son was about 3. This has been a massive help in the school holidays as 2 out of the 5 days we were off work.