Changing jobs with small children

[Laura2211]

I returned from maternity leave about 6 months ago and have a 3 year old and a 1 year old . There have been a lot of changes at work & my job is now really boring & I just don’t feel challenged, and just feel pretty fed up.
i recently accepted a new job offer which I was excited about at the time but now I have reflected & I am starting to panic about the pressures of starting a new job with 2 small children. I am now wondering if I am better to pull out of the job offer & just stick with my current job as it is just an easy option at the moment.
can anyone offer any reassurance about changing jobs with small children? Is it manageable or is it best to just put my career on thr back foot for a bit?

I only have one small child but I changed jobs about 9 months after returning from maternity leave. I only work 4 days a week and my new employer is pretty flexible which helps but it's been absolutely fine.

I got a new job whilst on maternity leave with 2nd dc. 3 days per week. Within year promoted and full time. It's doable. And I think you'll be happier all round if you're happy at work.

I'm really interested in this as I am in a similar situation but haven't yet picked up the courage to do applications as I'm not sure I could ever even be prepared for an interview! Good to hear others have coped.

Thanks, good to hear others have managed it. I’m going to go ahead with the offer so fingers-crossed!!!

Hi Laura,
Can I ask how the move went? Any reflections? I'm finding myself in a similar position and the commute (1.5hrs) into the new office even once a week is causing my anxiety and stress. I don't have family to support with childcare so it's just me to rely on. I really want the new role and want to make it work but the logistics is daunting

@Ames21 it has been ok! The first 2 weeks Imy partner covered drop offs & pick ups so I could focus on the new job. It wasn’t a massive step up job I went into so as I was already experienced in the field, it didn’t take me too long to learn the new job. The new job was also hybrid which makes it so much easier with children! I def couldn’t do a full time office role now. my partner also works hybrid so we can usually manage the pick up & drop offs on our home working days. We don’t have much outside support either or any back up childcare but sharing child sick days between us works. Hopefully your partner or husband would be able to support if you do move jobs?
you could always try a few interviews to see how you feel (you don’t have to accept a job offer if it doesn’t feel right!) and I would ask at interview about flexible working etc as my job also has a flexi-scheme which I didn’t even know about until I started so that has been a bonus!

I found changing jobs really hard this year. My kids are a bit older so had to deal with school strikes. Started in January and then there were ten strike days over following two months which is a massive amount to cover especially when you have training to accommodate.

There’s never really a good time to change once you have children so you may as well do it now

We had one day in September when both DC and myself started at new schools. We all survived.

Following with interest as in desperately need to leave my job and have children also 1 and 3