So what is the ideal set-up?

[oremstango]

Really looking for input here- I decided not to return to work (Sales Director) when ds was 10 months old. Now he's 15 months and I do miss some aspects, including earning money and range of a day. I reapproached the company and I am basically being told to name my own terms. Work from home, number of hours, etc. Problem is I don't know what I want! This is an amazing opportunity and I'd love any input here. I am still really resitant to hand ds over so would look for childcare to be based here but still scared a bit. What would be the ideal set-up for you?

You'll get as many different answers as there are people.

For me it would be nursery (dd is 3.8 and loves going to hers, and has been happily there since she was 6mo) but for short days. I currently work f/t and would love to be able to afford to work say 9am - 2pm.

I think lots of mners work from home and have a nanny.

I'd suggest you go for a number of full days/days off (a 3 day week for example) rather than 5 shorter days - with travellgin and everything else you won't feel much better off if you do 5 days.

when he's at school shorter days my be preferable but when he's little full days off are so much better.

Don't try to 'work from home' with no childcare - you'll never get anything don and feel like you're not doing well at either role. also if you work at home (with laptop/email etc) there is a tendency to log on at all hours/eves/weekends and can so feel like you are never away properly. but ter are davantages as long as you are strict about when you do it.

For me the ideal would be 3 days in the office but able to catch up on emails etc at home (but not contracted to!)

good luck- it;s a great opportunity!

The work from home option sounds great. I think I would choose a nursery close to home so its nice and easy to take DS in/pick him up and all you need to do is get back to the house and start working.

The if he is poorly you are always close by to collect him and you will still spend time together in the mornings and evenings as you wont have to drive too far to take him in.

I felt the same when I was thinking of going back to work and I visited a nursery. It just felt fine immediately and I thought 'yes I would be happy to leave DD here' and we have not looked back since. She loves it.

Part time working is great as you get the best of both worlds. I do 3 days a week and I love it.

If you are going to work from home then consider short days at Nursery. Personally I do 3 full days in the office but if I can work from home any of the days I drop her off later and pick her up earlier (although cost wise I still have to pay the full days). I get far more done in 4 hours at home than I do in 8 at the Office so I feel justified in doing it every now and then. Also if DD is here while I am "working" she just wants to be playing with me. I don't think a Nanny would stop that. Perhaps when she is older or if we had an annexe as an office instead of the Spare bedroom.
I think Flowerbeanbag works from home and has a Nanny. She is on Holiday though so bump this next week if you want to know how that works for her.

Only work from home if you have childcare. otherwise you won't get anything done and you will end up being in your employers bad books. I speak from experience.

I have negotiated a package where I'm in the office three full days and two mornings a week (i.e. 4 days) but I work an extra half a day in my own time by going in early and working in the evenings. This is ideal for me since I get nearly full time salary but can spend two afternoons with the DCs and work an hour each evening when they are in bed.

Maybe something like this would work for you?

Thanks for the input. I'm currently thinking of doing 8:00-13:00 from home (equivalent to two full-days) with home-based childcare. I have an external building as an office so okay on space, though think finding those hours for childcare will be hard. I really don't want ds in nursery, just not my thing, so may look at childminder as back up option. Anyone tried something similar?

I work 4 days a week normal hours and have a nanny which works well as I completely switch off on my day off and do all the baby massage classes etc I can't do normally but just wanted to say how brilliant that your company are so flexible, they obviously rate you very highly!