Would you return to this job?

[Greatfun]

I need some help making a decision and thought some of you may have some useful advice.

I am on mat leave with DC2. I am due to return to my job in the new year.

The job is part time, 3 days a week and pays fairly well (I will be clearing a couple of hundred pounds even after childcare for 2 children), 7 weeks holiday a year. They are really good for flexible workng in terms of agreeing to late starts, etc for school pick ups. All sounds really good. Whats not so good is its an hour from home/nursery/school and we have no family near by, I will have to do the pickup/drop off so the DCS will be in nursery for long days (but only 3 days), since going PT (after DD) I am very much on the mummy track (no training therefore no chance of promotion and doing work thats easier than when I first qualified), it can be very stressful and I dont really enjoy it.

DH and I could manage on his salary but it would be tight and DH is not one for budgeting. On paper my job sounds great. I see from here all the time that people struggle to find well paid PT work I just wish I could put it on hold for a few years. Ideally I wanted to stay off until DS was at least 3. If I leave this job I would be unlikely to go back on the same conditions (I have been there for 10 years which has helped me secure the PT hours and why I have so much holiday).

I want a job near home that fits around school. No idea what I would do as my job is very specialised so woudl have to start again which consdiering I want to work PT would be tricky. I have thought about starting my own business but no idea how or what in.

Would you hand your notice and spend a few years with the kids living on a tight budget and worry about a job later or would you go back?

That is a difficult one.

If you were to take a career break for a couple of years would you have to start from the bottom again or could you go back at a reasonable level ?

I would go back but financial security is a big priority for me and I would hate to be at home ft.

If I took a few years out I could possibly go back but not sure I would get the same hours,flexibility, etc.

On one hand I want to be with the DCS whilst they are young and think I should just give it up and get a job near home (would be much lower pay) and on the other hand I think stick with it. Whilst not perfect, well paid PT jobs are few and far between.

I agree its hard to find well paid PT jobs particularly 3 days a week.

Why don't you go back but give yourself a deadline of say 6months to then have a family review of the situation. If its making you miserable and you feel your DCs are not happy because of their long days at nursery then reconsider at that point.

How was it when you had one DC ?

Oh and on another point would you consider getting a nanny instead of nursery. With 2 DCs the price difference may not be that large and means you wouldn't have to do pick ups and drop offs on top of your long commute and might be nicer for the DCs.

I thought about a nanny but assumed it would be alot more. My nursery will be 1300 for 3 days for the 2 DCS (London). Its actually more than I earn but once you factor in the vouchers and LEA grant I will be taking home about £300 until DD starts school in 2years.

DD went to nursery at 9 months which I felt terribly guilty about but we needed the money so badly. We are very lucky and DH earns more now so we could get by on one wage but things would be tight.

Have you worked out your monthly essential outgoings and some realistic disposable income?

Yes and DH could cover it. Basically the extra 300 would be very useful and make life more comfortable but wont help pay the mortgage. Things would be tight on DHs salary alone and just not so tight if you added my 300.

Does your work offer career breaks (says rookie searching optimistically for a solution) ?

In theory they do and I will apply for one but am 99% sure they will say no.

What time do you leave in the morning and what time do you get back ? Is it an hour each way regardless of what time you leave at, could you work at home one day a week ?

If it were me I think I'd be trying to make it work, because like Ladidadi I think I'd struggle to be at home full time.

However from the way you are responding, it sounds like you are swaying towards not going back. If that is genuinely what you want to do then you should do it.

I'd try to make it work. Postpone going back as long as possible. Eke out as much flexi time as possible. And hang in there.

DCs to nursery at 7.50. At my desk for 9. Leave work at 4 so should be with them for 5.10. I probably could negotiate one day a week at home and the nursery is round the corner from my house so I could pick them up at 3/4 on that day. DD starts school in 2010 and I think work would agree to me starting at 10 so I could drop her at school (drop DS to nursery on the way). I would still leave at 4 and make up the time on a day I work at home. I know it could work. I just wish I could put it on hold for a few years. I also dont really like he job or the mummy track I ahve ended up on but thats a different story. I suppose all jobs have there good and bad points.

Well to be honest if you read the schedules of some of the other mums in the Home Front section, that doesn't sound too bad, and when you said your DCs were in nursery for long hours I was thinking 7.30 - 6pm or something like that so to be honest 8 - 5 or thereabouts seems ok.

How did you find doing it when you had DD only ? Do you think you would enjoy it more if you could find another role at your current employers ?

I know what you mean about my hours not being too bad. DD used to go into nursery later and finish earlier as DH and I could swap things around between us but that wont be possible. It would eb very difficult for me to find another role with my employer as they have spent a fortne training me adn will want me to stay where I am. I think its just a case of going back and seeing how it works. DD loves nursery now I woudl ahve just liked DS to be a bit older before he started but thats just me worrying about him. I know many people have it alot worse.