Help me decide if I should cut back my hours at work please

[rookiemater]

Ds is just about to turn 3 and I currently work 4 days a week on slightly reduced hours. I had hoped to go back on 3 but my boss at the time wouldn't agree it.

I have since changed manager and there is another person in our department working 3 days a week so there is a precedent. From talking to her I get the impression that I have a good chance of a flexible working application being accepted.

Dh earns a very good income as a contractor so my drop in salary per month is covered by about one days contracting.In this current climate contracting is not secure but Dh has been with his current employer for over a year and has just been extended.

It would be nice to have a bit more space and time with DS and when he starts pre school I would like to be the one taking him there, and once he starts school it would mean having to find less days of cover in the holidays and spend a bit more relaxed time with him .

And yet somehow I'm waivering. 4 days a week is working ok for us and it seems foolish to turn our back on income in this financial climate. Also on 4 days I feel as if I am part of the team whereas on 3 I might feel isolated, plus would probably have to drop the slightly reduced working days so more pressure on those 3 days.

So what do you think I should do ?

it depends on your commute, but could you do less hours but still over 4 days?
I originally went back 3 full days, but now do 4 short days (5hrs per day). I drop my boys at school and am home to pick the eldest up (youngest goes to pre-school and my mum picks him up).
When they are both at school I will be able to drop off and pick up with no need for before or after school care.

Hi ChasingSquirrels, commute isn't too bad, about 30 mins each way. I don't think doing less hours over the 4 days would suit me at the minute because tbh once I'm in the office then I'd be as well staying there and DS is happy at the CMs, but I did think that if I changed to 3 days then once DS is at school which isn't for a while yet then I could change to 4 or 5 shorter days if they were amenable to that.

it works differently for different people doesnt it.
I did 8 - 4.30 x 3 days, then changed to 8 - 1.30 x 4 days.
I LOVED having afternoons with the children, leaving at 4.30pm meant it was tea, bath, bed when I got home. But being home at 2pm meant we could go to the park, see friends etc.
And now eldest is at school it is great to be able to pick him up and not to have to use after school care.

After ds2 I wanted to do 3 short days, but my firm rejected that as they had decided that managers need to be in the office for at least 4 days per week.