Full time or part time - what would you do?

[emy72]

I am currently on mat leave from a professional job - like many of you on here, have the dilemma of going back and whether to go full time or part time.

I have 4 children 5 and under and 2 will be at school when I go back in September. The youngest will be 1 and then I will have a 2 and a half year old on top.

Great thing is that I mainly work from home and so does DH - although we are expected to travel occasionally to various meetings.

Previously we shared it so that we could both work full time but have the kids on partial childcare as work was/is so flexible and so is childcare (nursery never full so can accomodate an extra long day now and then at short notice).

I have thought of going part time (3 days) but I am worried that, having already taken so many breaks/career totally on hold for the last 7 years - my chances of furthering my career or getting a decent role will be slim. Or worse, that I would be given a full time job to do in 3 days.

If you were me would you go full time working from home or would you cut your hours and risk the above for a while, until they are all in school?

I would value your opinions greatly.

(PS childcare cost is not a problem as we have saved enough vouchers until the 2 and a half year old is 3 so his childcare would be virtually free and we would only have to pay for 1 child - pick up and drop off from school not a problem as our work is so flexi).

Why are you hesitant about working full time? Are you worried about logistics, etc or do you feel you want to spend more time with DCs?

Yes I am worried that I will be always chasing my tail as I try and give enough time to each of my 4 kids. On the other hand, if I work 3 days I will have less flexibility in those 3 days and I will be earning almost half, so I am not sure whether it's worth trying it.....arrrgggg

I would go for part-time, which is what I do

It gives you time to do chores, etc, so that you are not always chasing your tail!

However,you would need to negotiate what is expected of you if you feel that you would be asked to do 5 days work in 3.

I'm sure you still have plenty of years in you to continue on the career ladder if that's what you want.

I think I am leaning towards trying 3 days - just out of interest, which days do you work? I was thinking of doing wed, thu, fri..

Those are my days!

Although I initially found it strange not getting the Monday morning feeling on Sunday night, it soon passed I like it because I can catch up on sorting out after the weekend and work seems less frantic at the end of the week, and people go for drinks on a Friday

I would go part time. I work part time, only 15 hours a week over 3 days (usually mon - wed but never friday) but because I work from home am always available to answer the phone and check for emails. I suspect that few of my clients have any idea that I don't work full time as I tend to dictate when to have meetings ie "I can do wednesday at 10 or Tuesday at 1" and it certainly doesn't seem to be holding back my career. If I need (read want) to go to a meeting I rearrange my work days or if it's something I can't (don't want to) make I just say that I'm already fully booked that day.

As you say proffessional career, therefore more likely very full on & stressful, then I would recommend part time........... you sound like moneys not an issue, & if my experience is anything to go by........I was under pressure to go back........started back too early...........managed 3 days & a bit of home work fine..........was then under pressure to go back full time, very high pressure job & not an understanding employer at all..........& ended up very ill, & have been unable to work properly since...........seemed like a tragedy at the time.....but to be honest, as much as I would much rather not be ill, & have the same sort of income we used to.........in reality its been a blessing