Part time is good till children are at school and then really I should go fulltime?

[roses12]

Just wanted to throw that in the pot and see what your wise insights are. When I read these posts I feel that the consensus is that if you can afford it and would like/need to work then part time is the best when children are young. But once the kids are in school I should then go fulltime.

The reason I ask is that I keep finding reasons not to go fulltime and am wondering if i'm just a bit lazy/scared/out of practice. Reasons not to work fulltime: childcare costs for three children, low wages, recession lack of opportunity, no family for sick kids, dh earns enough also not dependable for childcare due to his long hours working away. Reasons to work fulltime are: kids all at school now, bored, dh would like to scale back his responsibilities (ie would like to share the pressure).

Your advice would be appreciated.

Well "bored" and "sharing the pressure" seem like pretty good reasons to go f/t. So I guess it's a question of looking at the reasons against and seeing if they can be overcome:

• childcare costs for three children - What extra childcare costs would there be if you went full time? how do these look against the extra £ you'd be earning? Could you get a school hours only job?

• low wages - again it really depends on whether your extra wages would be eaten up by extra childcare.

• recession/lack of opportunity - ok but you'll never know unless you try...

• no family for sick kids - how do you cope now if one is sick during your p/t hours? also, I think you have rights to take (unpaid) time off to look after sick kids - bit hazy on this though.

• dh earns enough - Well this is the golden question really. Seems like he doesn't think he does. Something you both need to chat about really and decide whether he is being too cautious or actually a bit more £ is needed (if not for now then for future).

Anyway, to me it sounds like some number crunching is needed before you can really weigh up the pros and cons. Of course finances aren't the be all and end all but if you really are bored with your p/t job then you might get more out of a move to f/t, albeit the numbers have to add up.

hope that helps in some way! more questions than answers really!

What does your DH mean by 'scale back his responsibilities'? He wants to cut his working hours and spend more time with the DCs? Could you increase your hours in your p/time job, to work when he's off? (assuming that's what he wants to do)

I think you really have to look at at the figures with this, find out what you can afford to do and then look at what you want to do.

I still work p/time,for many of the reasons you've put. Childcare when they get older is hard. It's convenient to be home for holidays/inset days/illness. Plus for me, I don't want to go full-time atm (I should say that working p/time, running a house and caring for the DCs, imo, stacks up to a full time job anyway albeit mainly unpaid)

I actually found it harder to work when DS started school, and gave up completely when DH took a contract that involved being abroad for most of the week. The logistics were just tricker, and DS was happy at nursery but tired and strung-out after a school day so needed me more then.

Thank you for all your advice. I knew you were the right people to ask

minipie working termtime is the ideal and am applying but not getting interviews. when i phone up for feedback they say my experience is good but "historic", they are overwhelmed by applicants and "can pick and choose". actual quote.

You are right and i need to do number crunching and if figures add up could probably get fulltime at my workplace (they have finally lifted the recruitment freeze).

serentity need to talk to him really.

People who work fulltime overcome these obstacles, I just need to work out if the pay out (finacial and fulfilment) is worth it or not.

Thanks for your advice

have done my number crunching with the help of this very useful website www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php

now have to work out what it all means. I would actually earn more working 25 hours per week termtime/fulltime than fulltime by £1,500 pa. Thats a bit of an eye opener for starters.

Thanks again for your advice.