Working mums - how many hours do you work?

FatVonD

I downsized so I could be a SAHM when my son was small but went back to work full time once he started school.

I currently work from 9.30am - 6pm and have an hour of travelling at both ends. I hate seeing so little of my son and do feel guilty (though to be fair he's 14 now and I barely see him even when I am at home) and when I wasn't working at all I spent a lot of time saying 'I used to work in publishing, you know', I felt a real loss of identity (I'm fortunate in that the only thing in the world I'm good at I can make a living at.)

I've always worked my holidays around the school holidays, this year I have one day per week off during the summer holidays and then the October half term off. When he was younger I'd sometimes split some days of holiday across a week so I got to leave early every day and then then I'd also salary sacrifice to get an extra week.

On the subject of working in hospital, one of my friends went in to labour half way through designing a book (freelance from home.) We have very similar styles so I booked a couple of days off work and drove down to her house to finish it for her but took proofs into the hospital where we laid them out over the bed to check she was happy with what I'd done :rotfl:

vickynleon

i returned to work when my son was about 9months doing 20 hours but was asked to do full time so by the time he was 11months i started doing 40hours, i really struggled with this as he wasnt sleeping, then went down to 30hours and have done that until now (4 1/2 yrs old) i am currently on maternity leave and will probally return doing around 20 odd hours when my maternity leave is up. my partner has always worked 6 full days since before he was born and will continue that.

i don't think me working has affected my son at all and i feel proud that i'm not on any benefits and every thing he has is paid for by his own parents and not from everyone elses tax payment. you should just do what feels right for you, not worth getting depressed over, your kids will think no less of you infact when they are older they will probally think more of you and feel proud

Mrs_Imp

I work 15 hours a week over 2 days. 2 days was my limit, as I wanted to make sure I spent time with my child. I can't afford to go back more than 2 days anyway after childcare, as I don't currently earn enough to pay tax. If I were to work longer hours, then I'd start to pay tax, so take home nothing for every extra hour I worked.

starsandmoon

I had to go full time recently after 9 years of a 3 day week. Daughter is 10 now and goes to a childminder every night after school and I pick her up about 5pm. I also have a Sunday job which is every other Sunday but she is with her dad on those weekends. Im a single mum so it can be exhausting and keeping on top of the house, ironing etc can be a challenge. Treated myself to a dishwasher which saves a lot of time and a tumble dryer for the days I carnt get washing on the line.

The extra money is very handy and Im saving up for a holiday next year as havnt been abroad for 10 years!! :eek:

fly_dragon_fly

my hubby works 50 hours a week and i work 20 hours a week, currently afternoons and full day saturday so childcare is covered by nanny and grandad but will be going on Maternity leave in December so will take 6 months of the go back to work and will only be changing the 8 hour shift to a 4 hour shift so i can breast feed easier.

micwil

I went back to work when DD was 11 months old. I only wanted to do 3 days, but hubby persuaded me that 4 days would make us better off. Wasn't particularly happy about it at the time, but it's worked out quite well. I do 28 hours over 4 days, DD is in nursery for 3 days a week, hubby is off 1 day and I'm off 1 day, so it works quite well! x

BlueSD

After DD, I went back at 30 hours a week (changed my mind from going back full-time 2 weeks before I returned ) and she was in nursery for the whole time.

Roll on 8years and a DS later, I'm now working 22.5 hours over 4 days - 3 short days to do the school run and 1 long, when my Mum picks up and feeds them.

In the interim, I've worked from home, been a SAHM, worked 25 hours, worked 10 hours and worked 12hours on the first job and 4hours on the second. My life is at the balance i like right now and it works for us as a family.

Hope it all works out for you.

BlueSD

pinky83

After my daughter was born I went back full time - 37hrs a week over 5 days. To go back part time either on reduced hours or reduced days I would have had to move to a different job and take the associated pay cut that went with that role - effectively dropping my money twice, which we just couldn't afford. I do feel guilty for leaving her at nursery for 2 days and with my mum for 3 days but I really don't think she notices!!! She has a whale of a time - it's always harder for us than it is for them!! We are hoping to try for another next year so am really hoping we will be in a better position for me to return part time the second time round!

happy35

I worked 16 hours over 2 days until my son started school he was looked after by his nanna. I then worked 32 hours when he started school as we wanted to move house, this didnt really work out so worked these hours over 4 days to fit in with school hours

When DS was 15 I went back to work full time, it has worked out fine.

I think I was fortunate to be able to be at home with him, but I dont think leaving children with family or in good childcare is a bad thing either.

marywooyeah

masonsmum wrote: »

Thanks so much for your replies everyone, I do enjoy my job and OH and I are getting married next year, if I take on the extra day I am going to be bringing home approx an extra £250 per month as he is giving me a wage rise as well.

My concerns were that I wouldnt have time with my boys as I would need to catch up on the cleaning but Im sure paying for a cleaner once a fortnight wouldnt be too much of a sacrifice!

an extra £250 is a lot! that's great you'll get a wage rise

as for the cleaning I load the washing on before I leave so its done when I get back, wash the pots whilst making dinner and hoover the floors while my son is in the bath and put the washing away whilst telling him a bedtime story. its not easy but you can keep on top of it by constantly doing bits here and there - have a look on the flylady thread for some tips x