How do you decide?

izoomzoom

Talk to your children ....

balletshoes

I kind of did the reverse of what you're thinking of loopy, I went back to work full time when my daughter was just turned 1, and stayed full time until she started reception at school, aged 4. Holidays were a problem to cover to be honest, but with my parents and siblings help, and holiday clubs etc from the time she turned 5, we managed.
Our school had breakfast club so I was able to take her to school at 8am, then I went to work. However, I had no childminder or after-school care available to me, so I reduced my working day when she was 4, to school hours only. It meant a significant drop in pay (but not half my wages), and it suited us much more. My DD is now 13 and I'm about to up my hours again, to more or less full time (I don't have to work 9-5 so I'm intending doing 8-4 instead).

Its a lot of money Loopy, and it will no doubt help advance your career. But on the flipside, how do you really feel about it? I'd be tempted to try it, as Peter above said, for a while, see how you get on. Would you be able to revert to your original hours if it doesn't work out, is that something you could discuss with your employer?

smifffy1989

Personally I would go for it! Sounds like an amazing opportunity!

pmlindyloo

So difficult isn't it?

Just a few thoughts.

When I was working full time when the children were young the most difficult part for me was when they were sick. Who will stay home to look after them? This was the most difficult part of juggling work/home and caused the most rows between OH and I. do not take the job until this is sorted!

A cleaner is a must! Then weekends can be spent as family time.

How flexible is your employer? Can any of the work be done at home? What hours in the work place are an absolute necessity?

Both parents working full time is not easy. Despite what people say about not having quality time with the children this will be the least of your worries. You have to be very organised not to feel totally exhausted so talk, talk and talk more about OH's role. Pay for extra help if you can. Do not try to be Superwoman! Share out the chores, including the making of packed lunches.

The part about spending time with the children is a bit of a red herring. How many people spend quality time immediately before school and after school? The kids usually want 'down time' - slobbing in front of the television after school with some delicious snack to keep them going before tea and before school, isn't it just one mad dash?

I found the most important thing with regard to the children were:

Giving a special time each night for each child - at a set time so that the child realises that it is their time (so no answering the phone or finishing the washing up!)

Making time to go to assemblies/open day/sports day/matches (you or OH - another thing to discuss with OH and employer)

Making sure the child care arrangements are sound (what happens if uncle is ill - need back up arrangements) and the after school time is relaxed and fun.

None of this is said to put you off and having worked full time for most of my working life I am all in favour of it but just wanted to give you some 'pointers'!!!!!!!!!!!(hopefully helpful)

loopyloouk

Thanks balletshoes, the problem i have is if i try it and it doesn't work there would be no way to go back to my hours now.

Think i will talk with the kids tonight and see how they feel about being picked up by my uncle etc. If i did after school club it would be £69.50 a week

I really need to think hard about this as it will impact the girls lives, my tiredness, the housework, family time, our routine. It will affect everything..... but it is a lot of money to say no to.

Does anyone here work full time and have small kids? how do you make it work?

emilybean

loopyloouk wrote: »

Thanks balletshoes, the problem i have is if i try it and it doesn't work there would be no way to go back to my hours now.

Think i will talk with the kids tonight and see how they feel about being picked up by my uncle etc. If i did after school club it would be £69.50 a week

I really need to think hard about this as it will impact the girls lives, my tiredness, the housework, family time, our routine. It will affect everything..... but it is a lot of money to say no to.

Does anyone here work full time and have small kids? how do you make it work?

This may be confusing, and not me, but my friend has 2 kids 2 stepkids. (2,3,6,7) She works 9-5 weekdays and her OH also works ft. She also covers shifts at a pub on some weekends :shocked:
It's definitely, just obviously depends on how you and children, and uncle feel about it.

If you're on double the money though get a cleaner!

WantToBeSE

I don't now, as I am in a different job, but I work full time when mine were 1 and 4. I had to, as I couldn't afford to (I am a single mum).


To be honest, you get used to it. As long as you are sensible, you can avoid getting too tired.


Work out if you're a morning or evening person- I am a morning person, so I was happy with waking up an hour before the children and putting dinner in the slow cooker, get their packed lunches and uniform/PE kits ready. I knew that by 7pm I would not have the energy to do it.
But you may be an evening person so do things the other way around, with getting everything ready the night before.


I found my slow cooker to be my god send, especially in the winters, as I'd come home to a complete (or almost complete) dinner at 6pm.


I always made sure I was in bed the latest of 10pm on school/work nights, with no exceptions.


I was super organised, but managed quite happily

Person_one

izoomzoom wrote: »

Talk to your children ....

Talk to your potential new employer too.

They obviously want you, you didn't apply they offered you this out of the blue, so there might be some negotiation potential.

Tell them what you've told us, that you'd love the new challenge and the opportunities for development but that with two young children you are concerned about the impact of the full time hours. See what they say, give them a chance to make the decision easier for you!

GreenQueen

Another thing to think about - if you don't take it, and then decide to increase your hours/responsibility at a later date, are there likely to be other opportunities (either from this company or others), or is this a "one time only" offer that you're unlikely to see again?

If you could find the equivalent job in a couple of years time, then there's less pressure to jump now.

GQ

GobbledyGook

£700 a month disposable income is a huge amount imo. Is that after the cost of after-school care?

If it is even if you spent £200 a month on a cleaner (which is probably way over what you'd need) you'd still have £500 a month left spare.

That's £6000 a year. Money isn't everything by any means, but that is a lot of money that could be spent on days out, holidays and creating memories. Not to mention building towards your future career.

Unless you were going to never see them then I think you'd have to seriously consider it, or give it a go.