A question for those who work full time

How do you like it?
Ive just got an interview for a full time position and Im starting to freak out. Its only a year contract and i thought that would be ok cos it means we could use the year to get settled financially and house wise and then i would still have 4 months to spend with kobe before he goes to school and then i could find a job school hours. Both kids are loving preschool at the moment, they are in for 3 mornings a week and i was thinking if i got the job i would only accept it if i could do say 9am to 4pm so home by thier tea time etc....but although it makes sense on paper what would it be like in reality? I miss using my brain but know i would feel guilty if the kids started hating preschool and a year can either go really fast or the days can drag. Will the kids suffer to much if they have to go in full time for a year? I know others have to do it and I know financially i should do it cos we are struggling but still........ Im one of those mothers who always say I didnt have kids so others could raise them. Do i do this now and set us up financially or just muddle through and figure its more important to be home with the kids?

so for those who do work full time do you hate it and would you give it up if you could or is it not actually that bad like im imagining?

Edited by my2angels

I work fulltime and have done since Charlotte was about 12 months old (I worked part time since she was 7 months). Personally, I LOVE it. It helps because of the following:

1. I have gone back to my old job with my old boss and team. I love it here and its like a little family.
2. My boss is really understanding and is of the mentality that family comes first (which helps when Char is sick)
3. I was suffering really badly from PND and its really helped me get out of that.
4. We were also struggling financially and now we can actually get ahead, book holidays, pay off the mortgage and do up the house at the same time.
5. I can do hours to suit me - I work from 7.30am till 4pm each day so am home by dinner time.
6. It really helps too that Charlotte loves day care, she gets bored on the weekends now and is itching to go back on a Monday morning. She gets more stimulation there than I could ever offer at home.
7. Like you, I need to use my brain. Coming back was the best thing I did, I got a huge (20K) payrise, they take care of my internet at home plus provide me with a cellphone and pay that cost. So I win in that respect too.

I think it depends on how you do feel about others looking after your kids. Yes, it was hard at first and like you I was also of the opinion that I didnt have my baby to have someone else look after her. But the plain fact is that I had to come back because we were struggling and it would be even more of a shame if we had to deny our child things because of financial reasons. We are getting set up for the future and who knows what is going to happen in a few years down the track.

I guess it depends on what you want to achieve and how you want to live your life - struggling and existing, or living and getting ahead!

Edited by GeorgiaB

i love being out of the house
I love being able to go for lunch without a stroller attachment!
I love interacting with people
I do not miss Dr pHil - ok well sometimes I do!
I love that Ella greets me so enthusiastically each day
I love that the DC tell me my child has been "beautiful and perfect" or "fabulous" each day or that she has been grotty (and ive missed it!!!)
I do miss being able to take her out during the day a bit but we live for weekends!
We spend time with her in morn and at night and on weekends...and have money to spend on her and on us when we want to now...
I enjoy having money again....that is no secret

and its true if you dont like it - stop working. If finances dictate you work then do something you enjoy and weigh that with spending time in weekends / evenings etc

I also didn't want to have my kids raised by someone else. My DH feels just as strongly and this is why he is SAHD rather than both of us working. So I struggled a bit with going back to work recently. I'm doing 30 hour weeks and I think I could do 35 hours. But I'm not keen on 40. Funny how that last few hours seems so much bigger!

So I haven't done 40 but what I'm finding with 30 is:
I have plenty of time and energy to help out in the mornings and evenings
I'm home about 4pm each afternoon so the kids are still playful etc before dinner. I reckon getting home any time up to 4.45pm would still work well for us (me ). I think this is mostly important to me because I've been SAHM for 4 years now.

Just something to think about, is who is going to be responsible for different household chores etc. You and your DH (I presume he works full time too) will only have so much energy between you. It's definitely workable but something to talk about in advance.

Something else I know some people struggle with is what to do with the kids when they are sick and can't go to daycare.

And the other thing I'd do is go for a 2 or 3 month probation type thing, or review. So that if it's not working out that you can renegotiate working hours or whatever.

Hope you are able to come to a good conclusion for you guys!

thanks for that everyone.
im hoping if i do it i can just do 9am to 4pm cos that way we will be home by tea time etc...

I have been looking at part time work but by the time i pay preschool i wouldnt be making much in the hand or would have to have a really well paying job.

Yeah i guess if i get the job and I hated it I could leave but cos its only for a years contract i would feel stink leaving them in the lurch...

but got to get the job first so no point stressing just yet right