PT work: best or worst of both worlds?

mauceddie

 

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I work 3 days/week. Sometimes I feel like it's the best of both worlds... I get to spend time with my kids, keep my foot in the workforce, make some money, and my kids get socialization benefits from daycare.

Other times I feel like I can't do either well. I am not home with the kids enough to really do SAHM activities- at least one of my days off is spent doing errands, cleaning, etc.  I was on the management track before kids- I took a demotion to come back PT. I see others getting promotions that I know I could have had if I'd worked FT.

Anyone else in the same situation?

Kelly Madonna

I worked PT 30hrs/wk, then left to do work from home, then went back to the 30hr situation. I learnt it is what's right for me, and that, yes, it IS the best of both worlds. I love having my afternoons with DD but I also love my break from her. Not to mention, she is thriving at school & it forced her out of her strong clinginess to me. Best decision for all of us.

jenerally

I think it is.

I work 2, sometimes 3 times a week. On those days, DS is watched by my mother OR by DH, who works from home occasionally. I love going to work and "shutting down" the mommymode for awhile. I like what I do and I like that I don't have a gap in my employment. And we need what I make to help pay our bills.

Plus, I then feel like I appreciate DS more when I'm with him.

veloelle

Yup. I work 3x a week. I really enjoy my job, I have a great boss and awesome clients. I still travel, which I love, and gives me time to feel like I do contribute. Some days I do feel like I'm stalling out, but I just had to make peace with the decision I made to stay PT and not be on the fast track. I did find some SAH stuff to do-most library districts have story time on multiple days, Barnes & Noble has story time on the weekends, her tumbling class is at night so DH and I take her together.

I still think PT is the absolute best I could ask for, and I love it.

mauceddie

Thanks for helping me put it into perspective!

Rose.9.6.03

I also feel like PT work is the best of both worlds for me.  I work 20 hours and have a flexible schedule, which is particularly nice.  I work because I enjoy it.  I also like having the rest of my time to spend with my kids.  Most of the time I spend a half day working and a half day with my kids, which is  a really nice balance. 

hikerbeth

I did 30 hours from home and it was absolutely the best of both worlds for me.

Now I'm laid off and doing some very small part time jobs and I feel a lot more "SAHMish" but wish I was working a little more.