Parenting & Work Hours

[sam_gordon]

I think there are too many unknowns... the other parents schedule being #1.

My kids are "older" (14, 9, 7), and right now my "perfect" schedule would be 8a-4:30p. That allows me to see them on the bus, but be able to take them to activities in the evening.

With younger kids (< school age), it would depend on what daycare options (hours, availability) are around.

 

[Colleen27]

That's a tough call without knowing your spouse's schedule.

At the ages my kids are now (4, 11, 15) I'd choose the fixed hours because they're early enough in the day to be available for evening activities and because it is hard to work Saturdays once the kids start extracurricular activities. For example, it is baseball/softball and track season right now for my kids - I don't have a Saturday without a sporting event or other family plans until June 29, and that started with the last Saturday in April. So a job that required Saturday hours wouldn't work for me because my DH works some Saturdays and often doesn't know it until Thurs/Fri. Evenings are similarly unpredictable because some days DH is home at 3 and others they work until dark, depending on the job they're on. But the situation would be entirely different if DH worked predictable hours.

 

[Pigeon]

I couldn't answer that in any meaningful way without more information. It depends on the schedule of the daycare provider and the kid's school (and any before/after school programs) and your partner's schedule.

I guess that if it's really that flexible for the 40 hours, you could essentially pick the same schedule as the first for the most part.

 

[Mandychelle79]

I would go for the make your own schedule and work some weekends. For starters I much prefer grocery shopping during the week vs when everyone else is on the weekends And if you set the schedule you dont have to worry about asking off for school functions and can be more involved. I would love to go to my kids field trips but I never know in time when they are to make sure I have the day off.

 

[Katy Belle]

A lot depends on the schedule of the other parent. Its super hard to get Day Care evenings and weekends. If your spouse has to work evenings and weekends too, it would be best to go for M-F daytime hours.

 

[branv]

I voted for a flexible schedule as long as it truly is flexible by your say-so. As in 40 hours a week, some nights/weekends, truly your choice when things get done. For example, you need to not work Tuesday because your child or caregiver is sick, but you can add more hours later in the week to make up for it without notifying anyone or causing a hassle.

For instance, DH has been working from home lately about 30 hours out of the week, going in maybe once a week. He's in the tech industry, and at first he was home because to do some things required for his job he kind of HAD to do it from home. Then, he found working from home allowed him to do a lot more work, so here he has been for months now. But his boss pretty much doesn't care when he works, or where he works, as long as he produces. Of course, they're like that in general -- people may wander in at 10 am or 8 am, take a two hour lunch, but then work later that night or weekend. No one really cares as long as the work is done well and on deadline. When our baby arrives, this flexibility will be of huge benefit. While I will be a SAHM, there will obviously be times I need to do something that isn't child-friendly -- doctor appointment, haircut, etc. He can easily slide his schedule around to be home, and make the work up later if he needs to.

So, if that's the kind of flexibility you're talking about, I say #2. If it's only flexible in terms of "well, we can't tell you when you'll be working, so just be available when we need you," then run away. That would be a nightmare as a parent.

 

[wilma-bride]

I votd for option 2 based on the fact that, for me, flexibility is the key. I am lucky in that I work 37 hours a week but can choose my start/finish times between 7am and 7pm. Starting at 7am allows me to finish in time to pick my DS up from the childminder 2 days a week and from school 3 days a week. It limits the amount of day care we need, thereby reducing our childcare costs.

However, it would really depend on how flexible your partner's schedule is. My DH used to have a much more flexible job than he does now, meaning he could finish early on occasions, if DS needed to go to the doctor or dentist or if there was a school event. Now he can't so much so it's even more important to me that I have that flexibility.

 

[tvguy]

I've worked weekends for years, and it doesn't bother me much. But I'd imagine that I might feel differently once kids come into the picture.

Weekends around here tend to be popular with those who are single and no kids here.

 

[joviroxx]

Certainly there may be more details needed to really form a good opinion, but, with just what you've posted, as a mom, I would pick the flexible schedule hands down.

There is nothing like being able to schedule around your kids or be available when needed. As well, the 7:30 morning hour is really early. I prefer being available in the morning . Being able to attend class parties, not have the pressure when they are sick or needing a doctors visit, etc.

 

[soccerdad72]

Given just the two options, with kids, I would choose the M-F option. Too much goes on over the weekends with kids.

Otherwise, I would choose the flexibility.

Like others have said, the best option (short of having a stay-at-home parent) is one parent having flexibility and one more on a fixed schedule.