Working moms: How many hours a week do you work?

[Juliegirl1]

I am a single mom and work 40 hours a week plus have an hour each way (sometimes more depending on weather and traffic) commute. It's difficult. I feel bad sometimes that we don't get much free time, especially since my son's father enrolls him in Tae Kwon Do, piano and baseball and then expects me to take him to the practices and games. I feel like my child doesn't have enough time to play and be a kid sometimes. When weekends come around I always give him a choice of things to do and he usually just wants to stay at home and relax.

We do have a routine and on off days we do our chores and homework and then I let him go play while I fix dinner. I only cook things that take a long time on weekends and I try to get a lot done on the weekends that he is with his dad so that we have more fun time together. I run errands on my lunch hour and clean house every other weekend (touching up during the week). I throw laundry in the wash when I get home, in the dryer before bed and fold it the next morning.

I was a stay at home mom until I got divorced when my son was three. The time we spend together means a lot more now that we have so little of it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do! And you can always "transition" out of that job if it doesn't work out (sounds much better than quitting!)

 

[Stasieki]

Since my first post, I made a counter offer about the pay... I am not sure if I shot myself in the foot or not, but I did it! I need to be able to make money if I am going to add a day and a 1/2 of daycare expenses... I dont want to work more and make less. I guess I will have to sit back and wait. It is what it is...

Anyone insterested in sharing how much they spend in daycare $$ in a month? I figured that should I take this job and add a day and a 1/2 to the daycare schedule, we would be paying out $888 a month!!! Thats for DS2 5 full days and DS5 5 1/2 days.... Anyone want to share?

In Jax, FL, I paid $600 for full time care for one (that was a home based daycare). The traditional daycares were $900 for one child full time. Right now, we are getting a break as my mother in law watches her (we just moved and are living next to her in a rental house). Once we purchase in the town about 30 miles away (closer to DH's job), it will cost us about $450 at a Catholic pre-school. I am excited b/c they offer full-time for 2 years and up where normally they are 3 day a week programs. I priced out a traditional daycare and it was about $165 per week full time, so I think the Catholic preschool is the best bet all around (if she gets in)

 

[edamethyst]

I work 40 hours a week now but this is the first year I've done that. When my kids were small I worked 2 days a week and my mom watched them so we were very lucky. Now my kids are all either in middle school or high school so I am able to leave after they are all on the bus and then I'm home within an hour of them. We work 8 - 4 but have a paid lunch so its not bad at all.

 

[christa112]

I work 40+ hours per week. I work retail. I have been working full time since 2002.

 

[Miss LD]

I'm on mat leave till Feb.
But, when I'm at work I am there 40 hours a week technically. But, I usually work through lunch and then I have a home system so I can work at night. I also have a blackberry for the train ride there and back.
It was a hard decision for me to work, but it was necessary.
I chose to do full time because trying to do shift work wouldn't really pay the bills.
The benefit of working a m-f job is that I have benefits and paid vacation, etc.
But, having been home on mat leave I've gotta say it will be hard going back (and hard on my kids) so I dread it a whole lot.
Daycare for us was about $1500 per month for one child. (a little less when he was 3 as he was in a preschool class). We've hired a live-in nanny. We will pay about $1300 per month plus room and board.
I have no idea if this is the right decision, but it seems right for us. Good luck with your decision.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Since my first post, I made a counter offer about the pay... I am not sure if I shot myself in the foot or not, but I did it! I need to be able to make money if I am going to add a day and a 1/2 of daycare expenses... I dont want to work more and make less. I guess I will have to sit back and wait. It is what it is...

Anyone insterested in sharing how much they spend in daycare $$ in a month? I figured that should I take this job and add a day and a 1/2 to the daycare schedule, we would be paying out $888 a month!!! Thats for DS2 5 full days and DS5 5 1/2 days.... Anyone want to share?

Good for you on the counter offer! Good luck. Its true..its gotta make sense financially.

I'm horrified to say childcare runs about $1600 a month for us. but the nanny comes to my house every day and they can be here with me..so we suck it up. I'll be so happy when the baby reaches preschool age. and we can stop paying what essentially is like a college tuition for a 1 year old

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I am extremely fortunate in that I work 36 hours a week but get paid for 40. The Friday afternoons off make all the difference in my sanity, and frankly I complete more work than my co-irkers, so I don't feel guilty.

I hope your counter-offer is successful. You have every right to stand up for yourself, and if the deal is not good for you, don't take it!

I can't help with the day care costs, my ds is in 5th grade and we pay about $100/wk for after school care for 3.25 hrs daily. We don't always use all that time, but we need the flexibility. Does your company offer a dependent care account? We are able to put money in a fund as pre-tax dollars, then reimburse ourselves for day care costs. It's a savings you could look into...

Whatever happens, best of luck! Being a working mom is not easy, but for us it is definitely worth it.

Maria

 

[cruizie]

I work about 33hrs/wk. I went back to work last spring when dd was in kinder. There are always pros and cons to every situation. I worked FT when dd was a baby up til she was 2-1/2. Then I stayed home until last yr. I have a really great situation and am able to put her on the bus & get her off the bus almost everyday except Tuesdays. On the days that I am unable to do so b/c of a late meeting or whatever, dh takes care of picking her up from the bus.

However, I do miss being able to go up & have lunch w/ her, be homeroom mom, read to the class, etc. BUT, in the grand scheme of things, it is pretty great. This summer was difficult b/c it was the 1st summer that she remembers that we were not able to just go do things during the week. I went back to work b/c dh is self-employed and his business was off & we needed the income.

I am also able to get better health insurance since I am working. My company originally was not going to give me benefits but gave them to me after all. I went back to work for the company that I worked for before I became a sahm.

Good luck w/ your decision! Whatever you decide, it will work out!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I work perdiem as an RN.

Some weeks I don't work. Sometimes 3 days/week, which is my max.

All depends how busy we are at work and what the kids schedules look like. I was off today for DD Halloween party but work tomorrow and am off friday for halloween.

its nice, I work as little or usually as much as I want.

 

[Denine]

I usually only work about 4 hours per week as an RN.

 

[maymom96]

I work for the school distric that my children go to school in. Except I'm at the high school while they are at the middle school and elementary. I love my schedule and work about 36 hours a week.
I get to take my daughter to work with me since an elementary bus stops at the high school. I get to volunteer in her classroom twice a week after I get out of work. I am also able to volunteer at my son's school after I get out of work.
The pay isn't the best and during the summers, I have no income. But where else can I be on the same schedule as my children? I have no daycare costs, still get to volunteer in the schools and know everything my kids do. As I tell my son, he can't even pass gas without me knowing about it. So it's worth it to my husband and me.

 

[Grendalynn]

Well, I got the job! I had it to begin with, and I counter offered the wages yesterday afternoon... I just heard back and didnt get the increase I was hoping for, but all is well. There was no harm in asking! It was a big step for me to ask and I think I grew alot as an adult in the whole process.... "It was time to pull up my Big Girl Pants" I will be contracted for UP TO 39 hours a week during the school year and only 15 in the summer. I will still be able to volunteer with my sons ski group on Tuesdays a 1/2 day this winter and scoot across should i need to see my kids, drop soemthing off or whatever.... Not to mention no Holidays, weekends or nights. I will in by 9 am and out by 4:30 ... Not so bad!!? Right??

 

[Tinkmom75]

congrats 9:00am to 4:30pm not so bad at all. As I figure normally you will be at work 37.5 hours a week and probably get an hour or half hour for lunch daily so really work time is 32.5 to 35 hours a week?? My 40 hours is straight work time so I am at work from 7:30am to 4:30pm and have an hour for lunch daily so I am actually at work 45 hours a week plus with transport to daycare and commute I am out of the house 52.5 hours a week. I think you can do it good luck

 

[Grendalynn]

congrats 9:00am to 4:30pm not so bad at all. As I figure normally you will be at work 37.5 hours a week and probably get an hour or half hour for lunch daily so really work time is 32.5 to 35 hours a week?? My 40 hours is straight work time so I am at work from 7:30am to 4:30pm and have an hour for lunch daily so I am actually at work 45 hours a week plus with transport to daycare and commute I am out of the house 52.5 hours a week. I think you can do it good luck

Yes! Give or take that will be my schedule... I work through lunch, so that I can get my full hours in and be out 2 days a week at 3:30 when my kids get out of school! I am contracted for "up to" 39 hours a week... some weeks its more, some its less... by the hour, not salary... I start tomorrow!

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

I own a business and work from home - but I actually work maybe 25 hours per week? It works for us

 

[jellybeans0607]

Between 10 and 12 hours a week. About 3 years ago I quit my job to stay with the kids but then decided I needed to do at leats something. So I waitress.

 

[two-foxes]

I work 40 hours a week as a supervisor at our jail....which I had better never see my son in! I am exempt, so I am able to flex my hours as needed, which is huge....so right now I work Mon-Thurs. 10 hour days, but DS is only in daycare 3 days a week with DH's rotating work schedule. Do I wish I didn't have to work? Absolutely. But I also know that the retirement and medical benefits are a huge perk of working.

 

[DawnM]

I am a school counselor. I have worked full time, part time, and stayed at home since having kids though. I am currently looking at returning to work full time when my youngest starts K next year. I will work full time.

Dawn

 

[KristinU]

Well, I got the job! I had it to begin with, and I counter offered the wages yesterday afternoon... I just heard back and didnt get the increase I was hoping for, but all is well. There was no harm in asking! It was a big step for me to ask and I think I grew alot as an adult in the whole process.... "It was time to pull up my Big Girl Pants" I will be contracted for UP TO 39 hours a week during the school year and only 15 in the summer. I will still be able to volunteer with my sons ski group on Tuesdays a 1/2 day this winter and scoot across should i need to see my kids, drop soemthing off or whatever.... Not to mention no Holidays, weekends or nights. I will in by 9 am and out by 4:30 ... Not so bad!!? Right??

Congratulations!!! Sounds ideal to me!

 

[alyssa810]

I am lucky in that my company offers flexible work arrangements. I am off alternating Mondays, so I basically work 9 hour days and have every other Monday off. Unfortunately, at my DS's daycare (like all in our area) we have to pay whether he's there or not...however, if I were to switch to a 4 day work week, I'd be able to save a day on his care.