Parents who are home by 5-6pm from work - what do you do?

[Anonymous]

I work at a consulting firm and my husband is a federal contractor. We leave together at 8:30 and are home by 6:00. Easy metro commute (4-6 metro stops).

[Anonymous]

Inside sales with 10 minute commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband is usually home by 5. He leaves for work at 6:30. He has a 30 minute commute so his standard day is 7-4:30. Sometimes he even manages to leave by 4. He’s in the private sector, mid-level. Many of my family members and friends with kids work for the government and get home in time for the ES bus. They leave for work early. We know lots of attorneys. The ones who work corporate or for the govt also seem to be able to get home by dinner. The exception is those who work in big law.

So the assumption for these early start and end jobs is the spouse will do pick up and drop off or just simply stay at home, there’s no way he could do pick up or drop off unless your kids are in daycare till almost 6.

[Anonymous]

Two teacher family, kids are at school with me. Everyone leaves the house by 7:45. 10 minute commutes. Home by 4:30 if kids don't want to stay for aftercare/clubs and parents don't have meetings.

[Anonymous]

I work 7:45-3:45 with a 45-minute commute, so I’m home at 4:30. Work at a nonprofit.

DH works 9-5 with 20 minute commute. Works in financial services. #bankershours

Neither of ever had any interest in putting career over our time with our family and sought out jobs that would allow for a good balance.

[Anonymous]

I go in early so
That I can leave early. I work 7:30-4 with a 30 min commute on the way home (shorter going in)

[Anonymous]

i work as a nurse for an insurance company and telecommute 3 days and in office 8-4:30 the other 2. I make $90K.
My husband makes $300K but he works a whole lot more hours.
It's generally a trade off aside from the few who work in lucrative yet flexible jobs.

[Anonymous]

School social worker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work 7:45-3:45 with a 45-minute commute, so I’m home at 4:30. Work at a nonprofit.

DH works 9-5 with 20 minute commute. Works in financial services. #bankershours

Neither of ever had any interest in putting career over our time with our family and sought out jobs that would allow for a good balance.

I thought bankers hours ended when they were deregulated?

What financial service exactly? Advisor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a P&L owner for a big Fortune 500.

I make nearly $1M a year. Not bragging but pointing out to say that it isn’t the case you can’t have both.

What does this job mean?

Does this mean Profit and Loss owner?? I mean do you just and up income and report it, and take heat if numbers are bad?? I mean what is the actual job there? How did you get into this?

[Anonymous]

Two teacher household. Both elementary. I'm about 1.5 miles away from work. My DW's school is closer. We are usually home between 4:15 and 5:00.

[Anonymous]

I telework 4 days a week. We have one car and DH’s office is typically 25 mins (give or take - as little as 15 and as much as an hour with traffic variation).

I get up with toddler about 6:30 while 6 year old and DH sleep in. Give her breakfast, get her dressed, play. About 7:20 DH and older DD are up. By then DH showers while I pack lunches, do children’s hair, etc. I’d LIKE to be ready to log in when they leave the house at 8:25 for 8:30 school day but more often still need to shower and get dressed. I assume after drop offs my DH’s day starts about 9 am which is when mine does too. That means our days go to about 5:45 (8 hrs, 45 min lunch breaks). I break sooner to get food in the oven or pick up take out etc. then get back to work. They walk in about 6:15 / 6:30 and I’m logging out and we eat by 6:45. Sometimes this is all 30 mins earlier which I far prefer and am working on ways to get day earlier. On my commute day it’s 1.5 hrs for me each way. I leave at 7, pack lunches night before if I can, or DH does lunches and I work 8:30-5:15 and am home about 7.

I’m a fed (mid-level / non-management) and my DH is a research scientist for a private company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a P&L owner for a big Fortune 500.

I make nearly $1M a year. Not bragging but pointing out to say that it isn’t the case you can’t have both.

In this country it's much more common for people to work 12-15 hour days to barely clear $50k a year. So go with your bullsh*t idea that balance AND wealth go together. I hope you are donating $500k a year to charities.

I realize it’s more common. I’m not a dolt. I’m just saying it isn’t the case you can’t have both. Let’s say my salary was $200K - still great by almost any standard - would you have so much hate? Would you still dismiss it as unachievable and stupid? Or is that now close enough to normal salaries that it becomes interesting? The reason I ask is I have a LOT of friends who make that kind of money AND come home at 5pm. I’d venture I could name probably a hundred or more people if I had access to my LinkedIn. But of course, even $200K is a lot of money - so if the point is to try and find a world view where anyone can find such a job, then you are right it’s not possible. But I also don’t think DCUM represents (anywhere near) the US average worker, so I’m not trying to give advice to the waitress working part time at shoneys here, I’m suggesting something a group that’s likely already in the top 5%, 90% of which probably have a bachelors and I’d bet half have a masters or better.

All that said, yes the US system is screwed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a P&L owner for a big Fortune 500.

I make nearly $1M a year. Not bragging but pointing out to say that it isn’t the case you can’t have both.

What does this job mean?

Does this mean Profit and Loss owner?? I mean do you just and up income and report it, and take heat if numbers are bad?? I mean what is the actual job there? How did you get into this?

Well that’s a bit oversimplified but yes. If the business goes well, I get praise. It doesn’t, I get yelled at.

I started at Capital One - they train you well to own (small) portions of a business. I.e. you might start being responsible for direct mail campaigns on a credit card product. From there you take over more channels or an expansion strategy. From that you take over a whole product, or even a suite of products. As your responsibility grows so does your income. I’m not there anymore but it’s a good job - and it’s also very 9 to 5.

[Anonymous]

We are both done before 5. We have a 15 minute commute. DH is in sales and I am a nonprofit executive.