S/O- what makes part-time so great?

[Anonymous]

I have just downshifted to a part-time schedule, and it is fantastic. I split my job with someone else and I do the mornings and she does the afternoons. This enables me to be home more now with my child before she starts kindergarten next year (she attends a preK daycare while I am at work), and will enable me to be home when she finishes her school days once she gets into kindergarten and beyond. I was so happy I was able to set up the schedule this way and that my boss was willing to give it a shot; this is much more desireable to me than a schedule where I work FT for 3 days, say, and am off for 2 days, something like that.

[Anonymous]

I used to think that I would eventually want to go part time. But, I decided to first request a 3 day a week work at home schedule (in the office for the other 2). I also have flex time. With these options, I've found it rather pleasant to work FT and still not feel pressed with my time. I am able to get some chores done at home those 3x a week during my lunch. And I got to keep full pay, so that is a plus. I wonder if this will change once my kids start school, but now that they are in daycare, it works well.

[Anonymous]

What makes it great for me is that it gives me just the right balance between my work-self and my home-self. I am domestic by nature - I love the domestic arts such as sewing, knitting, cooking, housecleaning, decorating, etc. - and working part-time enables me to satisfy domesticity-cravings. When I worked full-time, I always felt frustrated in that regard. The other thing I love about working part-time is that my kids, ages 15 and 12, are at ages where they'll talk when it suits them, and not when it doesn't, and it generally suits them to talk right when they get home from school. In the evenings, they tend to have moved past or forgotten whatever went on during the day, and they clam up. My 15yo in particular is a very anxious kid, prone to social anxiety, and I am glad that I can be here for him when he needs to talk.

RE my schedule, I am a lawyer and work about 25-30 hours a week, spread over three days. (Two days, I don't work at all.) I am flexible about start and stop-times, and occasionally work in the evening or on an off-day during a crisis, but by and large my off-days are sacred.

I don't worry much about saving for retirement because DH and I both max out our contributions and we are on track to retiring at a reasonable age. Ditto re: college savings. Our financial planner tells us that if I never make more than I currently do, we will be fine.

Because we save so much in 401ks and 529s, our take-home pay isn't great, and we do live pretty frugally. It doesn't bother me at all to live this way, however, because doing all those things to save money (cooking, freezing, thrifting) are part of the domestic arts I love so much.

Bottom-line, working part-time makes me feel human and whole in ways that I never felt when I worked full-time. I may never work full-time again.

[Anonymous]

^^^PP here. I work mostly from home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. I love full time. I can actually take more time off, I accrue leave faster, make more money. The part timers are second class citizens in my office. No thanks.

And your children are second class citizens in your world. No thanks.

Not the poster you are responding to, but not really a fair comparison. Most people don't have a choice to just quit work and hang with their kids all day. And even if they could afford it in the short term, there are other things to consider like long term financial needs, risk of leaving the workforce, risk of DH losing his job, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What makes it great for me is that it gives me just the right balance between my work-self and my home-self. I am domestic by nature - I love the domestic arts such as sewing, knitting, cooking, housecleaning, decorating, etc. - and working part-time enables me to satisfy domesticity-cravings. When I worked full-time, I always felt frustrated in that regard. The other thing I love about working part-time is that my kids, ages 15 and 12, are at ages where they'll talk when it suits them, and not when it doesn't, and it generally suits them to talk right when they get home from school. In the evenings, they tend to have moved past or forgotten whatever went on during the day, and they clam up. My 15yo in particular is a very anxious kid, prone to social anxiety, and I am glad that I can be here for him when he needs to talk.

RE my schedule, I am a lawyer and work about 25-30 hours a week, spread over three days. (Two days, I don't work at all.) I am flexible about start and stop-times, and occasionally work in the evening or on an off-day during a crisis, but by and large my off-days are sacred.

I don't worry much about saving for retirement because DH and I both max out our contributions and we are on track to retiring at a reasonable age. Ditto re: college savings. Our financial planner tells us that if I never make more than I currently do, we will be fine.

Because we save so much in 401ks and 529s, our take-home pay isn't great, and we do live pretty frugally. It doesn't bother me at all to live this way, however, because doing all those things to save money (cooking, freezing, thrifting) are part of the domestic arts I love so much.

Bottom-line, working part-time makes me feel human and whole in ways that I never felt when I worked full-time. I may never work full-time again.

Another lawyer here. I work full time so I can pay someone else to do the domestic stuff and so I don't have to live frugally. Different strokes!

[Anonymous]

I was unemployed for a year, and took a part-time job because it's what I could find. I love it. I do worry about my retirement (but not benefits, as my husband's job covers all that), but, being able to pick up my kids and schedule their doctor and dentist appointments for my day off and not having to cram shopping and housecleaning into the weekends... it's worth it for now.

I do not worry about being the first to go if my company hits hard times. I do a job which is utterly crucial. It requires focus and specialized expertise, but doesn't require 40 hours a week.

[Anonymous]

And your children are second class citizens in your world. No thanks.

What a horrible thing to say. I work full time. My office does not offer part time. Is my child a second class citizen because of this?

[Anonymous]

Having the extra time to do things like:

- Go to the gym most days
- Grocery shop in the middle of the week when the stores are emptier & I'm w/o kids
- Pick my kids up from school
- Attend all of my kids' school events (our school has many) & volunteer for the school
- Run errands so my weekends are free for fun

The only way I'd go back to full time is if I were desperate to make more money. The money I earn is more than enough and I do love having the security of my own job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. I love full time. I can actually take more time off, I accrue leave faster, make more money. The part timers are second class citizens in my office. No thanks.

And your children are second class citizens in your world. No thanks.

Not the poster you are responding to, but not really a fair comparison. Most people don't have a choice to just quit work and hang with their kids all day. And even if they could afford it in the short term, there are other things to consider like long term financial needs, risk of leaving the workforce, risk of DH losing his job, etc.

I actually agreed with the "second class citizens" poster. Sounds like the first poster is talking about dropping down to part-time would be a loss of pride, which he or she is unwilling to face in exchange for the opportunity to spend more time with the children. I think that does qualify them as parents who see their children as second-class.

[Anonymous]

I'm like 9:55, 32 hours, Wednesdays off.

What's great about it is that I get the day to spend with my kids usually, one on one time. If someone gets sick, I can switch my day off around to stay home, so I save sick days for longer illnesses or for when I get sick. I do doctors appointments on that day also.

I've been part time for 4 years now and have been promoted twice since, so it does not affect the way they view me. They respect my day off but I always check my email so I'm not holding anyone or anything back because I'm not there (I'm a manager). I have worked at the company for 11 years and have a set of skills that is in high demand, so I'm pretty secure in my job.

My benefits are cut 20 percent but since I get a lot of vacation and sick days I don't notice much. DH provided insurance so that's

[Anonymous]

Work 60% with a fairly flexible schedule. I LOVE working part-time; I feel like I truly have the best of both worlds, the holy grail. I enjoy my job and consider it worthwhile work, yet I have time to be with kids, run errands, exercise, see a friend, volunteer in the classroom. etc. I do bring work home but not an excessive amount. Sure, it would be nice to earn more money, but I'm really happy with the setup I have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. I love full time. I can actually take more time off, I accrue leave faster, make more money. The part timers are second class citizens in my office. No thanks.

And your children are second class citizens in your world. No thanks.

Not the poster you are responding to, but not really a fair comparison. Most people don't have a choice to just quit work and hang with their kids all day. And even if they could afford it in the short term, there are other things to consider like long term financial needs, risk of leaving the workforce, risk of DH losing his job, etc.

I actually agreed with the "second class citizens" poster. Sounds like the first poster is talking about dropping down to part-time would be a loss of pride, which he or she is unwilling to face in exchange for the opportunity to spend more time with the children. I think that does qualify them as parents who see their children as second-class.

Is that true for male parents who work full time as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. I love full time. I can actually take more time off, I accrue leave faster, make more money. The part timers are second class citizens in my office. No thanks.

And your children are second class citizens in your world. No thanks.

Not the poster you are responding to, but not really a fair comparison. Most people don't have a choice to just quit work and hang with their kids all day. And even if they could afford it in the short term, there are other things to consider like long term financial needs, risk of leaving the workforce, risk of DH losing his job, etc.

I actually agreed with the "second class citizens" poster. Sounds like the first poster is talking about dropping down to part-time would be a loss of pride, which he or she is unwilling to face in exchange for the opportunity to spend more time with the children. I think that does qualify them as parents who see their children as second-class.

Is that true for male parents who work full time as well?

New poster here, I think it is true regardless of gender to the extent the reason for not working part time is a view that part time workers are inferior for having made that choice

[Anonymous]

This is a perfectly time thread - thanks OP and PPs

I've been working 4 days a week since DC1 was born 6 years ago. I've been considering applying for a promotion (I've been promoted while being PT, but have reached the top of my career ladder, so have to apply to make the next move) and that job requires full time.

The one day a week I spent with DC1 was so special that I'm really torn about giving it up (DC2 is now 2, so still 3 years until K). That said, the promotion is the job I always pictured myself ending up in, and if i don't go for it now whoever gets it will prob hang onto it for years/decades (the current guy has been there 20 years, applicants are likely in their mid-late 30s)

So i'm torn - i want the new job, I want to keep my PT schedule.

I'm a fed, but in a uncommon position (e.g. not a lawyer), so movement between agencies isn't a reliable option. I feel like the decision is kid vs. job. It's helplful to hear from all the people who really value their PT schedule, a reminder of what I'd be giving up.

Hmm...decisions, decisions