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Are there any mothers out there who have cracked having a mentally stimulating job that pays a living wage, but is genuinely part time - no expectation of completing tasks in your own time to meet deadlines - therefore allowing you to be present for your kids?

I feel that I am in a downward spiral at the moment. I worked until 8.30pm tonight - I’m only paid until 2.30pm.

If you have cracked it, what industry do you work in?

Juggling With Eggs

I literally begged to come off a work call to feed my kids their dinner tonight. Then I went straight back to work and only stopped returning messages to my boss when I pointed out I needed to put the kids to bed.

My partner came home while I was cooking dinner, he then looked after the kids until bedtime. I am lucky to have a partner and yes, he’s my kid’s dad so it is part of his role to look after them…but I still feel like I’ve been a $hit parent while simultaneously being exploited. This doesn’t happen to this extent every night, but it does happen until 5pm regularly.

Quitting with no realistic prospect of finding a role in the field I love on part time hours seems a bad move.

What do I do?

@dasparky

Please do…I’m really open to ideas at the moment!

@JugglingWithEggs Father here, not a mother, but can identify. From our experience here, some (not all!) of it comes down to bosses - like does yours have kids?
We've been lucky to have jobs that have been flexible, and I went freelance, but changing job/approach depends on resources, experience, planning etc of course.
I'm assuming you're working remotely?

@scribe

My boss has grown up kids…she had them in the 90’s, but had extended family nearby to help. I only have elderly frail in-laws who live half an hour away.

When I work late it’s from home, but I’ve already been into the office and back 20 miles away.

Working freelance would mean consultancy and that’s not really my bag.

@JugglingWithEggs "I worked until 8.30pm tonight - I’m only paid until 2.30pm." feels like a big red warning flag in general - do you get TOIL or anything in return if you don't get overtime? If the org isn't serious about looking after you, I'd definitely be looking at exit plans. What industry are you in? Are you in contact with people in the same industry/field outside of the org at all?