Been through most of the variations of working. Very long days, day shift, night shift, working away etc Each transition was hard to deal with, but we eventually got through it all. DH now works a normal 8:15 to 5:00 week, with no overtime and only the occasional night away. It is so much better for all of us. It is good to have him home of a reasonable hour of an evening. He is able to help with the kids, help with dinner if need be, actually stop at the shop on the way home.

I was always very torn when he did the night shift, whilst I really liked the late night to myself and the bed to me (DH is a terrible snorer, so I do sleep better with him not there) I hated the having to be quiet when he was sleeping during the day. To me it was like I lost half a day, as there was nothing I could do in the house and I had to keep DD1 quiet. I hated being in my own house during that time and I only had limited places to go during the day.

DH knew the shift work, working away etc was just not good for us. I felt like a single parent and DD1 barely knew him. He chopped and changed so much we could never plan and had difficulty setting up a good night time routine for DD1. He made the decision to find a job that did not have such time pressures. Things have improved, DD1's sleep is so much better. DH's health whilst not fantastic is better than it was.