Working Mummies Support Group

Hi Crumpet - yes the kinder hours are so awkward -if I end up going back full-time we had thought about private ELC because actually works out same as daycare cost wise for five days, but as would still have DS in daycare that would be awkward, plus I like the more play based approach of the daycare center (and they wouldn't go to the private primary or high schoool as finances wouldn't allow). I am still trying to decide if is worth putting name down for any 4 year old kinders - in case I don't have a job next year (my current contract is only till July) - because maybe if didn't have a job then would ditch some of the childcare and do that.

Veus - I currently have the opposite situation - work is way too demanding of my brain power and time at the moment - the days are just too long - dropping the kids off at 7:30 and picking up at 17:45 by time home just have no time. I think after this contract may try to get shorter hours just an hour less would be great - problem is unlikely to get an hour less and more money and CC fees are the same whatever time pick them up. Sometimes I think five days a week but just till 3:00 would be my preference but again the CC fees don't make that a good option.

I have in the past had periods where felt I was just killing time and not being very productive (one of those times was when part-time) - not sure I have any advice apart from a colleague did say to me that everyone has times like that whether full-time or part-time and not to place too much stock in the thoughts that I was being given the less fun stuff to do because I was part-time. Luckily for me I seem to be able to get enjoyment from most roles if I try hard enough (practice from when I worked in a factory on a production line every summer through uni). I also suppose when I was part-time before I knew it wasn't forever because I knew was planning on having a number 2. Now maybe it would be different.

A question - how do people deal with competing requirements from your and DH jobs? E.g. I do drop off, and DH does pick up - but if DH has to work late or something then I have to do both - meaning I have to leave early. So far it hasn't been too big a deal but I can see it becoming a problem - if one of the kids is sick at the moment DH would probably take day off, because I am a contractor so if I don't work I don't get paid (and still have to pay CC fees) - but as his job ramps up then that might not be so easy. Prior to kids - my job was the one that always took precedence because that earn't the money - and he didn't like his anyway - but now he is finally in the field he wants to be and likes his job. If only places were less focused on what you do rather than how long you are in the office.

DH is full-time, so really his job takes precedence. Money wise it brings in the most. I was fortunate enough to find part-time work that fits with school hours (but not kinder :wall:). So do the drop offs and pick up on the way to and from work.
We share the load with sick days thankfully and he will often take some annual leave during school holidays to help out.

its such a difficult decision, but we have just thrown ourselves another spanner in the works by deciding to try for number 2 at the end of the year, so DD will probably stick to child care's kinder program now.

has anyone got 2 kids and work full time?

im thinking ill take 6 months off whenever i have number 2 so they will both go to child care but work is flexible.
ill get a return to work bonus of 3 months wages which i can choose to get in a lump sum to offset child care fees or i can choose to work say 3 or 4 days a week and still be paid full time.
im not sure what option to take!

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its such a difficult decision, but we have just thrown ourselves another spanner in the works by deciding to try for number 2 at the end of the year, so DD will probably stick to child care's kinder program now.

has anyone got 2 kids and work full time?

im thinking ill take 6 months off whenever i have number 2 so they will both go to child care but work is flexible.
ill get a return to work bonus of 3 months wages which i can choose to get in a lump sum to offset child care fees or i can choose to work say 3 or 4 days a week and still be paid full time.
im not sure what option to take!

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In terms of the lump sum vs 3 or 4 days a week - you would have to do the calculations - but with the child care rebate cap you basically get rebate for 3 ish days the other two days you pay full fees - so your fees for 3 to 4 days will be far less than 5 days - so that accompanied by getting the day or two at home I would probably go for the part-time - depends on the figures really and how much you need the money. Of course they might up the rebate cap between now and you needing to decide or other childcare things could change due to election so calculations now might not be true about the future.

I don't work full-time officially but I have worked some full-time weeks on this contract (my mum is over from UK so fills in the two days where I don't have childcare) which is up in July, after that I may need to look at full time again. At the moment though financially I am not sure is beneficial working full time from a money perspective because of the full time childcare fees for two (41K) and also I really dislike not the fact they are at childcare everyday as such but the rushing around and so little home time because of it (e.g. we leave home at 7:15ish, we get home 18:00). Maybe if I can sort shorter hours 5 days a week and come up with some way of reducing amount spend on childcare then that would work better. Or if I could find a job with very short travel time.

Astrid - You see I earn same as DH even though I am part time to his full time - but I am contracting so doesn't directly equate anyway - also it has taken him a long time to get into the area he has and he always used to take the back seat to my job, so on the one hand I feel it is his turn to put his first but need to balance that against the need for money and contracting you are expected to put in your daily hours and then some in most roles. Also his role is only till end of Q1 2015. I hadn't even considered school holidays and what will do then. It makes my brain hurt trying to work out what will work best all round - July isn't that far away and I want to make sure I do the right thing.

Double post

BD: I'm contemplating change too.

BD & Veus - Just changing jobs or changing career? Interested to hear - before I got current contract was trying to work out what else could do - so always interested in hearing other peoples thought processes.

Have enjoyed my Friday at home today, Tuesday my other day at home the kids were feral and more than once I wished I was at work - but today has been good mostly. I have got a few weeks when mum is back beginning of May will prob have to do four days, am trying to decide whether working Friday or Tuesday is better - think maybe Friday as less interruptions at work - and get Sat and Sun with the kids anyway.

Crumpet: I haven't even dare to start thinking abt kinder. Eeks!

Wysiwyg: conflicting requirements. DH has always said he'd be happy to stay at home with bub. But since he gets paid more than I do, it's not feasible. However I'm actually the more career driven one prior to bub. I anticipate when I'm ready he'll be happy to take a more flexible role that would suit us.

In relation to the career change / change jobs. It's more change job. Even though thoughts of changing career has been popping up a bit, I'm just refusing to entertain it at the moment coz it just seems too much effort. Also I can't work out what I want to do, yeah too hard basket at the moment. But I'll let u know if I get a lightbulb moment. :)

Just want to sense check something - things like childcare benefit are worked out based just on income right - they don't take into account the fact that your income may be higher because you are a contractor and therefore theoretically are being paid more to cover no leave entitlements etc???

I am trying to work out what to do post July - and DS is sick with hand foot and mouth - and has really brought home to me the issues with contracting - e.g. if I don't work I don't get paid but still have to pay for the childcare (As this week is short week due to Anzac looks like DH can take tomorrow and probably Wednesday off, and he already had Thur Fri off so not too problematic this week). So now I am trying to work out whether I would be better off being permanent (if I could get that) - overall income would be less but then would get some/more CCB plus get entitlements more security etc - or how much more I should try get if I do another contract - to make sure I am covered for these things.

On average how many days do you think you or your DH takes off a year due to child sickness? I reckon 5 between us per year so far (all with HFM!), but a friend said that seemed low?

I understand there are different ways of contracting - and at the moment really I am just like a PAYG through a contract house because that was quickest/easiest at the time - but maybe I should have done it differently.

Just want to sense check something - things like childcare benefit are worked out based just on income right - they don't take into account the fact that your income may be higher because you are a contractor and therefore theoretically are being paid more to cover no leave entitlements etc???

I am trying to work out what to do post July - and DS is sick with hand foot and mouth - and has really brought home to me the issues with contracting - e.g. if I don't work I don't get paid but still have to pay for the childcare (As this week is short week due to Anzac looks like DH can take tomorrow and probably Wednesday off, and he already had Thur Fri off so not too problematic this week). So now I am trying to work out whether I would be better off being permanent (if I could get that) - overall income would be less but then would get some/more CCB plus get entitlements more security etc - or how much more I should try get if I do another contract - to make sure I am covered for these things.

On average how many days do you think you or your DH takes off a year due to child sickness? I reckon 5 between us per year so far (all with HFM!), but a friend said that seemed low?

I understand there are different ways of contracting - and at the moment really I am just like a PAYG through a contract house because that was quickest/easiest at the time - but maybe I should have done it differently.

Days of DD off sick - very dependent on the year. We had a year where it was nothing, but last year she had at one whole week off at a time, as well as a few other days. DD was at day care 5 days a week, but DH is a teacher so she had every holidays off which may have helped with reducing illness.

If you're being paid as a contractor, your income would be higher because of the no leave entitlements - but if you had days off for sickness where you're not getting paid (say 10 a year if you were FT), wouldn't the wage allow for that? So yes, your daily rate is higher, but works out to be the same over the year (unless you had no leave/sickness).

As for who looks after her when she's sick, it usually falls to me for the first day. As DH is a teacher, he has to give plenty of notice and can't walk out if she comes down with something in the middle of the day. If it's going to be more than one day, we try and alternate, with lots of emails in the afternoon discussing if we think she'll be right the next day.

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If you're being paid as a contractor, your income would be higher because of the no leave entitlements - but if you had days off for sickness where you're not getting paid (say 10 a year if you were FT), wouldn't the wage allow for that? So yes, your daily rate is higher, but works out to be the same over the year (unless you had no leave/sickness).

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Yes the rate would work itself out somewhat at the end of the year if have the days off - is more the impact on cash-flow I am trying to work out, as that higher rate impacts the CCB level and as childcare is main expense - until we have some sort of buffer in place maybe permanent would work better.

My DH is a full time dad, so I basically never take time off on account of the kids being sick.

I did once when DS1 was in and out of hospital (turned out to not be anything too serious, but there was 48 hours of tests and paeds and terrifying unknown) and DH needed me.

I have taken a day or so off too, when DH has been sick and unable to look after the kids.

When DH was working though (for about 9 of the 20 months between babies!) he probably took 10 days leave because DS1 was sick. His work actually gave him a really hard time about it.

Douchebags.

I work full time and am lucky enough to have boys in school now. Beforehand, it was really hard working out daycare, Poppycare (thank goodness for my Dad!) kinder and school. Particularly when I lived 20 mins from the school.

I've now moved house and am 14 houses from the school. Means the boys walk up with my Dad - I get to walk to the station, and everyone is happy.

(I'm also single, so no partner's income or any issues like that, and am lucky enough to earn enough that I don't have FTB/CCB issues either, although when the kids were younger that was an issue.)

I can't take days off for sick kids - and am effectively a "contractor" so don't get leave, sick pay, carers leave or anything else. If I don't work, I don't get paid. And I do a lot of after hours work too. It's really hard to juggle everything. When I moved, I also got a cleaner and a gardener. Life is now fabulous.

It's much easier when the kids are in school, the hours are regular and everything is predictable. Until they start after school activities like footy, cricket, basketball....

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It's much easier when the kids are in school, the hours are regular and everything is predictable. Until they start after school activities like footy, cricket, basketball....

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I'm actually finding the opposite - we don't have access to before school care, so I can't drop DD off until 8:30. I'm lucky to get to work before 9, whereas when it was a day care drop off I was able to get there at 8:15.

I've got a pretty flexible workplace. So far I think I've taken abt 4 days off due to DD being sick (abt 8months worth of work). DH hasn't coz he can't put her down for nap so it has to be me. But when she's ok, I catch up on work at night or when she's down for naps. I've actually got time in lieu to use too from extra work.

im really lucky with my work as well, they are very flexible and have a strong belief in work/family life balance so if my DD is unwell, then they are rushing me out the door to be with her!

DH is self employed so generally i pick up the slack wheh DD is sick but when i need him to he steps up no complaints.
we also have flexible working hours so as long as i do my 7.25 hrs a day i can start and finish when i like

I'm lucky there too. Completely different when you work for a small business. Family & school are number one for my boss. I take DD with me every day, but I've had both her & DS with me sick & was told to take them home :lol: Its only me, so I'm not exposing anyone else to the sickness, so depends on how they are. Since they both slept for 3 hours I was able to get my work done quicker & get out earlier.

I'm only a casual worker. So no sick pay etc here. But I don't do school holidays :) I have no one who can care for the kids (no day care, after school, holiday care at all) & even though I could probably take them all with me, this way I still get to do camping trips or whatever. I've let them know I'll still come in any time they need me though.

I'm trying to organise for exSIL to come stay in Aug/Sept to be my nanny for a few weeks. We have a huge agricultural thing on here & the caravan park where I work put out an extra 70 odd beds around town for workers to stay in. So I'll be doing full time for about 3 weeks & will need someone here. She's 20 & still at home not really doing anything other than a few hours work at the local pub a week, so I think it'd be good for her to get out & kind of leave home for a bit. Her mum agrees :lol:

Better go start getting my house back together since I've done nothing for 2 days...