https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 07:38:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2808158 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 21:03:59 +0000 YogiRunner 2808158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBucky: yes! I feel like I will get sucked into doing work right after s/he is born.... I have a hard time saying no. And I'm having conversations now with a few organizations about picking up work, knowing I'll have to be done with it all within 5 months. It's tough. But I think the closer we get to our due dates the more the answer and next steps will become clear!</p> <p>Wall me anytime btw! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2808152 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:55:33 +0000 mamabolt 2808152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ideal would be to cut back to 75% (6 hr days). This would give me the breathing room to keep my house in order, run errands, have a little leisure time, and pick kids up earlier and would work better once they’re in FT grade school too. I will probably ask for this schedule in 3 years when DS starts K. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2808135 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 19:13:09 +0000 travellingbee 2808135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a pretty ideal schedule. I work m-th 745-345. And summers/holidays off. I make crap for money but I really like this schedule and at least I have insurance and a pension. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2808041 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 12:13:09 +0000 kiddosc 2808041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: That would really be awesome! </p> <p>I hadn't considered a shorter day in at PT schedule, but I really like that idea now that several of you bring it up. It's so hard to try to cram everything in after 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2808040 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 12:01:17 +0000 Mamaof2 2808040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have my ideal right now - I work 9-3:30- so only while kids are in school - I love it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2808039 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 11:52:03 +0000 JLC53 2808039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been really thinking about this with our second baby on the way. I work right now M-F 8am-4pm. I really with I could work only 4 days a week 8am-4pm. The extra day I would keep my kids still at daycare and do all the things I cram into weekends. Like grocery shop, run errands, clean the house, etc... I feel then my weekends would be more family focused and less trying to get stuff done. It would give me more time to spend with my kids. I don't know if my work will go for it though... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807965 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 09:20:03 +0000 MarieJ 2807965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted stay at home; however, I just went part time and it works for now. My job is stressful, so I'm not sure how long it'll last! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807837 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:30:18 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2807837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FT with flexibility to work from home as I needed. I have some of that now with being able to work from home twice/week, but my boss is single with no kids, so she doesn't always understand when I have to take off for them. </p> <p>It's super important to me to work though. DH and I split everything 50/50, so work should be the same. I enjoy what I do, and I love that my boys grow up seeing that caretaking is both parents' job, not just mom's. Just like working is both parents' job, not just dad's. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807835 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:25:26 +0000 Mrs. Peas 2807835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBucky: I need a "figure it out" buddy too! I currently work full time in an office, and I mostly enjoy/ appreciate it. I make a good income, have decent flexibility, and get a break from my kids who I love (but I have 3 boys under 5 so hopefully people understand why a break may be nice ha). BUT I find myself wanting a different arrangement and feeling a little selfish for complaining or not being happy with my current one which on paper seems OK. I feel like I can't succeed at or be fully invested in either of my roles, and I would like the opportunity to put my family/ home first for a change. Anyhow I have lots more thoughts on this topic but eeeps have to run to a work meeting! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807753 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 11:19:11 +0000 cascademom 2807753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine would be full time working, but with 3 days a week WFH. I manage all of the family stuff as well as working. Being home for bus drop offs as well as therapy appointments is what I need. Going into the office 3 days a week doesn't help right now. I need more balance/time at home to manage it all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807749 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 11:12:41 +0000 MrsBucky 2807749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiRunner: Can we be "figure it out together" buddies? I'm doing contract work now also (my LO goes to school 5 days/week, so I shoot for 20 hours/week) and am due with #2 in September. I'm actively ignoring the fact that I need to figure something out. Luckily I'm close enough to my boss that she already knows about the pregnancy and is 100% on board with figuring something out together.... but it's still damn hard, especially since I negotiated a 6 month leave last time, so I don't want this baby to get the short end of the mama stick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807706 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 09:40:38 +0000 lilyofthewest 2807706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have worked a ton of different schedules and types of work. For some types of work, FT was fine. For the healthcare work, I do know, working FT isn't sustainable for my physical or mental health. </p> <p>I feel happiest when I'm working either 3 or 4 days a week with a max of 10h per shift and max of 32h per week. </p> <p>The downside is that the only way I can get that schedule is working PRN with no sick/vacation/retirement benefits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807705 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 09:33:00 +0000 YogiRunner 2807705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now, my little one goes to daycare 2x/week for a half day so I can do contract work from home. It really works for us and I'm fortunate to be in this position. I'm not the happiest as a full-time SAHM, I love the experience he gets at "school", and I get to keep my professional identity and stay connected to my industry.</p> <p>However, we're due with #2 in October and I'm not sure what to do. I'd like to give myself a good maternity leave, but that also might mean missing out on work opportunities. I've also been recruited to possibly work full-time for an awesome organization, so need to make some decisions about throwing my hat in the ring (of course my due date throws a big wrench in these plans, it's too early to tell them!)</p> <p>I really wish more companies would treat each employees a real, whole person and understand the need for flex and part-time schedules. We shouldn't have to pick between being successful professionally and finding time to be with our families. The job I'm looking at claims to do so, which is super attractive to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807678 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:31:30 +0000 Ms. RV 2807678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love working. My ideal is definitely full time, but I wish I could do 80/9 so I could have every other Monday or Friday off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807677 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 04:14:13 +0000 Pumuckl 2807677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work PT (80%) and about 90% of my time I WAHM. I would love to be around grown-up people a little more but currently it is ideal because with 4 kids 4 and younger it really helps that I can just run a load of laundry between conference calls or the like.</p> <p>ETA: PT works for me because I have a set end each day because I need to pick the kids up at daycare. And I make a point of not working when the kids are in bed... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807420 Sat, 03 Mar 2018 11:01:11 +0000 DesertDreams88 2807420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: hahaha love your honesty! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807419 Sat, 03 Mar 2018 10:22:48 +0000 peaches1038 2807419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ideal would be a year paid maternity leave and then back to work 5 days/week 9-1ish. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807380 Sat, 03 Mar 2018 02:32:14 +0000 lamariniere 2807380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: this is basically me. Self-employed, I set my schedule. Occasionally I’m super busy and work nights and weekends, but the vast majority of the time, especially now that we’ve moved, I’m done by the time the kids get home from school. It works well for us because we live abroad with no family help and my DH has to travel internationally fairly frequently. We definitely need for one of us to be flexible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807360 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 21:37:25 +0000 MissKriss19 2807360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Stay at home for sure! I have zero desire to go back to work. Currently home with my 3 :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807350 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 20:18:07 +0000 Becky 2807350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would love to work 6 or 7 hour days. I think I could do 5 days a week if the hours were shorter (well I do 5 days now, but it’s 8.5 hours a day including one 30 minute unpaid lunch break). I think 8:30am-3:30pm would be perfect, ideally 3-4 days a week. I worked only 16 hours a week over 2 days for about a year and that was definitely not enough for me. I feel so much more productive on the days I come in at say 10:30am after having taken the kids to a morning doctors appointment (so 6.5 hours). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807330 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:59:38 +0000 gotkimchi 2807330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My work hours just got cut from 35 to 31 which I think is an ideal amount of hours for me it’s just not an ideal amount of money :silly: still trying to figure it out. I can tell you my wine budget has skyrocketed so it’s not going great so far </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status/page/2#post-2807323 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:42:15 +0000 youboots 2807323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a pretty ideal setup. I am a self employed photographer working part time hours, I book all my shoots/events/weddings and delivery times so it’s pretty self driven. I also have another very part time job/responsibility that will pick up in a few years. DD is in school 12-16 hours a week. DH has a pretty demanding career but works from home about 50% so he can back me up with school pick ups/drop offs and illness as needed. Photography is expensive and technology is always changing (I just bought a $2700 camera) so it would be nice to make a little more but I make a great hourly wage when I look at it that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status#post-2807313 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:10:23 +0000 MrsBucky 2807313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now I’m really grateful for consistent contract work for a start up, which right now is part time. It gives me flexibility to not work when I can’t without too much stress or guilt. I know this is a super privledged position- we can live on my husband’s salary, I was lucky to find his set up. I don’t think it will last forever or be the same, but I’m grateful for what it provides me now- some income, keeping my skills sharp/ relevant in my industry, but also a lot more mental bandwidth for the mental load I was carrying at home anyway. And more and better quality time with my son. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status#post-2807308 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:02:48 +0000 BadgerMom 2807308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What I’m doing right now, which is super flexible full time. It’s a small office and I work Monday thru Friday but I don’t really have set hours and am able to take off work when I need to for DS without issue. I was ready to go back to work after maternity leave so I don’t think I’d be cut out to stay home but I think I would find working a very strict 40 hour 8-5 job would be super difficult as well. Although I think my daily work hours and flexibility is ideal there are definitely downfalls to being in a small office, ie. no health insurance, no short term disability, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status#post-2807304 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:53:25 +0000 crazydoglady 2807304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would love to work part-time, but my work day is only 7:45-2:30 (I stay until 3) so I do feel pretty fortunate. I am also one of those rare teachers who almost never brings work home because I work through my lunch and prep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status#post-2807302 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:49:45 +0000 crazydoglady 2807302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: Word for word how I feel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status#post-2807301 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:47:50 +0000 Portboston 2807301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just went back to work (part time) after being a sahm for 2.5 years and I’m SO happy. My son goes to preschool two days a week so I work those two days. Usually 6 hours but sometimes 8. It gives me enough money to pay for school (a teeny bit extra but not much) and time apart from him (which is what I really needed) while still letting me be home with him majority of the time. I also went into a different field that I’ve been wanting to get into but didn’t have the experience for someone to hire me as a full time position. So it really worked out perfectly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status#post-2807299 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:42:42 +0000 Mama Bird 2807299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my coworkers just left to be with her kids too! I wish that was me :crying: </p> <p>I do like having income to contribute to the family budget, and my job is kind of nice... sometimes... so part time wouldn't be bad also. My workload has dropped because my department has been hiring, so I hope at some point they will ask me to cut my hours (I can't really take the initiative here, my family wouldn't understand and I don't need to hear their opinions). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status#post-2807297 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:36:22 +0000 thunderstorm 2807297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I currently work 65-70 hours every week because I'm still in training. I have a little over two years of this left. When I finish I have full intentions of working part-time. I will probably do shift work where I will work long hours for 7-10 days in a row and then be off the rest of the month. I can't wait! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-be-your-ideal-work-status#post-2807263 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 15:22:57 +0000 LadyDi 2807263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted part time because that would be ideal, but I’m about to become a SAHM. I’ve been unhappy with my job/career for awhile and while I’ve never had the desire to stay home, my dissatisfaction with my work is starting to really impact me and now that I’ve just had a baby I think it’s a good time to step back from that and think about what I want. I don’t think my current job could be part time, but I’m looking to leave the industry anyway. I’d love to find a part time gig at some point so I can still contribute financially, but I’m not interested in direct sales or multi level marketing. </p>