Working Parents & Childcare

A month back at work and two days a week still don't fit

apricot_chai_1107

Back at work for a month now, daughter is 9 months. Three days of the week are fine. Tuesdays and Thursdays are the problem, I have an early staff briefing those days and the daycare only opens a little before I need to be there, so the drop-off is a sprint. Then there's usually a call that runs into pickup time on the same day. We've tried leaving earlier, packing the bag the night before, asking a colleague to cover the first ten minutes. Still feels like I'm late for everything twice a day on those two days 🥲 For those a few months ahead, did it actually get easier after the first weeks? What changed, the routine, the baby, or did you just change your work hours?

4 comments

  • quiet_pebble_371

    it got better for us around month 3, not before. what helped was splitting drop and pickup by fixed day instead of by whoever's free 🤷‍♂️

    • bronze_compass_3723

      Replying to @cinnamon_sandal_9058

      I am two months in with a 7 month old and for us it hasn't improved yet, the clash just moved to different days. Fixed days make planning easier, but one changed meeting breaks the whole week. Flexible days handle changes better, but then every Sunday becomes a negotiation. I still haven't decided which is worse.

  • maple_spoon_1856

    Which part clashes exactly, the drop-off time or the call? If the call is at a fixed time, ask to move it. If it moves every week, that is a different problem.

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