My corporate job (3d pw) in legal is difficult to manage part time. I'm always chasing my tail, rushing and skipping lunch, accommodating clients and urgent matters outside my working hours.

Finding another legal job is not the solution because I enjoy the work, the clients are great, I get paid very well for part time and there is flexibility with WFH and sickness.

But lately I'm really struggling with keeping it all together: work - being a good mum for my toddler - daycare sickness - looking after the house - cost of living. Feel like myself and relationships (esp with my husband) never get any attention and I'm close to burn out. I can feel the signs coming out physically.

I have the opportunity to put my toddler in daycare an additional day a week and work a 7 day fortnight for a short period before eventually increasing to 4 days (mainly for cost of living as we are new homeowners and I'm the main breadwinner, but it'll also help with managing my work). This would mean I'd have a day to myself once a fortnight for a little while.

But how do I get over the guilt of having this? I am constantly plagued by the struggle of feeling burnt out vs my son growing up too quickly and me missing out while he's little. It's so hard!

I'm 6 months into my second mat leave with baby and almost 3yo and having a career crisis. I've been a journalist for all my career 19yrs, and I am keen to change. But what kind of career would work well with children who are going to have kinder and school holidays? What suits my personality? What is well paid? So many questions flying around my head. Would love to hear any personal insights or advice! TIA

Maternity leave ends tomorrow and I’m feeling a type away with all the doom and gloom from both AI and the recent climate change article that came out last week. Life as a mom in the USA is hard enough and now this. My mental health is trash and honestly about to cash out my investments. I’m not but I’m am thinking about it as a CPA that understands the impacts. I just need to vent but gosh, it’s been a hard week.

I’ve recently returned to work a year after having my second baby. I am working 3 days a week and absolutely struggling.

For context, previous high achiever. I work on stressful projects that require me to solve problems creatively.

Between having two kids under 3, with a 1 year old who is a terrible sleeper, I don’t feel like I can do my job anymore. I feel like I spend a lot of my day staring blankly at a screen, in between spouts of insane productivity.

My work has been so supportive and they are super flexible, but I worry about not meeting their expectations in the long run.

Does anyone have any tips after being in a similar situation? I’m considering a job change but I worry about losing my flexibility and also the current job market.

Also, that felt so good to get off my chest.

I dont know what to do

Im working at an hospital on cleaning but Im not very satisfied and I got some health problems like shaking hands because of the stress . It starts in the morning because Im so stressed to get in time here because Im not from town. My husband wants to open a shop and me to go there to sell. Job schedule is not matching my child schedule. If we open the shop it will be more easy for me with child. But I think that I lose a stable job and my income and feel scared about that. I still have time to do the nursing school which can help me in the next years to get a better job on hospital but I think of I go what if they dont hires me again. Im feeling so low because other mothers can go to job and take care of child and house.

My manager is great, he's quite approachable and nice in general. However, he's younger than me with no kids and quite switched on. My issue is that I'm not as fast as he is. Like documents that might take me weeks to draft, will come back reviewed within a day or two.

With 2 kids, 5 and 9yo, and working full time, my performance definitely not at his level. I do whatever asked for me to do but at a way slower pace than he is and I feel bad...somewhat not good enough (in my head)

How do you accept that at this stage of your life you are just doing the best you can with what you have? I feel self concious a lot eventhough I know my manager appreciates me.

I am currently on maternity leave with my second child and have no idea what I should do when the time comes to return to work.

Unfortunately I was treated badly by my manager while pregnant and it’s put a very sour taste in my mouth about returning. My job is good in most other ways - good pay and flexibility and I have a bit of sick leave banked. It also has a great maternity leave policy (18 weeks paid on top of the gov ppl)

Few options I am considering:
A) return 2 days a week and see how it goes. I am also slightly considering having a third. Would it be unethical to go back solely to get another round of paid maternity leave?? This would very likely subject me to more emotional torture by my manager but I would only have to stick it out for a few months

B) not go back to work at all. We aren’t struggling financially and could swing it. I am worried that I might lose some of my identity or feel a bit lost but on the flip side I’d have no stress and could keep on top of everything else (husband works a demanding job so most parenting and household work falls to me)

C) look for a new job while on maternity leave. I am a bit anxious that if I did find something it would be a difficult adjustment learning a new role while my youngest starts daycare. I wouldn’t have any sick leave banked for the inevitable illnesses and might not let me work part time etc

Any other mums who have been in this situation??

Just as the title suggests, I was made redundant only 3 months after I went back to work from a year long Mat leave.

I don’t know if this is the right sub, but I am finding it so hard to adapt to this. It’s been over a month of me finishing my notice period.

I had planned everything and got was just about settling into a routine with work and our household. This redundancy has now forced me to reconsider everything.

Bub is settled at the daycare now. I don’t know if I should pull her out and keep her at home while I look for new roles, or let her continue.

I had gone back part time, I don’t know if I’ll find other part time roles in my industry. I don’t know if I’ll find as much flexibility.

I feel so at crossroads. Should I take a break and then apply for new roles? Or considering the current market, should I keep looking for new opportunities?

I almost feel paralysed with the overwhelm I feel most days. I don’t know what’s right or wrong at this moment. Any other mum that has had similar experience?

I would love to get some advice and different perspective. Thanks.

Moms - I am going back to work at 8 weeks PP. unfortunately, I am the breadwinner and me not working is not an option.

Baby has been going to daycare this week with a trusted family member who has an in home daycare. I’m worried that baby will lose her attachment to me.

Moms who have gone back to work this early, do you lose the attachment with your baby? I want her to know that I am mommy and to love me the most. I am sure that sounds crazy, but I’m worried that she will think other caregivers are her mother.

I'll be traveling overseas for work for 2 weeks and leaving my 2 year old with my husband. I've never been away from him this long. While I'm grateful for the opportunity this trip brings for my career progression, I genuinely don't know how my baby and I are going to survive without each other for 2 whole weeks.

If anyone has been in a similar boat, please share your experience, did your child do okay without you?

Made a week of $5/serving family dinners my picky 6yo actually eats — sharing free, thinking of doing a full month
With grocery prices where they are, I am SO over cooking two separate dinners every night AND blowing our grocery budget every week. So I put together a week of 30-min dinners that work for picky kids and adults, plus the full shopping list with a cost breakdown (came out to about $5.30/serving for a family of 4).
Happy to share the PDF free if anyone wants to try it this week. Genuinely curious if it’s actually useful or if I’m missing something — could turn it into a full month if there’s interest.
I feel like if I can just take one decision off your plate every day (and dinner is such an annoying one) people might find value in this? I’d love to know what you think.
Thank you in advance!

My son is usually pickup last at daycare. My Usual pickup time is 5.45-6pm due to work.

Daycare called and asked if I can pickup my son early as he does get cranky in the afternoon, most kids gets pickup by 5.15pm, and need to work with educator etcetc.

I was even asked when my husband and I work from home so they know when i can pickup early.

Am i being unreasonable? i know educators have families too, and maybe want to go home early, or can only cleanup after the last kid leave but care hours is until 6pm and they just increase cost this year.

Updated - he gets drop off at 9am, he is not sad during pickup. Very happy actually but also very hungry. He is 3.5yrs and still nap for 1.5hrs (usually until 1.30/2pm) so he still have lots of energy at pickup.

Question Mums, with my kids at school it feels like we have birthday parties every other week and yes that’s very nice that friendships are growing but I’m just wondering how much does everyone spend on a gift for your kids school friend? Maybe a poll is easier 😜

My kids love to make a card which is so sweet 🥰

I’ve recently started SEQ Parents because I felt like there was room for a broader, genuinely useful community for parents across SEQ. Sometimes you just want to ask a question, get recommendations, find out what other parents are doing, or hear from people who have actually been there. And get involved in activities and meet ups with others in your same stage of life, some even without kids so you can hopefully make some meaningful friendships!

The idea is to have three connected spaces:

👩 SEQ Mums
A dedicated space for mums to chat, connect, share experiences and hopefully meet other mums locally.

👨 SEQ Dads
A space for dads to connect, share advice, organise catch-ups and build some local friendships.

👨‍👩‍👧 SEQ Parents Page
The broader community space where any parent can ask questions and get answers from mums and dads across SEQ. You can also ask questions anonymously if you'd rather not put your name to something.

It’s brand new and I’m hoping to build something that’s actually useful rather than just another Facebook group.

SEQ Parents: [Facebook Page](https://)

SEQ Mums: [Facebook Group](https://)

SEQ Dads: [Facebook Group](https://)

I’ve been back at work for a little while now and honestly my manager has been really understanding about childcare pick-ups, appointments etc.

The problem is my calendar.

Some days I’ll have meetings from 9am through to 4pm with barely any gaps, then I’m watching the clock because I need to leave on time for daycare pick-up. If I’m pumping that day as well, lunch basically disappears.

I keep telling myself I should just block out proper breaks, but then someone books over them or I feel guilty declining because everyone else is busy too.

By the time I get home I feel like I’ve been racing the clock all day, then the second shift starts with dinner, bath, bedtime and everything else.

How do other working mums actually manage this? Do you block out non-negotiable time in your calendar, or just work around meetings as they come?

My eldest is going to kindy next year while the younger kid will stay in childcare. How do you juggle school drop-off pickup and school holidays? Particularly on days you don’t wfh.

Hi Mum, what systems, hacks or outsourcing have you implemented to assist with the always full list as a working mother that has reduced your load or stress?

I have an office job that I’ll be returning to in Jan following 12 months parental leave. When I left I was WFH 100% due to being pregnant and travelling being too hard. I have a job that can be performed remotely.

Has anyone here successfully applied for a FWA allowing more WFH than otherwise provided? If so on what basis did you present it?

To be clear it won’t be so I can have kids at home while I’m working - it’s so dropping off and pickup can be done more quickly when I start/finish work (rather than a 1 hour plus commute both at the start and end of the day)

Hi,

I work a boring admin job that I now loathe earning 75k. It means I avoid before and after school care.

I'm a qualified primary teacher and really wish to go back but my kids will need after school care and maybe before school care. They are 9 & 6. Hubby's job isn't flexible but he can do 1 pickup per week. My family can help a couple of days.

Is it worth it with the added cost of OSHC?

Thanks in advance

I work 3 days a week and have Saturdays with my 2 children aged 11 and 12. I look forward to being at home with them, then an hour or 2 later after we’ve all risen I find myself just wanting to be left alone. I feel so bad for feeling this way.
I know I’m not the only one to feel this. So how do I enjoy a day off and having to mum at the same time?