As many of you know, I have my own private practice and can pick and chose the days/hours I work. Now, my rent is the same regardless of whether I work 1 hour or 100 hours/week. So, it doesn't make sense for me to work less than about 8 hours/week (that covers rent and about one day worth of childcare).

Things have been going increasingly well with my practice and I'm about as busy as I want to be working the two days I work.

Anyway. Currently, I work 8-8 on Mondays (which means the boy goes 12 hours without me and has to be kept up a bit late so that I can nurse him before bed) and 10-8 on Tuesdays (pretty much same consequences). AND, as others may have observed, I'm getting quite concerned about my husband's health related to the manner in which he eats when he gets to pick and the amount of stress involved in his job (his response to my saying I'd like to send lunch with him: "sometimes the only happy thing in my work day is thinking about what I'm going to get for lunch"). Essentially, two late nights is not working for my family - my husband and my baby - even if it originally seems as if it would have the least impact as I'd be home the rest of the week.

So, I'm thinking of moving to M-W. I have to have one late evening - primarily for couples. So, I was thinking of M 8-3, T 10-8, and W 8-3. That gives me 20 hours/week which is actually less than my current, AND I'd have to pay an extra day for childcare for the boy (the girl is already in preschool on those days).

But, then I start to think about my workout schedule and I get sad because I could still workout on Tuesday, but Wednesday would be near impossible. So, would you work M 8-5 and then W 10-3 in order to get the extra workout in?

That isn't my only question. How does that look? Or, in the fall when girlie starts Kindergarted, would it be even better to move to a M-F schedule along the lines of M, W, Th, F 9-2 and T 10-8 (total of 30 hours) so that it's the same for the boy every day (he'll be 2 at the time) and only 5 hours/time with the exception of Tuesday. And, would allow for me to do things like keep the house clean and have a healthy, nutritious dinner on the table for dh 6 nighs/week and might be less stress for everyone.

Thoughts on how to balance my life? I can work as little or as much as I want, but I want my work to complement my home life and that includes about 9 hours of exercise/week, having hot, healthy meals at home for the family, keeping the house a place of healing and peace, but at the same time being able to earn enough $$ to do extras like travel, fun classes fo the kids, the gym for all of us, organic food on the table, etc.

Figure my operating expenses costs me about 15 hrs/month. Childcare for the little buddy is about 2 hrs/day (I do not get a price break if he is there for 5 hrs vs. 9 hrs - makes no difference, it is only by the day).

That's long. But, this is a big deal. Thanks!

I need to think on this, so I am coming back here later.


I am very interested in this because I am in a similar spot...I currently have two days a week (not as long as yours right now) and can increase if I want. I also can pick and choose hours and days. Currently I am Thurs/Sat. Sat is because Dh does childcare for me that day and I only have to worry about one day. This isn't ideal however for our family as it cuts way into fun day. I have one in kg next fall and one will be just 3. The oldest will be starting middle school. I am contemplating day care for the 3yo for school hours if we can't pull it together financially. We have only house debt, but our savings is shrinking. We need to get some more in savings by the fall or try and figure how much I can work and still run the home/take care of myself. I am also anticipating the older kids needing me more with one starting school and one starting MIDDLE school....I want to be available for them! Finding part time daycare is a pita, too. My one day outside the home right now is MIL and she can be unreliable due to health.

Be back after I spend some time mulling all this over!

whew...processing.

i think i need to read it again.

personally..i like having consistency. so my first thought is to do it so that you can have as much consistency as possible.

be back after i re read.

I think overall less hours per day but more days per week would be the best bet - but more costly because of childcare issues-

I think both kids would get into a routine of mom goes to work/they go to school- etc - and no one has to go 12 hours without seeing each other!

It will still be hard the one night you need to work late, but in the long run I think would keep things on a more even keel-

Catherine

My gut instinct says that less hours/more days would be better. I know personally, really long days kill me, I'd much rather work shorter days. I'd also like shorter days for dc's as opposed to fewer really long ones.

hmmmm. . . something to really think about. more, but shorter days would make everything smoother around here, but it would also be a bit more expensive. But, I think it will likely be the direction in which we head (maybe a M-Th would be best so that I can still have one full day with the little buddy).

Thanks!

how abt 10-3 mon wed and thurs, 10-7 or 8 tuesday (i am assuming that this is becuase you have some clients that can only do evenings???)

Less hours with more days if you can find a child care situation which will do half day rates. They must be out there in your area. Maybe a 'babysitter' paid per hour vs other things.

I do guess you need some evening hours for clients who work 9-5 and can't make mid-day appointments.

I love working four mornings a week more than any other schedule I have ever had!

how abt 10-3 mon wed and thurs, 10-7 or 8 tuesday (i am assuming that this is becuase you have some clients that can only do evenings???)

yup. If I go to just days right now, I give up almost all couples (and I LOVE doing marital therapy - it might be my favorite).

But, I think the schedule you suggest is EXACTLY what I think I'm going to do. That's 25 hrs work, I get mornings to workout, I get one evening, there's mostly consistency, and I get Fridays at home with my little buddy.

Unfortunately, I can't really start it probably for a couple of months simply due to finances, but I'm thinking that that's going to be my schedule.

Less hours with more days if you can find a child care situation which will do half day rates. They must be out there in your area. Maybe a 'babysitter' paid per hour vs other things.

I do guess you need some evening hours for clients who work 9-5 and can't make mid-day appointments.

I love working four mornings a week more than any other schedule I have ever had!

Part of it is the evening clients, but, I'm working on this as well because one of the reasons I picked this field is that I can work my hours around my family. Right now I'm still building a practice and I'm only two years post licensure (even though I've been working in the field for almost 14 years) so there are a few insurance panels I cannot yet join. Meaning, new private practioners can't always be choosers.

I'm getting trained to do neurotherapy (which is awesome and totally makes incredible changes). Part of the reason I'm going in this direction is that there are very few practitioners who do it, insurance does not cover it, and it is very hot. My colleague (former supervisor) who works in the same building and with whom we cross refer clients constantly, does it. He is booked for months out and desperately wants me to get trained so that he can off load people. He's certain that I'll be as busy as I care to be for as many hours as I care to be working with people who pay cash up front (this is good). So, hopefully in a year or so I'll be in a position where I can financially drop my evening hours. Then, M-Th 9-3 will be the way to go.

Thanks mamas! This has totally helped.

I was too slow, sorry! Sounds like you got great advice. I personally was going to suggest longer days, lol! I think that is what will work for me, but I get why you would rather do the other. My long days will just be 8-3. Yours are much longer so I think that changes things. Good luck!