Part time schedule, would you rather ?

[Deleted]

H and I are using FLEX time to both work part time in January and February. This way we can keep dd out of daycare until Marchish. We work for the same organization (yes, I've confirmed that we BOTH can use 12 weeks of FLEX; 24 weeks total), so I'm trying to come up with a schedule that suits everyone.

There are a couple of weekly appointments that we both have to keep. H has a staff meeting Monday mornings. I teach as an adjunct on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:50am-noon. I have a work staff meeting Tuesday afternoon.

In thinking about this, I can't decide which is the better approach:

Option 1: H works Monday morning, I work Monday afternoon. I work all day on Tuesday (7:30am-10:30am work, 10:30am-12:30pm teach, 12:30pm-5:30pm work). H works Wednesday. I work all day Thursday (same schedule). H works Friday.

Option 2: way more variation, but generally with H working mornings and me working afternoons. H would work Monday mornings, I'd work Monday afternoons. Tuesdays I'd work 7:30am-10:30am, then teach from 10:30am-12:30pm, and go back to work from 12:30pm- 5:30pm. Wednesdays H would work the morning and I'd work the afternoon. Thursdays I'd work 7:30am-10:30am, then teach 10:30am-12:30pm, then go home so H could work the afternoon. Fridays H would work in the morning and I'd work in the afternoon.

Which would be easier on our family? I hate the idea of being away from the baby for so long on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but is it too hard to switch caretakers (it'll be my H and I) mid-day? It seems like Option 2 has a lot of moving parts and opportunities for something to go wrong; one of us stuck in a meeting, etc.

Which would you rather do?

[ijack]

How close are you to work? I would think it would be a PITA to have to switch back and forth. Full days would give you both more time to get things done.

[froggy76]

Option 1, definitely. Option 2 sounds way too complicated and it's less efficient because you need to allow for time for one of you to get home so the other can leave. You'll be away from the baby longer a couple days a week, but then on Wed and Fri you can just relax and not worry about having to rush off to work in the afternoons.

[Deleted]

We live about 10 minutes from work.

Good point about option 2 being less efficient due to the time necessary to switch off.

[baconlettucetomato]

I'd do option 1. We're looking at doing something similar and we agree that full days will work best.

[KaraOrNot]

Option one. I have a hard time getting things done if I an only in for a half day.