Working full time

I'm single so can't really answer for couples other than, if I was in a relationship I'd want to be working or back into the work force when my kids were in primary school. Not because I want expensive things, big mortgages, holidays etc
But as a protection for myself and my mental stimulation. Bread winners die, leave whatever and there are very little protections in place for the non working mother in those circumstances. The era of parenting payment until your kids leave home, or a widows pension has well and truly gone. The biggest growing group of homeless people are women who are recently separated in the 50+ age bracket who haven't worked fulltime. Alimony is very rarely awarded in divorce cases these days. So I always, always want to be able to financially support myself in a meaningful way.

My sister and her husband both work fulltime. They share everything equally. They take it in turns staying home with sick kids etc depending on who did last time and whose work day is more easily switched around etc. they do earn good money so they pay for big yard work, pool cleaning, and window cleaning. They have a house cleaner once a fortnight. Who ever is home first gets dinner on. They work as a team, but I think they are an unusually good team. I don't think most fathers are as hands on with housework and childcare but I think it's the way it should be done.

I've done full time work. I was part time for a year after my daughter but had to resign or go back full time so I went back full time.
I'd just like to say working full time sucks! I struggled so much full time keeping up with the house because j wanted my spare time to be about my daughter. I'm on a career break ATM and I don't think I'm going to return to full time work. It's too hard and part time I'll be in a similar position. It's just me and her so the time is precious and I love being able to do things with her. Yes money's tight but she never goes without. I always make sure she can do things ATM she's doing swimming and horse riding lessons. Going back full time I wouldn't be able to do these things.
Part time is a perfect work life balance and she will be going to kindy which makes it easier instead of 5 days in long daycare.

I work FT and so does my partner. At first I stayed home until our son was 4 then went straight to FT night shift work. It meant that care was minimal (and luckily we had grandma who was a SAHM) as our shifts didn't have huge overlaps. It also meant dad had to do the bath and dinner etc as I was at work and I did breakfast and (the following year) homework in the morning. Once my son was in mid-primary I transferred to morning shift so I was home in the early afternoon for school pick up. Then when he went to high school I got a promotion which puts my current hours at 7am-5pmish. We've been in the routine of cleaning as we go for so long now it's habit for all of us (dishes to the sink, towels hung up, washing to the laundry hampers, cleaning the toilet when you use it etc), dad does outside and son often helps - I burn to a crisp in 5 minutes of sunlight so I tend the garden beds in the early morning or late afternoon, son vacuums, I mop and dad cleans and oils the veranda, we each do our own washing and I wash the towels/bedding, I usually cook for two of us and son does dishes. Dad is very fond of beef and we are not so he often cooks for himself if he wants steak otherwise he'll have what we're having. Every weekend all 3 of us have a tidy up of the crap (unopened mail, jackets left on the backs of chairs, clean washing still in baskets, shoes left lying around - yeah this one's my bad, etc), dad and I take turns to clean out the fridge, son tidies the plastics cupboard, I tidy the pantry once a month, walls and light switches are spot cleaned on a big weekend clean up, son cleans windows (does a quarter of them each week so by the end of the month he's back to the start). For a while I was working 14-16 hours a day so I hired a cleaner to come in and pick up the slack from what I wasn't doing, other than that we make do on our own but it's a 3 person household with no hairy indoor pets. This house takes a lot of punishment before it looks like squatters have moved in. Meals are rarely take away as we're semi rural but they are convenient, things like stir frys with the frozen stir fry veggies, savoury mince or spag bol, casseroles/stews and tuna or chicken oven bakes. I have a slow cooker and a steamer and both are fantastic for getting dinner out on time. On Fridays our son makes food for himself and I have a night off cooking to relax with a bourbon. Why do I do it? Independance I guess is the main reason. We have a pretty small mortgage compared to most and neither of us are in more debt than your average 20K car. We live frugally and don't try to keep up with the Jonses. At first for me it was a menial job and I hated it, eventually I came out of my shell a bit and started making my own fun while being committed to doing the best job I could. Just when my body was buckling under the heavy labour and I was looking for a new challenge I was offered a new job in the company and loved it. I've found I have a head for logistics and I get a kick out of taking what looks like an impossible task and making it happen so everyone is happy, my flair got me another promotion to department manager so everyday is a new logistical nightmare and I thrive on it. Don't be made to feel you "have to" but if you're genuinely looking into it don't let fear hold you back.