Stuck on the Part-Time Track? One Mom Asks If There's a Way Out

Hi friends, there's been a lot of talk lately about part-time work. According to Germany's Federal Statistical Office, 29 percent of employed people in Germany worked part-time in 2024. That includes almost one in two women (49 percent) and 12 percent of men. When we asked on Instagram why you work part-time, the most common answer was: because of the kids.

Susanne just went back to work part-time after the birth of her second child, and she's asking herself: "Will I ever get out of this?"

The Part-Time Trap: Can I Ever Get Out?

My name is Susanne. My daughter is 3 and my son is 1, and a few weeks ago I went back to work part-time. I work at a dental office. My husband works construction, often away from home, and he's full-time. He and I have talked a lot about whether we could set things up differently, but he has to work full-time so we can cover our fixed monthly costs.

I'm glad to be back at work. I've always loved my job, and I need it. But I can already tell the load is seriously intense. I'm stretched between my job and my kids, and I have basically zero time left for myself. Sometimes I think it would be easier if I just didn't work at all.

Then, on the other hand, I wonder: Will I ever get out of part-time? Can I still grow in my career at all? Or does this just settle in, with everyone getting used to the idea that Mom does the bulk of the caregiving, until it gets harder and harder to change?

It's important to me to say that we don't come from wealthy families, so there's no inheritance coming our way. My husband and I have to work to make ends meet. If I stopped working, there'd be no movie night, no day trip, no "luxury" of any kind. And I don't want to stop working anyway, because I need it, and I want to provide for myself and my own future.

I know I'm not the only one who has these thoughts, but I still don't have many people to talk to about it. So I'd love it if other moms would write and tell me how their families have handled this. Thank you for sharing your stories.