OS Wed 22 March '06

stressedoutmumof1

MATH wrote:

I seem to be coming across a lot of people (not on here) who chirp I should get a 'bit of a job'. They soon back away when I ask if they will pick my three kidz up from school and mind them until 5 free of charge. Particularly annoying when I know I do more work by 10am on a Monday that they do all week. School hours and school holiday jobs are almost non-existant. There are a lot of cheque clearing and data entry jobs in our area but when you look at what they are paying you could probably afford childcare for one child but never three. I do 3-4 hours paid work from home each day but no-one sees that so it doesn't count;) :mad: We'll keep looking and see what drops in our lap!

MATH - I'm lucky enough to have a school hour job (by the absolute skin of my teeth!) I drop DD at school and peddle like fury on my bike to get to work for 9.00am - I then leave at 3.00pm and arrive (just) in time to pick her up. I know I am really lucky, but unfortunately I have to work school holidays (I take 5 weeks hols in the school hols which leaves 8 weeks I have to pay for at 125 quid a week :eek: ) The thing that annoys me about employers is that if they were more flexible and worked with you re: childcare arrangements they would have such a loyal work force - I mean I know where my bread is buttered and have no intention of leaving no matter how hard/annoying/fustrating the job can be!!!

tootles_2

(((((((((((((((((hugssomo1))))))))))))))))))))

streetgirl74

Hi all, i know what you mean about working and kids, I am sooooooooooooo lucky i work at a private school that have extra long school holidays like 4 weeks at xmas, 3 weeks at easter and 9 weeks summer holidays so i am always off when my DD is off school and i get paid every week of the year :T I only do cleaning but i love my job :j

moggins

SOMO1 Huge huge hugs, It's so stressful when the future looks so uncertain I'm keeping everything crossed for you too.

Streetgirl you are so lucky, everyone keeps looking at me like I should be getting a job and even DH has been making little noises lately. But my 12 year old has Apergers and there is no way I could trust him to look after himself at home even for an hour. The only afterschool and holiday clubs here only seem to go up to age 11, then there is all the inset days. Now we've just been informed that the easter holiday will start one day early because they are hauling terrapins into the playground. Last week I had one ill and 2 doctors appointments to go to, today I had the eldest throwing up in the bathroom at 8am. Show me an employer who would understand when I have 3 days off in two weeks and then I want holiday to look after my kids one week later?

DH works 2 days and 10 nights spread out over a 3 week rota period so I can't even get a weekend or evening job, I've racked my brains to try and figure out how I could go back to work, I just can't find a way.

tootles_2

It is so difficult for those of you who really want to work to help out, life is so expensive when you have children. I know I had 4 and had little choice but to work fulltime. I was very lucky in that there was a 10 year gap between the oldest and the yougest, but childcare for the two younger ones even 30 years ago was not cheap, they both went to a private nursey and even when they went to school I had to pay a child monder to look after them in the holidays. It was not fair to expect the eldest two to look after the younger ones. I stayed at home as long as I could, but to put decent shoes on their feet and be able to have a simple camping holiday was impossible unless I went to work.

streetgirl74

Moggins i should think that you have got enough on your plate without having a job as well, dont worry about it if you dont need to work. My boss is great as well and his attitude is if your daughter is ill she needs her mother so dont worry about work and then pays me as well :T
I feel so lucky to have got this job as i work my 3 hrs a day when DD is at school, i just wish that all parents could have a job like mine :j
Hugs to all that need them.

Zed42

Sorry to hear your news SOMO1 ((hugs)).

This evening I've felt quite organised. Normally past 19:00 I tend to collapse in a heap of non-usefulness.

Today, took dd to Rhythm 'n' Time whilst I attempted to tackle the ironing, ok so in 30 mins all I managed was one tablecloth and 2 tea towels .. but I did drink almost a whole cup of coffee whilst it was hot and an uninterrupted 'phonecall :eek:

Received my new pair of cheapy specs from goggles4u.com today, well worth the £15.97 they cost

Then it was on to do some shopping 20 miles away with dd, to get 2 pairs of glasses fixed (thankfully we took out that £20 x 2 insurance last yr when we bought them, so far we've had them fixed 4 times, the perils of a 2yr old dd!) This time it a completely new set of lenses for DH, and it will be a completely new pair of specs for me.

The downside of the opticians visit was that my dd insisted on trying on lots of glasses and then announced that she wanted "pink sunglasses", "pink sunglasses with stars" ... so an hours hunting later and £4 lighter she has a pair of barbie pink sunglasses complete with UV rating from BHS. I didn't fight it too hard as I want her to have a decent pair of sunglasses for the summer and she's outgrown her babybanz (kidzbanz around £10).

Anyway I digress, came back from town, quick reckie up the local market, bought some cheap black bananas. Tonight has made some banana muffins, made two steak 'n' ale pies (fillings and pastry yesterday, today - cooked/assembled/eaten/frozen).

Right, I'm wittering, I apologise ... time to find a glass of wine

apple_mint

SOMO1 ((hugs)) - hope that you OH finds something soon.