Is it *worth* me going back to work?

Spendless

Poppy9 wrote:

I have worked part-time for the past 11 years. I love doing my 2.5 days a week. I'm lucky in that I have quite a senior positin and a decent wage.

Are the 2 days full days poppy? So did you need childcare before and after school, as well as the hols?

Poppy9

Spendless wrote:

Are the 2 days full days poppy? So did you need childcare before and after school, as well as the hols?

yes full days as I didn't want to work everyday. When DD was young I did need childcare. I used a private nursery 3 mornings a week, OH one afternoon and sister other afternoon. When she was 3 and started school nursery I used the afterschool club from 11.30 to 1.30 one day a week, OH picked her up one day a week and I put her in for a full day in private nursery. Once she started school full time I rejigged my hours if my OH shifts meant he wouldn't be home for her at end of school day. Luckily I could finish at 3.20 if need be and be home for school bus at 3.40pm. She also went on school bus in morning at 8.20pm. I could make up shortfall in hours on my 1/2 day by working the afternoon.

Often though she was invited out to tea on one of my work days and I reciprocated for other mums on their work days when I was off.

Now she has started comp she is not home till 4pm (slow walker for 1 mile:rolleyes: ). I don't need to leave work till 3.45pm to be home for her if OH isn't there.

Also working PT means if sick I can swop my days. Saves my annual leave.

School holidays I would share with her school friends mums in similar position.

Mics_chick

If your qualifying for admin type work how about thinking about working in a school/college so that you won't need to worry about childcare during holidays?

Poppy9

Mics_chick wrote:

If your qualifying for admin type work how about thinking about working in a school/college so that you won't need to worry about childcare during holidays?

because the pay is s**** and you don't get paid for school holidays but they expect you to come back in September. :rolleyes:

flossy_splodge

Iwas lucky enough to be in your position a few years ago. Not a care in the world really then husband strayed and down came the world! How I wish I had used my time to keep up to date with technology and also work even if only 1 day a week to keep my hand in. Age discrimination is strong and the recent legislation will not affect this much in my view as you still need to PROVE discrimination - not easy. So invest in yourself while you can do so without pressure. Keeps your brain going if nothing else.:T

filigree_2

I was a SAHM when my son was at primary school but that was mainly because he had special needs, not because I had strong principles or anything.

I'd like to mention that our children aren't littlies forever, my son is now in Year 8 and I have been back at work for over a year now. I work part time so day care isn't an issue, and so far I've only had to pay for two weeks of holiday care - managed the rest by juggling annual leave and Granny helping out.

While I was a SAHM I took college courses to keep my job skills up to date, I worked for a spell in his school and I did voluntary work as well. I'm convinced that all this helped me to find a good job when I was ready to get back into the workplace. Even if you defer going back to your career, from what you've said it sounds like you would benefit from keeping up the college work, and some kind of work even if it's just a wee part-time or voluntary job.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

seven-day-weekend

I was almost exactly in your position (was a lollipop lady for years, got a degree, upgraded my office skills) and then it dawned on me one day that I couldn't support myself should anything happrn to my husband.

So I went back to work (part-time at first and then full-time, then the last two years part-time again) when my son was 15. I was 45. We didn't particularly need the money, if fact we'd just finished paying off our mortgage. I went back because of most of the 'pros' you have on your list.

It was the best thing I ever did. It gave me tons of confidence. I, like you, was not ambitious, but within three months of going into Town Planning as an Administrative Assistant, I had applied for, and gained, a promotion to a Technician. I earned a decent wage and started building up a pension.


I did this for nearly nine years, during which time I had another promotion to a slightly 'higher' Technician, and have now moved to Spain after my husband took early retirement from Teaching and I have a small LGPS waiting for me when I'm 65 (it's small because I only paid into it for nine years).

I'd say, go for it. You won't know until you try. You're in the enviable position of being able to give it up again if you don't like it.

I would also agree with another poster who said keep some kind of work up, even if it's voluntary. I first went back to work in the Housing Department, covering a maternity leave. This job was front line collecting rents and council tax and I got it on the strength of being a Church treasurer for five years.

Then after that I went into Planning.

Best of luck!

Spendless

Well I have my answer in a way I never imagined :rolleyes: . I don't want to give too many identifying details but a while back DH hit on a business idea and was asked to develop it by a different company on a freelance basis. It had the potential to be of conflicting interest to his paid work. Because of this I wasn't happy and voiced this opinion. DH ignored me. Today his employers have found about it, he has had to back out of this business idea at the last minute. He says that his employers were more concerned that he was thinking of leaving, but how easily they could have showed him the door instead,, as it is I hope their trust in him hasn't gone:cool:

To say I'm :mad: about him not listening to me is an understatement. We could have gone from celebrating a huge pay rise to him being unemployed in a matter of 2 days.

This gives me my answer, I need my skills developing and a job just in case I ever need to support the family, and in case I ever show him the door the next time he comes up with a bird-brained plan