Parents: How Do You Make Working Work?

ciderwithrosie_2

ognum wrote: »

Never, never underestimate the need to be finacially able to support yourself and build up your own pension contributions.

This exactly!

liney

I always worked 2 or 3 days, increased to 4 when my son started school. However I had my Mother for childcare, and a local preschool for the free sessions which she would drop him off for.

When he was 6 I went back to Uni as a mature student and didn't work at all. My DH said there was no point in giving up our family time at weekends and evenings for minimum wage when he could cover it with much less effort. Plus, unlike most students I had a child and a house to manage not a dorm room.

I will be going to work full time once I secure a teaching post, but the holidays will not be an issue for me. My DS will go to the onsite afterschool club until we collect him at 5 ish.

In your situation, I would look at the Masters if you can afford it; you could study via OU. Enjoy being at home with your youngest and when they are all at school it will be easier and profitable.

Dunroamin

liney wrote: »

I always worked 2 or 3 days, increased to 4 when my son started school. However I had my Mother for childcare, and a local preschool for the free sessions which she would drop him off for.

When he was 6 I went back to Uni as a mature student and didn't work at all. My DH said there was no point in giving up our family time at weekends and evenings for minimum wage when he could cover it with much less effort. Plus, unlike most students I had a child and a house to manage not a dorm room.

I will be going to work full time once I secure a teaching post, but the holidays will not be an issue for me. My DS will go to the onsite afterschool club until we collect him at 5 ish.

In your situation, I would look at the Masters if you can afford it; you could study via OU. Enjoy being at home with your youngest and when they are all at school it will be easier and profitable.

I'm afraid that that doing a Masters in a Sociology related field seems to me to be putting off the day when the OP has to start preparing for and starting her career. I think she'd be better to do a vocationally related course or appropriate work experience if she feels she can't commit to a job until her youngest starts school.

cakeforbrains

ska_lover wrote: »

I am assuming at the moment that your OH is not working weekends, you could work one weekend a month and let your OH child mind. I understand what you are saying, it is frustrating to be in a situation where you are willing, but have no childcare - It is a very difficult situation.

It does seem somewhat unfair to expect someone who is already working full time to start working weekends as well

There are other ways you can boost your income or maybe even look to cut down on spends in an effort to save some money, what about ebay selling, avon, online blogging, crafting/making things to sell? I would definitely look at doing maybe a serious look at things like utility bills and grocery spends to see where you can save

Well, to be honest, this year he's having to do more overtime anyway because they're chronically understaffed.

I can't imagine a job that would allow me to work only one weekend in four, but if one existed I'd not be able to turn up for work when my husband was working away, and often he has to go away at quite short notice. And in any case, I estimate I'd earn about £7 per hour in such a job, so even taking into account that I'd pay no tax I'd still only earn about £100 in that weekend; my OH gets paid about £18 per hour or more for antisocial hours and so on.

You're right about the bills and groceries etc.. I periodically look at things like that, as well as making sure the credit cards are at 0%. It could probably all do with another looking at, especially the grocery shopping.

I might look into eBay selling and the like. I'm sure there is something I can do if my monetary target is modest. A long time ago I had a cushty job copywriting from home, but looking at similar things now they're very low paid and, although I'm not bad at writing, I'm not quick at it!

Thanks for everyone's advice. Like I say, I was just after other people's stories really. It's interesting to know what everyone does. I know, for instance, that amongst my own circle of friends all the women who work also have parents who are willing to take on regular childcare. I think that that must be quite common.

liney

Dunroamin wrote: »

I'm afraid that that doing a Masters in a Sociology related field seems to me to be putting off the day when the OP has to start preparing for and starting her career. I think she'd be better to do a vocationally related course or appropriate work experience if she feels she can't commit to a job until her youngest starts school.

The Masters doesn't have to be with a view to her career. Many students study to prevent 'mushy brain' syndrome when they are SAHMs.

You are also assume she has to have a career. Perhaps she just wants a job to add something to the kitty. No every women is career minded, even if they are well educated.... and no, education is never a waste.

SavingPennies_2

liney wrote: »

The Masters doesn't have to be with a view to her career. Many students study to prevent 'mushy brain' syndrome when they are SAHMs.

You are also assume she has to have a career. Perhaps she just wants a job to add something to the kitty. No every women is career minded, even if they are well educated.... and no, education is never a waste.

I did a degree, couldnt get a "decent/career" job, then did a Masters in the hope in the hope it might improve my chances. Honestly, while I enjoyed my Masters it was a waste of time and money. It hasnt helped my further my career because its not a degree that leads into a job (such as a PGCE or Law conversion course whatever they are called). Ten years later i am now starting another degree (throught work) that is directly related to my career and should help me progress at work. I wish I had done this ten years ago. I do feel my Masters was a waste. If the OP has a first class degree in sociology and can't get a job relating to this degree, imho, a Masters in Sociology wont make much difference.

OP doesnt state she wants a career specifically, but does state she wants to contribue more financially, another degree in the same subject is not the best way in my opinion.

cakeforbrains

Hmm, I think I've come to the conclusion that, given the expense and logistics of childcare, I'd be better off thinking about trying to earn some money from home if I want to bring more in over the next few years. I'll toddle over to the Extra Income board later to see if I can get inspired.

In the long term, I honestly don't know if I want a career or not. And if I did I don't know what kind of career. It's not like I've never thought about it. I looked very seriously into teaching, for instance, and I worked in a school for a while, but decided that it wasn't for me. I'd forgotten about the expense of doing a Masters, though; that might be prohibitive for now.

I'm lucky that I am in a situation where my husband is completely happy for me to stay at home for as long as I want to stay at home (even if that means never getting a job) but, as I said in my opening post, sometimes I feel like even if I wanted to bring in some cash I couldn't quite find a way to make it work. Maybe in a few years...

princessdon

Have you considered applying for something like a "responsible adult" post?

Due to cuts in social services many areas are now recruiting these.

Essentially when a child or vulnerable adult needs a responsible person at interview they call you.
All you do is sit there, training is provided
In my area you get paid a small amount for each shift you volunteer to be on call (so you can say you will only work x hours), then a really decent hourly rate IF called out.

With your degree it can be a good source of experience and is very childcare friendly as the hours are 5pm to 8 am Monday to Friday, all day weekends and bank holidays.

You say in advance I can do xxx shifts this week, so pick and chose.


Edit sitting there isn't all you do of course, you are there to protect the interviewees welfare and ensure their welfare is paramount - but the police often know this and so in reality all you end up doing is sitting. I've only had one occasion where I felt the need to stop the interview.

Dunroamin

liney wrote: »

The Masters doesn't have to be with a view to her career. Many students study to prevent 'mushy brain' syndrome when they are SAHMs.

You are also assume she has to have a career. Perhaps she just wants a job to add something to the kitty. No every women is career minded, even if they are well educated.... and no, education is never a waste.

Personally, I feel that taking the fees for a Masters out of the household kitty when you're not contributing into the kitty is several steps too far unless it's likely to improve the OP's employment prospects, whether in a career or a job.

I totally agree that education is never wasted but I do think it would be a waste for an obviously intelligent woman to spend the next 30/40 years just doing a few shifts in Tesco and letting her husband support her for all those years.

princessdon

Dunroamin wrote: »

Personally, I feel that taking the fees for a Masters out of the household kitty when you're not contributing into the kitty is several steps too far unless it's likely to improve the OP's employment prospects, whether in a career or a job.

I totally agree that education is never wasted but I do think it would be a waste for an obviously intelligent woman to spend the next 30/40 years just doing a few shifts in Tesco and letting her husband support her for all those years.

I agree that's why something like the responsible adult allows you to gain meaningful experience, mix with probation officers, drug/alcohol workers, youth workers and other social rehabitayion workers.

It's hard working as a parent with no financial help, I already had a job and career so it was easier, but it's never impossible to start a career whilst a parent.

Even if just volunteering at children's centres, CAB, drug and alcohol clinics etc, especially as many have onsite childcare free.

It may not be paid work, but once babes are in full time school it will open up a lot more opportunities.