Parents: How Do You Make Working Work?

Person_one

The op has a first class degree, so if she is truly passionate about sociology then a masters could be a step towards a career in research and academia, potentially. Admittedly, not the quickest or easiest way to earn a few quid though!

princessdon

Person_one wrote: »

The op has a first class degree, so if she is truly passionate about sociology then a masters could be a step towards a career in research and academia, potentially. Admittedly, not the quickest or easiest way to earn a few quid though!

She'd still have childcare issues though as dependant on the course it can involve time in class - masters and childcare are expensive if not eligible for help.

Eg I am hoping to so my SW masters to change career. I need to find money for childcare and fees. It's a lot of money and needs thought. I'm lucky that I can teach evenings and mark exam papers to bring in some income, but without that option I'd have to look carefully at the costs involved as childcare will be expensive.

duchy

I think you're not really thinking this though to be honest. On one hand you're wondering how to earn - on the other you have no idea which direction you want to take a career (if at all .....Have to wonder if you envision been a stay at home wife forever or just go for a minimum wage job when they are older ) . Spending money on a Masters when you haven't a clue what you want to do with it may very well turn out to be a total waste of time and money- but if you did know where you wanted that Masters to take you -and what doors it could open might be the best time and money spent.

Perhaps more thought about where you see yourself and in what kind of role later on could help you see what it is your eventual aim is ? There's some good career guidence sites out there - they might be helpful.

SavingPennies_2

Person_one wrote: »

The op has a first class degree, so if she is truly passionate about sociology then a masters could be a step towards a career in research and academia, potentially. Admittedly, not the quickest or easiest way to earn a few quid though!

Almost everyone on my Masters course went on to do research/PhD except me, which is one of the reasons (for me) it was a waste. It's great if you have long term goals/time/money. Doesnt sound like this suits the OP though, at this time.

cakeforbrains

princessdon wrote: »

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.

I've actually got both drug & alcohol volunteering and children's centre volunteering under my belt. The latter was something I did recently (since my youngest was born). There was no childcare, though!

duchy wrote:

I think you're not really thinking this though to be honest. On one hand you're wondering how to earn - on the other you have no idea which direction you want to take a career (if at all .....Have to wonder if you envision been a stay at home wife forever or just go for a minimum wage job when they are older ) . Spending money on a Masters when you haven't a clue what you want to do with it may very well turn out to be a total waste of time and money- but if you did know where you wanted that Masters to take you -and what doors it could open might be the best time and money spent.

Perhaps more thought about where you see yourself and in what kind of role later on could help you see what it is your eventual aim is ? There's some good career guidence sites out there - they might be helpful.

You're right that I haven't thought it through. It's not that I have never thought about my career, but it's true that I haven't really thought very hard about it in the two years since I had my last baby; there's been too much other life going on!

Again, I concede that doing a Masters might be unaffordable at this point. There are other things I'd rather spend several thousand pounds on right now.

I may get attacked, but being a stay at home wife/mother forever is one possible option. I can see pros and cons.

Lizzybop

No attacks from me. I'm a SAHM too, and fully understand the position you are in.

I too don't feel that I have great earning potential, although I have been doing some volunteering, which has been very flexible and easy to fit around the children. It has also helped me feel that I could go back into a workplace.

I feel very lucky that I don't have to work if I don't want to. I always worked pre-children, and worked weekends following birth of my oldest. But I never found that I got anywhere in work. I think I made some poor choices of jobs - you know how some people always make the same mistakes when choosing their partners???? I did that with jobs

Do what is right for you - whatever that is.

maman

Dunroamin wrote: »

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.

cakeforbrains wrote: »

I may get attacked, but being a stay at home wife/mother forever is one possible option. I can see pros and cons.

Not attacked exactly, but like dunroamin says it's hard for some of us to comprehend why an educated woman would be satisfied with that option.

I think a Master's is better done later. I did mine when I was looking for promotion rather than before getting a job. I agree it's important to keep brain in gear but if you plan to stay at home for ever then another degree is an indulgence.

GwylimT

Apart from one time of unemployment I have always worked while being a parent, personally I enjoy working and I wouldn't want to rely on someone else financially. I am also not willing to put myself at risk of financial hardship during my retirement.

At the moment my wife and I both work part time so we don't use childcare too much for our daughter, as she starts school in January I will be working full time from September onwards and my wife would if that was possible.

Before having children ensuring we both had jobs that would suit family life was extremely important, we didn't want our children to be in full time childcare and we also didn't want to be in the situation where only one of us would be raising our children. It did mean we delayed having children for a little longer, but personally for us it was the right thing to do.

If you are wanting something different then you as a couple need to sit down and find a plan to change things, it wouldn't happen instantly, but nothing worth having is easy.

cakeforbrains

maman wrote: »

Not attacked exactly, but like dunroamin says it's hard for some of us to comprehend why an educated woman would be satisfied with that option.

I think a Master's is better done later. I did mine when I was looking for promotion rather than before getting a job. I agree it's important to keep brain in gear but if you plan to stay at home for ever then another degree is an indulgence.

I wouldn't be satisfied with doing nothing. I know I'll end up doing something, whether that something is paid or not.

Regarding retirement, it wouldn't take much for me to be eligible for the state pension when the time comes (I'll have 22 years of stamps paid by the time my youngest is 12) but I should look into other options too because that's obviously not going to be much money. I don't know how much of my husband's pension I'd be entitled in the unlikely event that we divorced. I should probably have more of a think about pensions.

skader

I can understand why you may be confused OP, there's guilt involved on both sides, whether you work or are a SAHM, society always makes us feel guilty for our choices.
To contribute my opinion, I went back to work for my DD was 6 months old, out of necessity, I was the main breadwinner and being off for longer was not an option.
Now my husband's earnings are on a par with mine ( 3 years later), my DD is still in full time nursery, I work part time 4 days, and one day a week I go to university, to study a Msc in my field.

I realise that one day my child, and any other future children we may have, will grow up and no longer need me in the same way as they do now physically. If I give up my career which I have worked so hard for, I will be unemployable in my field later.
I enjoy work, I enjoy being a working mother, I feel it benefits my daughter to see her parents working hard to try and give her the life we want. I also think it makes for a healthy relationship, as my huband and I are equals in all aspects of the home.

Of course, I know if you have more than 1 child, childcare is infinitely more expensive, and I know the choices I have made in life do not suit everyone
But just to say, if you do work, you gain more than just money. Which is the point the other posters are also making

Good luck with whatever you decide OP