Would you work just for the 'satisfaction'?

cwp500

dont be proud.

would love to be able to get a job that would net me fifty pounds per month.

whitewing

Hello,

I packed in a reasonably secure fulltime job to move to a different (more expensive) part of the country to set up my own business, purely because of wanting to give my son a better life. And with no hard facts, just a gut reaction. Finances were tough, and we're not fully there yet. However, things have a habit of working out.

In the first year, I temped fulltime and set up my business alongside. I was terrified. I was a single parent, struggling like mad. Four years on, I have a mortgage, am getting married this year, have a world more financial knowledge. The point is none of this would have happened if I'd worried about the hassle or looked at the cold, hard financial facts. I'm now in a position where I work mostly from home so am around for my son, and can attend school plays at a moment's notice. But I also work weekends to maintain this lifestyle (something I swore I would never do).

Go for whatever feels right. And I totally agree with the other posters who say apply now and make up your mind when you get the offer.

moo2moo

If its the right job for you and you can argue your case well why not see if they will take you on now but adjust your hours to fit around your family. If you don't ask you don't know whats possible. If you're prefect for the job then hopefully they will do whatever they can to accomodate you.

I can argue this from both sides. During the holidays my childcare bill is pretty much the same as my wage after tax. Financially its not worth me working in the holidays. Last holidays the DDs went to schools holiday club for 2 days and spent 2 days fully supervised at a local stable complete with gymkhana. If I hadn't had a job they'd still have wanted to go to the gymkhana but it would have been beyond what I could afford.

On the other hand I have a job I love and its very very flexible. As long as I do what needs doing my boss isn't bothered when I do it so long as it gets done. It means I can take the DDs to their swimming lessons and I have the money to do things with them. It also means that I don't wander aimlessly around the house all day. I get up with a cheesy grin on my face and I go to bed knackered but with the same cheesy grin. Is that worth £50?

moo2moo

How many people volunteer as scout leaders or guiders just because they can? Its unpaid, in fact you buy your own uniform, but to have 30 small dirty snotty smelly children grinning at you round the campfire having had zero sleep for 48 hours is the best feeling in the world. Theres a lot more to life than money. If this job makes you feel like that then grab it with both hands!

RoxieW

Hi there - thanks for all the responses. Its good to see other peoples perspectives.

cwp - sorry i dont understand your post? I'm not being proud. And surely most jobs would net you £50 a month?

whitewing - I agree - sometimes it better not to think so much about things and just go for it. Well done for doing just that!!

geekgirl - you're right - I may not even get the job after all this. But I think I stand a reasonable chance as it's a step back from my last position and the pay is atrocious so hoping that will put people off!!

The problem with just going for it for the practice is that that means asking someone to have the boys. There is noone unless I asked the childminder for a one off - not even sure if you can do this?? Hubby would be annoyed if he had to take time off and then I didnt take the job. He's busy at work at the moment. It's tricky as we don't have any family near by, which does make things more difficult in case of being late from work/ill child needs picking up from school etc.

sismith - if I won the lottery I still want to work part time too.

jay - thank you for your thought provoking response. I think I may regret not going for the job in the long term as I do feel it could have the potential of a good career. And the hours are just what I'd be looking for come January. I think I'd be happy about the boys spending 2 and half days in the holiday club and then the rest with me as I'll still have plenty of opportunity to spend time with them.

I think the thing thats really sticking in my throat is imagining dropping my youngest off at the childminders for 2 mornings a week. I know it sounds melodramatic but I think I'm still stuck in the mindset of my last job when I have horrible memories of dropping them off at nursery at stupid o clock and knowing that I wouldn't see them again all week (I tried full time (for financial reasons) before dropping down to part time). My youngest in particular would scream (I'm tearing up at the memory here). When I look back I feel unbelievable guilt. I think I may be projecting that onto a situation that wouldn't be the same at all.

morgan - I agree. I just hate the thought of leaving them again.

RoxieW

I think I'm just going through what every mum does - wishing there was two of me. Of course, I want to be there for my children - to pick them up from and take them to school everyday etc. To be at home 'just in case'. But on the other hand I have my own ambitions for my career and needs to be recognised as a person separate to my children.
At the end of the day - children grow up and go on to lead their own lives.

whitewing

Roxie,

A happy and fulfilled mum doing a part time job she loves will handle the childminder/nursery situation differently.

Submit the application form, if you get offered an interview then agree it enthusiastically (it won't be on the same day; if it is tell them you can go the next day), and then come on here, panic and we'll help you resolve the situation.

RoxieW

Thank you Whitewing

floss2

BTW, crying about leaving your baby is natural - I cried when I left my baby at London Uni last September and he's 20.....:o

barnaby-bear

RoxieW wrote: »

I think I'm just going through what every mum does - wishing there was two of me. Of course, I want to be there for my children - to pick them up from and take them to school everyday etc. To be at home 'just in case'. But on the other hand I have my own ambitions for my career and needs to be recognised as a person separate to my children.
At the end of the day - children grow up and go on to lead their own lives.

In the 'golden' age of the SAHM you have to remember there weren't labour saving appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, shopping involved going to countless small shops during the day every day because no supermarket and no fridge. Scrubbing floors - no vacuum or even detergent. Younger children palmed off on siblings whilst a lot of grim labour went on and no mention of guilt. SAHM used to have a lot of work to do. All those manual chores took a lot of effort and time and gave women a role and more to occupy their time - there was physically a lot to do.