stopping work because childcare not working

summerday

Hi Sarah,

I ahve just read this whole thread through, and I do feel for you and the predicament you are in. I do wonder if lush Walrus has a point, though, and I also cannot say enough how I don't mean to offend or attack you in saying I agree with some of the points that LW raised.

With regards to the hours you can work- I really honestly don't see that many potential clients would see it as a problem if you state you are available to work only from 9-3, especially if you are prepared to eat on the run rather than take a proper lunch hour. That equates to 6 hours a day, or 36 hours a week- I work full time and am on a 37 hour contract! Especially if you perhaps could work some Saturday mornings if need be (and you could get childcare then). Like other posters have said, so many parents work flexible hours these days to fit in with family commitments, that your customers may be a lot more understanding than you expect.

Sarahsaver

he has a point,but it is erroneous, as i said my kids come first, i do not have to say that again.
I got a big contract from someone who is willing to fit in around what I can do which is great - and a bit spooky that it happened now when all this is going on!

tru

Brilliant :j

I've been worrying about you ever since you started this thread :beer:

Sarahsaver

it just gets better!... i have been quoted in someone's e-book on business startups!
I am irked and I hope this thread stands as a warning to other parents - If I wanted to work 9 to 5 in a shop or an office the childcare would have been ok, but bcos of my self employment they have messed me about.

Penny-Pincher!!

Well done Sarah :T

Im all for bettering ones-self!! Personally I think you are doing the best for your children by working and you are putting them first. Your situation is not selfish but practical. You have always inspired me and I think your a great mother.

Go Girl!!

PP
xx

Edinburghlass_2

Sarahsaver wrote:

it just gets better!... i have been quoted in someone's e-book on business startups!
I am irked and I hope this thread stands as a warning to other parents - If I wanted to work 9 to 5 in a shop or an office the childcare would have been ok, but bcos of my self employment they have messed me about.

Obviously you feel that you were "messed" about with because you are self employed but I have to say that this was just your experience and I don't think it can be taken as a warning to other parents.

I found the complete opposite with my childcare through out my daughter's time with first of all childminder, nursery and then school followed by after school care. In fact quite the opposite as they all knew that as I was self employed and running a shop that I would have to actually close at short notice if I had a problem with child care.

Thats not to say that of course I wouldn't drop everything if I had to and stick a notice on the door and on occasion had to do just that.

Glad to hear you are getting things sorted out. I have a friend who runs her own consulting business and has always stipulated that her last client appointment is at 2.30 which enabled her to be home in time for the kids getting home and it certainly hasn't stopped her building a large client base.

Sarahsaver

thing is someone working 9 to 5 wouldnt be criticised for not putting the kids first? Or would they? The leader of the ASC made a point of reminding me how 'flexible' I am re. my employment - but mot so flexible that I have to let clients down when i'd already got them booked. What I mean is employed people have more rights. If i'd have known i would have told her i worked in a shop and had fixed shifts and a mean boss.

Becles

People have an assumption that if you are self employed, you can work when you want - full stop! They don't appreciate you have made appointments and have deadlines like everyone else. I had to have a word with my Mam as she thought it was fine to keep popping in for coffee and sit yakking for hours. She didn't realise she was preventing me from working.

Can you see clients in "school hours" only, then do work on a night when they have gone to bed? If I'm busy I do my visits in school hours then write reports on an evening. It's tiring, but it means I'm with my children after school which they love. Sometimes I can work on an evening when they are around if they are quietly playing a game or watching a film, but you can't count on that!

Spendless

I think Becles is right about people thinking you'll be more flexible. Though if you'd been an employee and you working hours were after 3.30 you'd still be stuck, unless you had an understanding boss who would let you change your hours.

lush_walrus

Sarahsaver wrote:

thing is someone working 9 to 5 wouldnt be criticised for not putting the kids first? Or would they? The leader of the ASC made a point of reminding me how 'flexible' I am re. my employment - but mot so flexible that I have to let clients down when i'd already got them booked. What I mean is employed people have more rights. If i'd have known i would have told her i worked in a shop and had fixed shifts and a mean boss.

Sarah, honestly that was not what I was trying to say at all, just that as I read through I realised there was no balance to what was being said. I was actually in a situation very simular to yours a few years ago when I started my business and reading through you sounded as if you could have been in a simular situation. Personally, I did make the mistake of putting my business before everything else, and I mean everything. Of course the business went brilliantly and I had exactly the same excitment about things going well as you sound like you do.

As women we are in a very difficult position when we have children and starting out in business, or indeed needing to hold down a 9 to 5, but the point I was merely trying to make was that I realise now what I had done, and the fact that throughout the thread you have mentioned predominantly the good feelings you were getting about being awarded contracts. That to me rang the bells that I remember, thats it. There is no way I would ever assume someone was a bad parent for the sake of a few words on a forum. I was just trying to help thats all.

Its no easier for parents who are employed 9 to 5 or those self employed to bring up children while working. Believe me, as an employer and an employee I can tell you most companies are not flexable enough to allow those who are parents and employees time to run around during work hours to collect children or as in your case take potentially 2 hours out of the day at the drop of a hat.Companies of anytype are there to function, and if parents are given the right to cut down their working day regularily in order to deal with their children then what happens to the non parental staff.

I hope your situation resolves itself, one of the beauties of being self employed is the fact that you are able to be flexable, you do have no one to answer to other than yourself and you can set your hours. I can appreciate that you need to work longer hours than 9 to 3, but Im sure you can arrange so that meetings are mornings only or something of that ilk. Is there any option to work later in the evening when the children go to bed, so that effectively the meetings are held only during the times they are at school and a portion of the actual work aspect can occur later in the evening or while the children are occupied? There must be a solution in there somewhere if the school are adament that your child does not attend after school club.