I've been at home with our 4 DC for 12 years. Now that they're all in school a couple of people have asked me, "What do you do all day?" and "Are you returning to work now then?"
I'm not against the idea of returning to work, (even though DH tells me not to bother), but I doubt I'd get a job that fits within school hours. DH doesn't get in until 7.30 / 8pm and often travels as well. When I try and think through the logistics of it all, I wonder how it would actually work because -
- We have no family support around
- Somebody would need to collect the younger DC at 3.15
- Who would get the kids to school?
- I would need to take days off for sickness (with 4 DC they can tend to get things one after the next)
- What about school holidays?
- They would need to drop after school clubs probably as it might be too much for a childminder to facilitate
- When would I do food shopping and dinner would be a rush
- I'm not sure I could keep on top of the house, even with a cleaner
- When would I fit all the other "stuff" in because I find I'm running round most days as it is
- Would the childminder be able to facilitate / check homework because with 4 DC this is a lot? Not to mention music practice and this kind of thing.
If anyone else is in my position i.e. no family support, a fair few DC and a DH with very minimal input into the day-to-day running of things, could I please ask how you made returning to work "work" and are you permanently exhausted and overwhelmed?