2 kids, Work PT, bored , but work fits around the kids!!

[gardeningangel]

I have 2 kids 7 and 5. I work PT, 3 and half days a week in Finance. DH works FT, which leaves me to do the school runs, tea, after school clubs etc
I am completely bored out of my skull at work. I moved into Finance to give me something more interesting to do as I found admin where I work boring too. Now I have learnt the ropes, I feel I need something more. Work have given me more tasks, but I just can't see myself in Finance for the next 30 years. On one hand I want to progress/retrain look for a more challenging job, but DH always comes back with 'But it works around the kids' and 'I would love to only work 3 and half days' think he's missing the fact that I obviously don't get paid as much. For the work I do, I do get a good wage and they are super flexible when kids are ill etc which I can shift days once I have sorted childcare etc.
But I feel I want something more. Do I need to give my head a shake and just put up with the boredom as its convenient around the kids? I just feel that the work I do all seems to fit around everyone else and I just have to plod on regardless. Has anyone else felt similar and what did you do?

[Stabbitha1]

There is childcare and you can both chip in or claim tax free childcare 20% discount if your income is too high for universal credit.

As long as you know what that more is, i dont see whats wrong with pursuing it. If you aren't sure use your free days to explore but dont leave a secure job yet.

[pancakes22]

Totally with you. My DH says the same kind of thing but I always feel like something is missing and this dilemma is something that really plagues me and I have no idea what I would actually want to change to anyway! I don't have any advice I'm afraid but you are not alone. Do you know what you would want to do if childcare wasn't an issue? X

[DiscardedTool]

Could you use your spare days to do a free course in something? I like part time because on top of fitting round the kids the rest of my time can be spent trying to do my own business things

[BackforGood]

For the work I do, I do get a good wage and they are super flexible when kids are ill etc which I can shift days once I have sorted childcare etc

This ^ is invaluable.
If you moved to finance from admin because you were bored, presumably you don't have qualification in finance. Would it make sense to look in to starting to study? To help your prospects in the future through gaining relevant qualifications now ?

[shiningstar2]

What Backforgood said. A working environment like yours is invaluable while the children are small. You may enjoy something more challenging but it could cause a headache regarding child care ...you only have to look at some of the threads on here. If dh's work provides considerably more money I think I would be hanging onto the 'super flexible' working conditions for now and making plans, getting prepared for a change when the kids are a bit older.

It must seem a bit as thought you are the one always fitting around the kids but once kids come along the full time partner can also feel 'stuck' and not able to leave for part time or study ext. Options are inevitably narrowed for a while for both of you.

[mymadworld]

If your dh would love it so much, why don't you role reverse and he work pt and do your mum/home role whilst you look to rebooting your career?

Dh and I did and whilst it took a lot bit of adjustment, it was brilliant in the long run and we now both work pt and share the family and house stuff which I don't think would ever have happened if we hadn't stopped roles for a bit.

[Dozer]

What DH means is that he doesn’t want to make any changes in his working life.

[gardeningangel]

@pancakes22 - I feel the same. I feel like I want to do more in my working life/job, but actually don't know what path to choose. I would have the option to qualify in Finance, however, when I look at what I do, I'm not sure Finance is for me. I feel like I would like a job that is part office based and part out and about and part time! I don't want much do I, but what kind of jobs are like that!!
I know I should be patient, but if I stay in Finance for now, but retrain for something else, I don't know how to narrow down what I would actually like to do!!