Job has come up in a city 50-odd miles away in an area of my profession that I am v v interested in pursuing long-term, plus jobs in this area at my (junior) level are pretty rare. It’s a four-month fixed-term contract, but other opportunities may follow on. Would start beginning of next month (!).
Am currently at home with my 21mo, have been mostly SAHM since (sicky) pregnancy, with some teaching work at weekends, during which DH has DS. Have not worked in my actual profession itself for 2+ years.
Bosses at potential new job seem absolutely lovely, they understand I have toddler and although job description says FT, they have already said they would consider PT (minimum 3 full day per week). Seems like it would be a nice, fairly ‘gentle’ reintroduction back into the profession.
So far so good...but major sticking points for me are childcare and travel. Childcare - am nervous about someone else looking after DS, would prefer it was me/DH for bit longer if I’m honest. Plus enjoying being SAHM. Both sets of grandparents are 3hr round trip away; my DM/DF both still working full-time, DH’s are retired but he reckons they’d only really want to do one day looking after DS a week. No other relatives nearby. Not sure where to start with nurseries - none in our town open long enough hours so I/DH could drop-off/collect before/after work, so would have to be nursery in new job city & travel in with me, I guess - but how to find a good one there?! One of my friends nearby does have a nanny three days a week, she is going to ask about nanny-share, but she lives around 30mins in opposite direction from where I’d need to be going.
Travel - 50 miles, approx 1hr 30 driving (which in itself is a lot of driving each day - and I don’t even like driving, haven’t driven for over a year!). Train 1hr 45ish with a change, plus 2mile walk or 20min bus from station.
(DH is also in an ‘intense’ profession, working in a different city 40mins away by direct train.)
Anyone any advice/wisdom/thoughts/experiences? Keep going round in circles in my head, family & friends all have different opinions! Application deadline is next week...