WRT these jobs

[Hadagutsful]

Two potential jobs on the table:

1. very straightforward, relatively stress-free, part time and school based so term time only. (Pay is low but understandably so). No need for any extra childcare.

2. shifts change, probably works out at around 3 days per week. Would need to rely on friends and family for childcare around school and in holidays. More interesting work and better paid.

That's it really. So as not to drip feed, currently am SAHM with 3 DCs. Some support network available for childcare but would fall mostly on my DM and possibly DSis. DH can work semi-flexibly to help out with option 2 but not flexibly enough to cover it all.

Anyone have any thoughts? I'm a bit fed up of going over and over this...

Hands down the first one. Term time job with 3 kids is a no brainer to me even if the pay is a bit lower than job 2.

Number one for me too.

Thanks. Even if #1 won't lead to a career and #2 could (no guarantees though)?

Number 1 for me too. You can look for another job whilst in job number 1 in a few years when the kids are older.

How do your sis and DM feel about the child care? Do you have your heart set on number 2? There's alot to be said for being satisfied with work.

I would also say number 1.
I work term time only and still have times when I need to find child care.
Inset days,illness,snow days etc.
You may need to call on family members for those reasons , probably better this than full time reliance on them ?
You can build a career later on it's never too late

Number 2. Your post reads like you really want it. You don’t say how old the DC are but you won’t always need childcare. If you can make the childcare work, you should go for it.

Number 2, if it is more likely to be satisfying for you and progress into a meaningful career and you have support from DH and family. I think it's very easy to say oh I can work on my career when the children are older...at school....left home etc and then we see women really struggle to get back into meaningful rewarding work.

Could your family cover all the school holidays when your DC need care all day?

How would you manage if your dm and dsis couldn't continue to help you out with childcare?

Option 1. I work term time only and it's a game changer. It doesn't fix everything as a PP says you still have to cover sickness etc, but life is infinitely easier.

As long as you can figure out the child care, I'd go for 2. Sounds like you want it and feeling fulfilled in your work is important, you're not just mum and nothing else

Eek now I'm more confused than ever.

Yeah I fancy the second job more than the first because I've been doing the SAHM thing for a while now and feel ready for a bit more of an identity beyond "mum".

But... the ease of fitting the first job in around the family is oh so very appealing too.

I'm not a massively confident person so struggle to say "it's my turn to do something for me".

Having gone back to work after 10 years out, I would say start with Job One. It’s a big change going back to a job for all sorts of reasons. You will put yourself under pressure even if your boss isn’t doing so.

Feeling ever more frantic as you try to schedule kids’ trips to dentists etc etc is awful. And those are the routine things! And my family are brilliant about stepping in with childcare but I always feel guilty about having to ask them and that’s quite corrosive as well.

Go easy on yourself until you’re back I. The groove and have a better and more widespread support network. Then explore more exciting options!