What do people do for childcare and work when you have no other support?

[FloofenHoofen]

Just that really...
Husband works overseas, I have no family to help out.
I can't work evenings or weekends as childcare doesn't seem to exist at these times.
Then there is the issue of earning enough to pay the cost of childcare whilst still earning to pay towards bills?

I really hate the idea of putting my DD in full time childcare just to work, how do I get that balance?
The only thing I've thought that will work is doing cleaning as I can do it within school hours and it's flexible.

I would love to just go do a weekend job and have that flexibility, but I don't.

I've applied for hundreds of jobs over the last year and I've not had one interview.
I really just don't know what else to do..

That does sound like a difficult and unfair situation. Would the childcare fees have to come from your salary? Why can't your husband pay it?

Did you work before you had kids?

How old is DD? Term times are OK for us as school have a breakfast and after school club until 5:45. Our problem are the holidays esp in the winter when holiday clubs are few and far between, they are also more expensive per day than term time. Plus will only take over 5yos all day.

It's hard. It's just DH and I where we live, no family close by. However DD will be shipped off to grandparents 3hrs away for a week, if I'm working by this summer

Honestly? There are very few choices that don't involve wrap around care. You can try for a school position or shiftwork that follows the same pattern
with a childminder as backup. Or go self employed with something local like oven cleaning/dog walking/ gardening or freelance online if you have an applicable skill.

If you enjoy little children and paperwork, then you could qualify as a childminder. Not for the faint hearted and you would need to be mindful about holiday annual leave.

I'm studying to be a TA.

I think it's hard to find a healthy medium. I think work within school time is probably best although holidays are tricky

Thanks. The answers are exactly what I thought really, there isn't really a balance unless you have someone to pick up and drop off school etc.

ChodeofChodeHall I did work prior to having DD and I worked after having her too, but DH was home and the hours we both worked fitted well around childcare pick ups and drop offs.
He's been working overseas for around 4 years now and I've not had a proper job since. It's killing me.

I think I will try the cleaning and see how that goes. If that fails then maybe a home based position would work, that's if anybody will have me!

ChodeofChodeHall to answer your other question, he already pays for everything as it is, I would not expect him to pay for childcare as well. I already feel horrible that I'm living off of him.

PurpleCrazyHorse your situation sounds similar to mine. My DD is 5 nearly 6, thankfully her school does have wraparound care, and I've been applying for positions that are within these hours but I think I'm just so out of touch in regards to experience that nobody wants me! Ha.

In the nicest way if he’s working away and still not making enough for all bills then he’s better off working in the uk and doing his share of childcare so you can work around him.

Akire he makes enough to cover bills. It's more about my mental wellbeing and wanting to work again, I want to contribute. Sorry for the confusion.

I wish you luck OP. My OH doesn't work overseas but he is often sent away at short notice which means I need to be available for all drop offs and pickups too. It's rather limiting.

Most people I know do part time office hours. They require wrap around care but for 2-3 days so it balances out on the days they dont work.

This work is easier to find when you request reduced hours after maternity leave but I do see the odd job share advertised.

OP, I do childminding an a number of other home-based things to earn money, PM me if you want.

I would do childminding but there's quite a process you have to go through before you can even set yourself up as one isn't there?

OP would a job at a school be of interest? Even if it’s as an MSA at lunchtime, it would get you out of the house for a couple of hours.

Lunchtime supervisor or working in a school kitchen? You can do the food hygiene certificates online and that shows willing.

The issue with School work is time off. It can mean missing every sports day, performance etc unless your school is particularly generous.