accept new job or stick with term time job?

[Tartan333]

I have 3 dcs, 12, 6 and 2. I am currently doing a part time job which I find stressful and really want to leave and have felt this way for quite some time. However the hours are wonderful, part time, school hours and term time only.

I have been offered a new job which I am very interested in and will be a change from mine although still potentially stressful. This job however will involve unsociable hours and not be term time. The loss of holidays with dcs does upset me and will put more onto family as they provide childcare or we will have to sort out childcare.

What should I do?!

£100 a month extra will go on childcare and then some - 2 kids before and after school will be £10 a day - so you’ve lost out before the holidays have started

A lot of jobs with unsociable hours can be very flexible as a trade-off, is that likely in the new job?

I really wouldn't expect your new employer to agree to unpaid leave for you during school summer holidays unless none of your co-workers is a parent with school aged DC.

You need to consider that not only might you struggle to make up school holiday care for your DC with you and your DP taking your annual leave allowance separately, but also if that your co-workers are also requesting school holidays off your employer may only be able to offer you one or two weeks during this period. Not to mention the Easter, Christmas and half term holidays.

Do you actually hate your current role, or is it just that you find certain aspects stressful? Is there anything you could think of which would make your current role less stressful? There are very few jobs with no stress at all.

I left a term time job for a full year one, my mum offered to have my kids and I thought it was all set!

Except I'm the first year before my first summer my mum had to have life saving surgery and hasn't been able to have the kids at all. It has been a absolute struggle as mine are older and so childcare/holiday clubs aren't always suitable or at the right times.

I've just wangled my job to be term time and am so happy! Be really careful and consider all possibilities.... my mum being ill was completely out of the blue!

Just to add.... mum is doing really well now and her health was always the priority not my childcare!

Ok thanks for everyone who has replied. I have decided to stick with the term time job as like people have said they are rare and I really don't want to lose time with the dcs. The jobs are both equal in terms of prospects and pension too so I will just have to find ways of managing the stress of my current job I think.