Starting work, how to deal with school holidays?

[Heyjude20]

Just that really. Iv been so lucky to be able to be a sahm for the past 12 years.

Iv just started volunteering for my dream job. They keep asking if Iv been thinking more about actually joining the team.

I feel like this is an opportunity for me, I have zero work experience (had my oldest at 16) or qualifications. They have offered to pay for my training.

My husband works shift work, so sometimes lates/early/nights. Youngest Dd (4) starts school September and currently goes play school Monday-Wednesday.

My other two are 10&12.

The hours offered at 9-4. Luckily the work is round the corner so I could start at 9. But would need after school club for youngest.

What do you do in school holidays?! That’s what’s stressing me out. We have zero family or friends to help.

We use holiday club for part of the week (the only one around here is only open Tuesday to Thursday), and then we each do a mix of covering the other days. I work compressed hours (FT over 4 days) so I have Friday off anyway so usually I take Friday and dh takes Monday. Occasionally if it’s a busy week one of us covers both days and we swap out another day somewhere. If your dh already works shift work, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a day or two during a week when he can cover the daytimes, and as long as you know his schedule a month in advance, it shouldn’t be hard to juggle. We still have plenty of annual leave left over after that.

I think if you are working 9-4 you can manage with holiday clubs unless there is a long commute involved. Just have to be organised booking them.

We use annual leave for family holidays (stating the obvious) and holiday club at the school. Even if your school doesn't have a holiday club there are usually several locally. My kids really enjoy going.

Holiday clubs and annual leave

Fab thank you!

Holiday clubs for 4 and 10 year old - but once they hit secondary age it can be harder to find those.

After 12 that there may be sporting ones but sometimes they can be 10-3 or earlier finishes. You'll need to see what there is in the local area.

Many here leave 12 year old by themselves or with older siblings.

We use a mix of things. Mainly holiday club (lucky that we have one that covers 8.30 to 5.30), we split our annual leave as much as possible (luckily we both have generous allowances) so DH and I cover different holidays while the other works, and DH usually takes some unpaid parental leave. No GPs nearby but MIL usually visits for a couple of weeks in the summer holidays and does some childcare (about a week's worth) but that's not significant from a childcare point of view, it's just nice for her and the DC.

Remember teacher training days at school and the non-existent holiday clubs at Christtmas time. At least your DH will be able to cover childcare on his rest days, that will make a big difference to the childcare you need to pay for. How many days a week will you be working?

Luckily only Monday-Friday. I have two weekends a month I can do too when Dh is off.