Jobs you had when your kids were little

[rumqueen]

In desperate need of a part time job to fit around studying and having two kids. I'm tempted to apply for cleaning jobs but OH thinks I shouldn't lower myself to that.

Has anyone done any crappy jobs while their kids were young? I'm thinking of just sucking it up and applying for them.

"lower yourself to that" is a bit rude. What makes a cleaner lower than other people?

Well your OH sounds like a right snob. I have a 7 year old and I've worked in a call centre and now do a basic admin job.

Care work is hard but it can be very flexible when needed-evenings, nights, for instance.

Yes you need to work on your diplomacy and tact!

When I was studying and had young children I was working 4 days a week in my field in a 'paraprofessional' role. My sector is the kind that a qualification is required, but the work experience is what gets you the work (and actual knowledge tbh!) So is there anything related you can do to support your CV and qualification?

I was doing a postgraduate degree when my first was little and I did transcription, mostly for market research companies. I worked for a service but you can make a lot more self employed and can do it whenever is convenient (I used to do it during naps and after bedtime). I now contract transcriptionists to work on projects for my actual job and we pay about £80-100 per audio hour (that would probably take a good chunk of the day to do, but £80-100 a day isn’t too bad).

My mum had a law degree and had to take on cleaning and ironing when she came to the UK and her education and intelligence counted for nothing.

She never saw herself as 'lowered' - she always told us that you should do the best job you can and take pride in your results. Only feel ashamed if you've done a sloppy job or if you're doing something that's a net negative for society (on which basis the multimillionaires running betting chains should feel far more embarrassed than someone who has to scrub someone else's loo).

That said, lots of people who employ cleaners treat and/or pay them poorly, so it's worth being picky and setting yourself up properly. It doesn't need to be forever, and extra money helps.

Bar work? Not for everyone though and definitely not unskilled

I worked as a health care assistant when training to be a nurse. You can do bank shifts/nights/weekends to fit in around kids. I wouldn't call it a "crappy" job though, I found it hard but rewarding and I learned a hell of a lot. I also did bar work and waitressing.

Nightshifts in a supermarket, bloody exhausting having to stay awake in the day though!! Or could do the twilight shift? Also twilight/ night shifts in care homes.

Part time TA in a school?

I work full time as a disgusting cleaner cleaning up after disgusting people, probably like you. You're welcome. Don't lower yourself, we don't need you.

Also "crappy jobs" a job is a job.

I loved bar work and working in Boots when I was studying. A more physical job where you can interact with people can be very fulfilling and open your eyes to different people, styles, craft and time goes quickly.

I had to degrade myself by being a cleaner for years to fit around the kids. I enjoyed it, made decent money and some new friends and had some flexibility, just what I needed.

Don't you lower yourself to that level though, your dh won't like it.

I worked in McDonald's. It was a five minute drive away, I worked the night shift only and got reasonably well paid for it, eventually becoming a manager.

I hated every second (I only truly realised how much once I'd left) but I was paid regularly, I never had the stress of taking the job home with me and as an employer they were extremely flexible. I don't begrudge my time there, though it's safe to say I'm glad it's over.

My ds is still v young and ive been a school midday supervisor or dinner lady for the last 18 months.I really enjoy the job,the kids are great and it brings in a couple of hundred quid in a month for us.Not mega bucks but works for us.

What a horrible thing for your DH to say, no one "lowers themselves " by becoming cleaners, it's a job for gods sakes.

I taught adult evening classes . DH babysat. No crap.

I was teaching English to Iranian and Iraqi engineers on secondment to UK. They were all male, round about my age (30's), educated, ambitious and hardworking, great fun to teach and very interesting. Well paid, and a total contrast to domestic day life with our kids aged 3,2,1.

I’ve just recently ‘lowered myself’ to a cleaning job because it pays the bills and fits around my DD for the time being.
Nothing to be ashamed of - working is working.
I have previously ran my own business - it’s hardly like being a cleaner automatically makes you pond life - your DH sounds like an ass hole. If you want to clean then clean!

When my kids were small I worked part time in the same professional job I have now

However when I was studying to get my qualifications I did a whole load of casual jobs and cleaning was by far the best of them. Not too much interaction with the general public (hated bar work, waitressing and shops for that), great job satisfaction (I love getting a dirty place clean to this day), largely left alone to get on with it. I did mostly commercial cleaning of offices and hotels rather than peoples homes. I think it's a great job.

Tell your DH he is a massive snob. He's probably afraid he'll have to clean his own house and thinks it's beneath him.

Childminding

My mum worked in financial services when she had me, then when my brother was born my parents couldn’t afford the childcare for two and so she quit and worked as a cleaner in a hospital on weekends while my dad worked during the week.

She didn’t enjoy it but did it for a few years until we were old enough to need less supervision. She did a degree while she was working weekends, then went back into full time work and is now a senior manager in a university.

I mean, do you also think you'll be lowering yourself to work as a cleaner? Or is it just your DH? Do you think perhaps the wording of your OP was a touch goady?

FWIW, I've been doing private tutoring and admin work. I'm a teacher and have three degrees, and I would (and have) happily do cleaning if it meant paying the bills.

What does your DH think would be appropriate for someone of your standing?

I was a home care assistant, it worked out really well. I mostly did evenings or Saturday mornings or went on weekday courses. When DC3 started school I switched to Tuesday and Thursday days and every other Saturday evening. I studied for an NVQ every other Wednesday.