Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

If you have a job that works really well around your family, what is it?

33 replies

mummyof2amazingbabies · 02/02/2022 11:10

I'm due back from maternity leave in the summer so just figuring out my options.

I'll be looking for something around 15-20 hours per week.

For inspiration, if you have a part time job that works really well for your family what is it?

OP posts:
RockAndRollerskate · 02/02/2022 22:23

Civil service. Full flexi time and partially WFH

leopardprintpants · 02/02/2022 22:26

Local authority

Flexi working
Partially WFH when not required in the office

And importantly a really fab boss who has been in the shoes of a busy mum trying to juggle everything!

Savingpeoplehuntingthings · 02/02/2022 22:27

Childcare practitioner in a term time only setting.
Awful money but was available for all school runs and every holiday saving a fortune on childcare.

nancy75 · 02/02/2022 22:28

I’m the office manager for a sports company that offers term time lessons - but that’s pretty niche!

NauseousNancy · 02/02/2022 22:30

I’m not part time, I’m full time.

Local government. Flexi time, 90% work from home. Always need to be available on phone 8-5, but apart from that can do my own thing. So long as work gets done no one cares. Can do school pickups, drop offs etc. Can spend time with kids and work at night if needed.

Before they were at school was harder - had nursery/grandparents and muddled through for a few years.

Crackercrazy · 02/02/2022 22:31

Admin for a small charity. 15 hours over 3 days, perfect for me while kids are at school. Not very well paid though!

RussianSpy101 · 02/02/2022 22:31

Not me but SIL - does admin in a school. 8.30-3.30 term time only. In the same trust as her DCs school so she gets free breakfast & after school club.

Kitkat151 · 02/02/2022 22:36

Nursing....when mine were small I worked 3 nights on ( 12 hour shifts.....so an 18 hour week on average) and 11 nights off on a permanent rota....the 3 nights on was a killer.....but the 11 nights off was lovely. The job lasted 5 years then they rejigged the rotas ..... so I left but it was good while it lasted

Madbadandusuallysad · 02/02/2022 22:47

Dispenser in a community pharmacy 9am till 2.30pm 4 days a week. Fits round the school run which I'm lucky with but its only just above minimum wage, which I struggle with as it involves a great deal of concentration and dealing with various surgeries and enquiries.
But it is what it is for now, when kids are older I'm hoping to do something else.

Kite22 · 02/02/2022 22:56

I think working around whilst they are at school is a very different thing from working when you have a baby though.

Mindfullisa · 02/02/2022 22:57

Job sharing nurse, working 7 nights over the course of 4 weeks, works well for family life. I love to see the varying posts here to see how different jobs / careers can work for family life

CornishGem1975 · 02/02/2022 22:59

Marketing, full time, work from home but accepted that I go on school runs/have kids around at certain times.

hivemindneeded · 02/02/2022 23:00

Editor. Work from home. Any hours I like so long as I bring the scripts in on deadline. So I can do 5am-7am before family is awake. I can knock off at 3pm. I never miss nativities, can go on school trips etc. Basically, all the freedom of a SAHM, but with a job.

Locomelon · 02/02/2022 23:27

Childminder, term time only. Before I had DC3 I worked in a school, support staff.

Floralnomad · 02/02/2022 23:38

When I had my children I worked 1 or 2 night shifts per week as a nurse , perfect if you have an OH who works regular day hours and like me can manage to function efficiently on limited sleep . It used to be bliss if I worked a Friday or Saturday night and got to sleep during the day without being disturbed.

FrenchFancie · 03/02/2022 04:03

I’m a TA in my daughters school. The money is crap and it’s not what I trained for but we never ever have to worry about childcare. And I actually really enjoy it and feel like I’m (mostly) good at it. I just wish the wages reflected the work I do!

ShippingNews · 03/02/2022 04:11

Nursing. Permanent night duty, which equates to 4 10-hour nights per week . Kids are older school age, I'm home in the morning to take them to school, then I sleep and they wake me up when they get home ( bus). I can sleep when it suits, so if a child has a sports day or a school function, I can go to that and "sleep around it" so to speak. I'm lucky that I'm a good daytime sleeper, and the work tends to be quieter / less physical at night so it's better for my health.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 03/02/2022 05:47

I work more hours than that now but admin for a small family business. I did 20 hours when I first started, Mon-Thurs 9.30-2.30 to fit in with school hours. I was lucky that they allowed me to be so flexible.

MinnieMountain · 03/02/2022 05:57

Conveyancing solicitor in a support role. I work 20 hours over 3 days. Even if I’m in the office it’s a 10 minute bike ride, so I drop DS at school every day.

Limpshade · 03/02/2022 07:15

I work in tech (education related) and WFH. It's full time but I can come and go as I please provided the work is done by deadline. I do have (remote) meetings to attend (usually 3-4 hours over a week) but they are mainly scheduled within school hours. While I don't get school holidays, many of our clients are schools so it gets very quiet in the holidays anyway.

It's a very generous set up I am hugely grateful for. I have a daughter with a disability and while I did used to do full time, office based work, I probably wouldn't be able to work at all now without this kind of flexibility.

girafferafferaffe · 03/02/2022 07:16

Admin in a school. 4.5 hours a day. Term time.

cliffdiver · 03/02/2022 07:20

DH's and my jobs work well together, the only childcare we use is breakfast club.

I'm a teacher.

DH works in healthcare insurance. He was headhunted and accepted on the basis he could finish work in time to collect DDs from school.

ilovebagpuss · 03/02/2022 07:31

Part time admin/software stuff work 9.30-2 and one full day. Perfect as can be around for drop off pick up etc. Kids are at secondary but I’m needed even more now just to be there after school. Money is ok as been with company a while. Holiday we still have to juggle although I get decent allowance and can get unpaid leave.
Term time jobs are a godsend when little and they need paid care in holidays.

PinkDaydreams · 01/03/2022 19:30

Bumping! I'm thinking of cleaning but don't know what I'd do during school half terms as have no child care Confused

ilovebagpuss · 06/03/2022 08:32

Yes that's where it gets expensive and you have to have a nursery or child minder which we had a few days a week then was fortunate to have parents and Aunty to share/trade cover days.
If you start your own cleaning business you could be clear with clients that it's term time only while kids are young.
If I could go back in time I would try my hardest to find a term time job or have my own business as the stress of covering school holiday care was huge. Even with taking holiday off both partners etc still 3/4 weeks in summer to cover.
Also kids want to be at home and relax not rushing to get up to go to wherever. Some people do sports/drama clubs and things but they often finished at 3pm and still cost to do.
We are past that now as they can stay home alone but that's still not ideal I'd love to be off with them.