SAHM returning to work

[PartThyme]

I'm currently a SAHM and will be for the next 2-4 years. I'm just thinking ahead to when my youngest starts nursery/school and what I'll do with myself then. I had a successful career before starting a family but it's not something I overly enjoyed and also not something that can be done part-time (I don't want, or need, to return to full-time work).

If you returned to work after being a SAHP, do you do the same type of job as you did before, or did you get into something else?

I was teaching before DC1 but would have had to go back full time. I didn't want to so worked part time in a library for a bit, then had more time off after DC2. Then when he started school I started volunteering and went back to studying, and got a new job not teaching although it was in education. Lower paid but much more flexible, part time, able to work from home if kids are sick, did every school run for years so basically ideal with young kids. After 4 years as a SAHM it did feel like my brain had rotted so the combination of study and volunteering was a new challenge and provided an up to date reference.

I went back into a similar role but down several grades. Less money but less hours and almost term time only. My salary is worth more in my pocket as we're not paying out for holiday clubs.

I used my time as a SAHM to volunteer and I was also a school governor. It gave me some recent examples to use in interviews (alongside examples of when I worked before kids). I was a SAHM for about 4 years with my youngest only, so not out for ages

Following this thread for ideas.

Pre-kids I worked in sales for years and then at a bar for 3 years. I've now been a SAHM for 5 years and am hoping to go back to work next year and I have no clue what to do!