to think that there are very few jobs which fit in with young children in school?

[jamieoliverfan]

Especially considering how often they get ill (my dc started in September and has been off ill for 20 days with 2 tummy bugs, 3 double ear infections and now tonsillitis and ear infection) plus then there are all the school holidays.

Both dh and I don't want to leave our dc in before and after school childcare or childcare during the Holidays as we believe that we should look after our own child. So I would like to know what jobs could you do between 9.30 and 15.00 Monday to Friday except term time and during illness?

I have contacted supermarkets: they were not interested re how to deal with flexibility in case of illness (dh cannot take time off in these circumstances)(i.e.unpaid leave I suggested, but that was not possible). Also contacted local businesses but they thought the hours were too restricted and that school holidays would be a problem.

Is there anybody who has a job during term time with some flexibility in case of children being ill? What do you do and how did you get it?

Thanks a lot.

Rocky we have no one who will look after our children. I'm not sure where you think that we can magic them up from? Yes I have friends but they are all either not local or they work during the day. Neither side of parents are local and my side will never BS anyway. We have not managed to get that friendly with any local SAHMs - it is not that easy if you move after having them and so miss the AN bonding stuff. both scholls have drop off systems so chatting in the playground is hard and the primamry mums are soooo anti any one who has "moved into the area" (ie hasn't lived here for 20 generations) that they will not talk anyway, let alone help with childcare.

I completely understand waht you're saying LeQueen and thetideis.

I'm so glad in retrospect that I kept some freelance work, even though I made no money doing it and it meant working many evenings and weekends (and still does) and a lot of hassle. However if you enjoy your work (and I'm lucky enough to do so), it was no great sacrifice - indeed, often it was a welcome break from being a SAHM.

More importantly it enabled me to keep some semblance of a career on my CV, which means that now I'm returning to a salaried job, I was able to apply for work that isn't too below what I used to do and ask employers for flexible hours etc, which I got.

So many SAHM I know say that they'll take a few years or so off work and then retrain or pick up something part-time. If only it were that easy.

I think that is very true.

I gave up my career, as it all seemed so impossible with young twins, a DH working abroad, and my Mother hundreds of miles away.

PLus we had moved into a new area so I didn't have any sort of support network.

I don't regret it, as I have managed to carve out for myself a much nicer life, but realistically, a few years down the line and I could have continued with my job. It would have all got sooooo much easier.

My friend's mother was told to give up work by her DH when she had her first child (totally barking, I agree, but anyways, that's what happened). So, she was uber-SAHM for (now coming up to) 30 years. Despite that, she has at times been incredibly miserable about this - her whole world was/is her children, and as they left to go off and live adult lives, she was left knocking around the house on her own. She's encouraged all her DCs to go out to work. She's at the point now where most people are retiring, and finding a job is completely impossible.

Although its not good for you LeQueen, hearing this from someone further along than me does actually help. We have 2 preschool children and I work part time. It has taken me 15 years to get the qualifications and experience I need to do my job and I am fortunate to be in a busy industry. Much as I love my kids and my job, I do sometimes wonder whether I am making the right choice.

I guess the reason why I am sometimes a little sensitive to posts like the OPs is the whole uncertainty/guilt thing. Its bad enough having the doubts in your own mind.

I am so glad I've read some of the comments on this thread, particularly LeQueen's and others' about their regrets. Will remember them next time I get this face --> from DM when I tell her I intend to carry on working after having DCs (considering I studied for 7 years, have spent years building up a good reputation and putting in the hours, and don't want to just drop it all like that to fulfil my DM's fantasy of a 1950s housewife).

Well I feel the same reading posts from people who managed to keep career going and are now reaping the rewards.

I end up thinking: ' oh fuck this isn't how I thought things would turn out.'

Sigh.

It isn't all bad. I am a very good baker now

Disclaimer: Not read the whole thread because I don't have an afternoon to spare but:

I am a franchisee for a well known preschool music franchise.
The job works for me because it is:

• term time (with the option of holiday workshops)
• school hours
• set own working hours
• can organise "catch up" sessions if kids are ill (although usually only do this in dire emergency).

Downside:

• very crowded market. Unless you are in an area with very few paid preschool activities then it would be hard to set up in this economic climate
• my brain is dying a slow death from singing children's songs

blindassassin - while it's good to have a support network of neighbours/friends etc for emergencies, imo I don't think it's fair to ask them to look after ill children, exposing them (or their own small children) to diarrhoea, vomiting, flu or whatever! I thought it was an unwritten rule that when your kids are ill, only parents should really look after them - or am I being too considerate?!

As dd2 is regularly ill (she has health issues), this is a big problem for me at times - in December, she was off sick for 7 days, surely your friends/neighbours have other commitments (eg work!) even if they don't mind looking after your children when ill?

It really is a struggle at times!

I'm now unemplooooooooooooyed!!!!!!!!!

Agree completely with LeQueen. The best way to get a job with flexible hours is to stay with your pre-children employer & negotiate reduced hours/term time only/whatever.

I do know someone who retrained & got a full-time job & negotiated part-time hours once she was there a year.

Exactly decorhate - make yourself indispensable.

mole1 that is true but there is no employer that wont let you have time off on the rare occassion that your child has diarrhoea/vomitting or serious illnesses. I'm taking about people to be there when your childminder's sick, or the school's closed for snow, or you have to work late, go to an evening work function etc.

If your child has health issues that is obviously a different case in point.

honeydragon what happened?!

Namechanger here but just tiptoeing on to thread to say I got a job today. Its local, two days a week, hours 10am - 3pm, in my area of expertise, on salary of £35,000 pro rata. Have been more of less out of jobs market for 10 years so am dead chuffed, but am in disguise just in case .

fourthattempt - bloody hell. That's brilliant

I don't mean to sound like David Cameron but I'd recommend doing some volunteer work - I've got some very nice projects mainly on the back of experience gained through volunteer work. It really helped when I wanted to change sector.

Most voluntary work offers much more flexibility in terms of hours etc than paid work.

Wow! Forthattempt, that's fab! But you realise that is EXTREMELY rare don't you?

I have worked in the recruitment field in various capacities for the past 17 years and I have never had a cleint who has happily considered someone with more than 2, max 3, years career gap.

Oh, and congratulations fourthattempt, that sounds fab!

They obviously couldn't resist me assassin .

Yes, I am very lucky, I am grinning. Oh, and I'm 48 too!

Oh arse, am clearly brilliant but I keep forgetting about the namechanges .

Is that you Bibbety!!!

Oh bibbity - 10 years out! - me too - that gives me hope (and I'm younger than you). But I don't want to go back to the same field ..... out of interest - have you done any voluntary work

Jobs in universities are much sought after, not that that makes you feel much better LeQueen, because universities usually don't mind you working flexible hours (e.g. 7am to 3pm) in admin jobs, and academic jobs are just as long as a piece of string in terms of the hours needed, but you don't need to be there 9-6 every day. I would encourage teenage girls to think about an academic career as it does have flexibility although the demands do seem quite great at times, and going 'part-time' and making professor is quite unlikely. I think being a GP is a good option as well (if only I wasn't scared of gore).

Otherwise, working in care homes doing nights or shifts is always always available round here, and I know more than one single mum who does 12 hour night shifts twice a week and looks tired in the playground the next day!