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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

517 replies

jamieoliverfan · 04/01/2011 20:08

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.

OP posts:
ENormaSnob · 04/01/2011 20:21

Think it's the superiority complex about not using childcare that grates on me.

SleepingLion · 04/01/2011 20:21

What moondog said.

Why should paid employment fit around your family life to that extent?

You get a job and you plan your life and your childcare appropriately. Sometimes it means making difficult or unpalatable decisions but that's real, grown-up life. But if you don't want to use before or after school care/holiday clubs and your DH isn't prepared to take time off when your DC are ill, it doesn't sound as if you are going to cope with juggling a job and motherhood anyway.

Do you need to work for financial reasons?

fairtradefloozy · 04/01/2011 20:21

Run your own business from home, if you have any skills that will enable you to do that eg bookkeeping, PA, accounting etc.

How you might keep clients though I am not sure if their keep missing their deadlines because your kids are sick.

expatinscotland · 04/01/2011 20:21

'Also, we do not need the latest car and expensive holidays, clothes etc. to be happy ...'

because everyone who has to work to survive is just doing it for expensive holidays and gadgets. it's so fun, this working lark, that people do it just to dump their kids on someone else, nothing to do with bills.

how about becoming a prostitute? you can fit it round the kids' activities, get paid and have sex, too!

MadamDeathstare · 04/01/2011 20:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thisisyesterday · 04/01/2011 20:21

OP- does your husband work?
if so, and you are just looking to increase your income then just keep searching. something will come up eventually.

i don't think you BOTH need jobs that fit in around school time do you? as long as one or other of you is around that should be fine?

expatinscotland · 04/01/2011 20:21

'Also, we do not need the latest car and expensive holidays, clothes etc. to be happy ...'

because everyone who has to work to survive is just doing it for expensive holidays and gadgets. it's so fun, this working lark, that people do it just to dump their kids on someone else, nothing to do with bills.

how about becoming a prostitute? you can fit it round the kids' activities, get paid and have sex, too!

DarrellRivers · 04/01/2011 20:23

You find the job and then the other stuff fits around
You can work part-time
But start with a positive attitude and you are much more likely to find one Grin

pickyourbattles · 04/01/2011 20:23

Norfolk, how on earth could a teacher work through the illness of his/her own children?! Shock Do we take them to work with us?

Teaching is one of the worst professions for taking time off with sick children - it costs the school a fortune in supply cover and we have no flexibility in hours to make up the time we missed.

No such job exists as the OP well knows Hmm.

kenobi · 04/01/2011 20:23

moondog, Goober: bit harsh. I think Jamieoliverfan has a valid point if you look at this thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1116983-to-be-pissed-off-that-DH-told-me-infront-of-inlaws-to-go-back-to-work
A lot of people are telling that woman that she SHOULD get a job. Even though she has to pick kids up from school, hols, sickness etc. So how does that work? It's not really about having cake and eating it.

Anyway to answer your qu JOF, there's nothing with those hours in my line of work. We get by with a mix of nursery, baby sitters and very wonderful grannies. DD has been constantly ill since she started at nursery in Oct and I have had to take several days off work. I have been there for a few years so have built up a bank of goodwill, otherwise it would have been untenable. I simply don't know how other people do it and I have serious, hardcore respect for them.

lochnessmumster · 04/01/2011 20:23

Why don't you get a job in the evenings? My other half works monday to friday, 9 to 5. I'm home with the kids all day and go out to work 4 or 5 nights so even when they're ill one of us is always there.
Maybe you should cast you're net a bit wider when looking for work

LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse · 04/01/2011 20:24

are you just too tight to pay for childcare?

theagedparent · 04/01/2011 20:24

Why not get your dh to get another job? Mine has 4 jobs x

expatinscotland · 04/01/2011 20:25

Becoming a pro works! You can start a blog, too, like Belle du Jour, then write a book about it.

Just try to avoid passing all those illnesses to your clients.

gordyslovesheep · 04/01/2011 20:25

well the main person telling her she sould get a job is HER HUSBAND - so I guess that's between them - other people are just saying maybe he has a point :)

Simbacatlives · 04/01/2011 20:26

I read this before anyone replied and thought it was a troll wind up thread.

20 days off in 1 term? My children had less than 5 days off in 7 years at primary school.

kenobi · 04/01/2011 20:27

Wow, in the time it took me to write my reply I read your post with the comment "we don't like dumping them on others". Words fail me and I'm afraid I am walking away from your camp and going to sit in Moondog's.

If she'll have me..?

expatinscotland · 04/01/2011 20:28

If I had some wank stain for a spouse who mouthed off about my 'earning my keep' like some Edwardian scullery maid, I'm becoming a prostitute and see how he liked that.

Don't know why anyone would put up with someone like that. I mean, on your own you have to earn your own keep anyhow, so why waste time with someone on your back about what a slacker you are all the time?

Sequins · 04/01/2011 20:29

If school is OK but your children being away from you in any other context isn't, then send them to boarding school (state ones exist) and then book holidays for the holidays. Then you can do any job you want.

Violethill · 04/01/2011 20:29

"our children are the priority for us and we don't like dumping them on others. Also, we think we are best placed to look after our own children as we clearly can solely focus on them and have their best interest at heart. "

You're not very logical are you? Your children are at school between 9 and 3, so presumably you're 'dumping them' then, no? If not, then what's the difference between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock?

Violethill · 04/01/2011 20:30

Actually, forget it OP, I'd say you're pretty unemployable. Bad luck.

hatwoman · 04/01/2011 20:31

yanbu to think there are very few such jobs. the reality is that it is hard for an employer to offer the kind of flexibility you're after. a handful offer some level of flexibilty but you can't really expect them to be able to give you extended periods of unpaid leave with no notice to deal with sickness - think about it - they are paying you because they need something doing. how is it going to get done if you can't come in all week because the kids have got flu?

having said that schools are most likely to be able to offer term time only - but, as a result, competition for jobs in schools is fierce. the other option would be agency work eg care work - years ago when I was a student I did this and could tell the agency when I was available week by week. the flipside is that there's no security - some weeks they might not have any work for you - and you won't get paid leave or sick leeave. (the pay is usually better to compensate for this). the third option would be some form of self-employment - selling stuff eg the book people, those cards, various other party-based selling. or a franchise pre-school activity like Monkey Music.

Teaandcakeplease · 04/01/2011 20:31

Have you thought about working in pre-school? The hours at my local one are 9.15am to 12.15 and you can qualify with the Pre-school Learning Alliance or Open University. The OU course also allows you to become a teaching assistant instead. Both work around children's holidays.

Hoping this is a genuine question of course but if you do not need the second income then remain at home or do voluntary work instead?

Sequins · 04/01/2011 20:31

Having just read "Room" I am not convinced that spending time 24/7 with your child is really the way to help your child grow into the world anyway.

GettinTrimmer · 04/01/2011 20:31

I can only think a job in a school would suit you, but they are very competitive - an LSA post was filled by a qualified teacher at my dc's school recently, I agree it's an employer's market out there.

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