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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:
singingcat · 04/01/2011 20:31

School secretary. That is your only choice as far as I can see. But you DO have to go in every day during term time, and a bit of holidays. Otherwise you'll be sacked.

Maybe just don't work, if it's that important to you.

littleducks · 04/01/2011 20:31

Become a dinner lady at your kids school

NorfolkNChance · 04/01/2011 20:31

pickyourbattles

Ah true about the illness factor although my school have (so far) been pretty good on that score but I do have DH as a back up.

HOWEVER teaching or jobs in a school are some of the (very very few) term time friendly jobs OP so either go down that route or suck it up, as someone earlier said it is an employers market.

Cleofartra · 04/01/2011 20:32

It is possible to find work that fits around school times - you just need to accept you'll have to work in the evenings and at weekends. I work two evenings (8pm to 10pm) and between two and four days a month (10 - 4) at the weekend. This gives me a monthly salary of about £800 to £1000 a month.

I don't like your phrase 'dumping your children' when it comes to childcare, but I do understand why parents don't sometimes want to use after school clubs and holiday clubs. I'm happy to use them for my two older children but my youngest has s/n and isn't well catered for. He gets so miserable and spends the whole time wandering around on his own. Because of this I won't work unless DH or my mum is there to care for him.

Have you thought of registering as a childminder?

btbetty · 04/01/2011 20:32

As a hiring manager I would have serious concerns about your commitment to the job -in this market employers expect a high level of commitment ( rightly or wrongly).

I am saying this as a mum who works full time, who has staff who are in the same situation as well am my own direct boss. The reason I am telling you this is to show I am not unsypmathetic to the juggling a working parent needs to do but in the real world work places expect you to be there when they need you.

My DS is 10 and in the very unlikely instance where he has been ill DH and I half the responsibility or on the odd occasion we have both had meetings or something we really couldn't miss we have asked my mum to do a couple of hours until we could relieve her. In 10 years it's only been 7 days give or take 1 or 2 so not a big deal.

Why are you wanting to work? If it's for financial reasons then you've just got to manage juggling the best you can -if it's for adult company why not look at voluntry work.

hpsaucy · 04/01/2011 20:32

if you are a jamie oliver fan you would know all about his direct sales business and you could work for him!!!

StarExpat · 04/01/2011 20:33

Hmm you have a very narrow mind, OP.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 04/01/2011 20:33

only read OP

YADNBU! I have one of these jobs (thankfully) and will not be letting it go any time soon! (prob WHY these jobs are so few and far between?)

gordyslovesheep · 04/01/2011 20:33

maybe the OP could get a job in a nursery - and stand there tutting and herumphing when other parents drop their kids off

I never understand why dads are so unimportant to women like this?

pozzled · 04/01/2011 20:34

When I read the thread title I was all set to give you some ideas about where to start looking. But obviously have no real desire to find a job. And you don't have to, lucky you, you are free to take your DCs to school and be there for every illness, nativity play, sports day or whatever. Great for you.

Your implication that I obviously care more for expensive holidays and cars than my DC (because I work outside school hours) is, however, utterly ridiculous and offensive.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 04/01/2011 20:35

No chance you can do something in education? Would be the obvious choice..

pink4ever · 04/01/2011 20:36

"when they are at school is someone else looking after them?"-Yes thats why its known as in loco parentis. But good on all you wohm for telling the rest of us sahm/lazy cows where we are going wrong. Personally I wouldnt like to take young dcs to school at 7am,drop them off at breakfast club and then pick them up from after school club at 6pm.8but each to their own*.
Before I get accused of being anti-wohm let me point out that I was raised by one but I have been really riled on here tonight by some of the vile comments made against sahm.
op-yes these jobs are very hard to come by,especially if you dont have school clubs(not all schools do) and family or friends to help out.Also with the current economic climate think some of these self righteous wohm better watch out or they may find themselves sat on their arses at home all dayHmm

indiechick · 04/01/2011 20:36

Have to say I wouldn't employ you, but have you thought about working when your partner doesn't? Evenings and weekends?
Or do you just not want to work?

bumbums · 04/01/2011 20:37

Jobs in schools have to be the only option. Class room assistant, dinner lady?

mollymole · 04/01/2011 20:38

anyone came to my family business for a job would be expected to have prior arrangments for childcare (o.k so there may be an emergency) but at the end of the day your employer expects you to be at work - if you are not there who do you expect to do your job ???? - and yes I've been there and managed with no family to help out

KindleTheSky · 04/01/2011 20:38

Um have i missed something here you are all being a bit mean Hmm

bumbums · 04/01/2011 20:38

Unless you work for yourself, beauty therapy, homeopathic medicine etc?

Tee2072 · 04/01/2011 20:39

Work for yourself. That's what I do.

Of course that means I sometimes work evenings after my son is in bed. And I work some weekends. Or very early in the morning. Clients like it when you make deadlines. Or they fire you.

StarExpat · 04/01/2011 20:39

I'm with moonbag

Violethill · 04/01/2011 20:39

Oh god cleofartra no, don't suggest she becomes a childminder, she'd slag off all the parents who paid her wages!!

FakePlasticTrees · 04/01/2011 20:40

They pay people to supervise those before and after school clubs, your DCs would be in them, but being looked after by you, would that work?

If it's going to be in school hours, school secretary, TA, dinner lady etc. all work for the hours, but then you can't just take the day off randomly when your DCs are sick. Does it have to be just in the school hours? Could your DH move his working day so he does drop off at school in the mornings, so you could work an early shift somewhere and be home in time for school pick up?

On the otherhand, would your DH look after them when they are sick? Could your PIL? Your parents?

StarExpat · 04/01/2011 20:40

oh my god oh my god oh my god!

mooddog
sorry
sorry
arghhh
I wonder if I can get that deleted!

bumbums · 04/01/2011 20:41

Yes everyone is being rather touchy!Hmm

wigglesrock · 04/01/2011 20:41

Oh I clean, 9.15am-1.15pm two days a week, another 5 hours on a Sat and one evening shift 6.30-10.30pm in an entertainment complex, school cleaners get most holidays off!! If any of my children are ill, I get by with the help of family members, or my husband who works shifts can step into the breech. Interested???? Sorry have I missed why you can't work weekends/night shifts/?

JarethTheGoblinKing · 04/01/2011 20:41

That's what I thought Kindle. I'm VERY lucky that I have a flexible job that can be fitted around childcare (one of the reasons people where I work tend to stay there for life if they have kids!)

Think the OP just phrased her post badly tbh (the dumping kids comment was a bit Hmm)

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