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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:
TandB · 04/01/2011 21:46

And there we have the admission by the OP that she knew her phrasing would offend but did it anyway. Jolly good, OP. A good, solid contribution to MN.

ssd · 04/01/2011 21:46

to the op, I've got a school hours only job that allows me to work when dh is at home during school hols and I have to take time off when the kids are sick and I don't get paid

its taken me years to find this as like you I don't want to pay for (also can't afford!!) childcare, especially during the summer hols

I work in a kitchen getting the minimum wage< I earned more 20 years ago, but if you don't ever want to use childcare and you still have to earn money a job like mine is what you end up with

HTH!

007alert · 04/01/2011 21:46

Crikey. Good thing I didn't try to get work as a secretary, I type so slowly there's been a trillion posts since I last managed to compose one. Was pouring more wine though too - I don't go back till Thursday!

JarethTheGoblinKing · 04/01/2011 21:47

007alert - I totally agree with you. I grew up in a house with a work-all-hours Dad, and a SAHM Mum who started work when my youngest sibling was in secondary school... SAHM's, don't kill me, but when I was a kid I did always wonder what she did all day Wink. In reality, she did bloody EVERYTHING to do with the house, but as kids we got the very strong impression that Dad was more valued because he worked (he was the only one with life insurance, for example)

It definitely had a strong impact on me, I'm trying hard not to pass those ideas on to DS.

BeerTricksPotter · 04/01/2011 21:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

loflo · 04/01/2011 21:48

Oh violethillcomeandjoinourcovenandputyourtongueupmybumtoo - come and play!

Honeydragon · 04/01/2011 21:48

LeQueen

Before you get on with subverting kungfus coven can I ask....

how did you manage going in and out the job market? I am due back to work and dh and I have realised after childcare I will be £60 better off , than if I stay at home and try and build up our business (don't claim tax credits btw before anyone starts). It is looking like I will have to be a sahm as if the kids are sick longer than a week I am out of pocket for the month Sad.

when you needed to go back did you struggle with a cv gap or was it not an issue?

TandB · 04/01/2011 21:49

Whatever, VioletmetellyouathingortwoabouttonguesHill

FabbyChic · 04/01/2011 21:49

I agree with Moondog

ssd · 04/01/2011 21:50

also don't get all the tut tutting going on, I didn't want my kids to fit round my job either, I wanted a job thats fits round them, the downside like I said is a lot less money and career choice ( thats a distant memory!), but if you are willing to put up with this to spend all the time the kids aren't in school with your kids, then thats what you get

howtoapproach · 04/01/2011 21:50

OP - haven't read whole of this but just to say:-

I had a part-time job in an office - left due to ridiculous amount of time I was taking off for DC's sickness. I felt really pressured and stressed that I couldn't put in the hours I needed to.

Things that have worked for me:-

Working evenings/weekends when my DH is home. That way don't need to take any time off for sickness or school holidays. I did care work - in hospital and a nursing home. You can work on the bank - and choose shifts available. Can be reasonably paid for out of ours work. Occasionally you do need to do training days though.

I now work from home, doing typing and bookkeeping. Managed to get this as a friend was looking for help and knew me. I don't think it's easy to find otherwise. But it works well in that I'm always here if there's a problem with dcs. Downside - you never really switch off (always answering emails) and it's a bit lonely sitting on your own all day.

Hope you find something.

loflo · 04/01/2011 21:51

Who is being horrid Oracle?

Violethill · 04/01/2011 21:51

Hey, listen up ladies!

Why has it taken so long to dawn.....

Schools went back today. OP has realised she has fuck all to do! Boredom is a dangerous thing.....

Fernie3 · 04/01/2011 21:54

I have to say i don't see whats wring with saying we want to look after our own child is that what all this is about or have i missed something?

Original poster
jamieoliverfan · 04/01/2011 21:54

Violethill OP is clearly not the only one!

OP posts:
CommanderDrool · 04/01/2011 21:55

Is book keeping hyphenated?

TandB · 04/01/2011 21:56

Yes you have missed something - the reference to "dumping" your children on others. And more recently the admission by the OP that she knew she was being offensive and that this thread was posted off the back of the other related thread.

Violethill · 04/01/2011 21:59

Well we bonded over it anyway didn't we kungfu? So served a useful purpose!

loflo · 04/01/2011 22:00

Oh check OP coming back for a last minute blow below the belt.......

Fernie3 · 04/01/2011 22:00

Oh that's not so harmless.

007alert · 04/01/2011 22:01

honeydragon often when you go back to work you will find that you earn v little additional money at the end of the month. I barely break even and a bout of illness can wipe out any extras at all. But, the longer the gap on your cv, the harder it will probably be to find a job and you may well have to go back in at a lower level than you are qualified for/where you left off.

Also, generally, your child care costs will go down over time rather than up, so it is worth taking a long term view. In many respects I wish I had gone back after a max 5 year break not 8 years as by now I would be earning significantly more than I am now and would have (hopefully) built up the kind of relationship with my employers where they realise that if I have to take the odd day off because a dc is ill then that's ok.

staranise · 04/01/2011 22:04

I do what I used to do in an office (edit) but as a freelancer from home.

Upside: I can do the school run, if the children are ill it doesn't matter, childcare costs are minimised (still significant as I have a pre-schooler as well as school-age children).

Downside: no money (instability of being freelance plus childcare), no career progression, no colleagues etc.

After four years of doing this, I'm about to start a part-time job - better career prospects, more money (eventually), but more awkward for family life.

You can't have it both ways. And yes, the idea that childcare is 'dumping your child' is wrong and offensive. I do wonder what SAHMs of school-age children do all day, all week - it's still their choice, whatever works best for them etc but that's 30 hours a week of 'running a home'?

saffy85 · 04/01/2011 22:06

Yeah OP too bloody right. My job pays for my 5 star holidays, flash car and fancy clothes Hmm

Obviously I'm screwing with you. it actually pays my fucking rent. And puts food on the table etc.

YABU to think that your expectations of any kind of paid work are realistic or at all reasonable of most jobs.

TandB · 04/01/2011 22:06

[grabs hold of Violethill and sings bonding songs]

loflo · 04/01/2011 22:07

Aw just ignore me then ya pair of witches Wink

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