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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask what jobs you do that fit in well with school hours?

111 replies

Cakebaker35 · 14/08/2013 14:28

Came up in conversation this week with a group of friends about what jobs work well around school hours etc, am genuinely interested to know what you all do that works well around your family?

A bit of context, I'm currently a SAHM which I really enjoy but plan to go back to work once DD goes to school. However previous career is totally incompatible with family life due to long hours/international travel and frankly I just don't want to do what I used to do anymore.

The friends I was talking to all said they think the only way is to work for yourself. Do you think this is true?

OP posts:
PoisonedApple · 14/08/2013 19:01

This is a really useful thread OP, I'm in the same boat (minus the glamorous International bit!) and am desperately trying to come up with something that works round me rather than me round it.

I have done a lot if copywriting/proof reading and bid writing and wondered if all of you that do this freelance could advise where to start? I would be hugely grateful, my maternity leave is vanishing fast and I'm starting to panic...

Also OP your brain will (mostly) recover - it took mine 3 years and I've just scrambled it again with DD2!

ubik · 14/08/2013 20:11

I often wonder how people do nights with no childcare...I finish at 8am and am home at bout 9 and need to sleep until at least 4pm to be able to function that night.

ImATotJeSuisUneTot · 14/08/2013 20:15

I used to shift run for a restaurant - 11-2, now I'm a TA.

Tallalime · 14/08/2013 20:18

I have two jobs, one is 20hr a week, contract coordination for a huge international company.

The other is on a self-employed basis, taking inventories on rented properties and then typing them up.

I can fit them both round school hours, the first is only 4hr a day and they're flexible as to when I go in. The second I set my own hours, and if need be can take DD (and a film on my laptop) with me while I do the intended inventories and type up when she is in bed.

chickydoo · 14/08/2013 20:21

I work in the fitness industry
Teach about 20 classes a week.
Most during school hours. I also teach a few evenings and Sat morning.
Do pick up & drop off everyday. Always home to make kids something to eat. Eldest child of my 4 kids babysits the rest in the evenings, as DH doesn't get in until late.

Sparklingbrook · 14/08/2013 20:21

Everyone sounds really confident with their child friendly jobs. i need to find some confidence. I think I pushed all my confidence out with DS2.

BadPoet · 14/08/2013 20:26

Freelance here too, I worked on one contract from home for a good few years (with pre-schoolers) but now I juggle various projects. I'd like to be a bit more focused - thinking about what's next currently as I'm a bit tired of never knowing what my working life will be like 3 months down the line. I do use some childcare now though, luckily the school my children attend has wrap around care with flexibility to add/swap days with enough notice.

denialandpanic · 14/08/2013 20:27

local government 9 to 3 five days a week.can work from home.very flexible.salary sucks but what price flexibility???? could earn more in private sector but would spend it all on childcare

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 14/08/2013 20:29

Well, I'm confident in the one I've got, but unlike all the people who are self-employed / freelance I know that I am totally reliant on that one job, if anything happened to it there would be virtually zero chance of getting another similar one and I don't know what I'd do then, I am very admiring of people who go it alone. Your volunteering should help with confidence Sparkling? You come across as a very friendly and likeable person on here .

primallass · 14/08/2013 20:31

*Freelance writing/editing/proofreading which I can do from home. Freelancing is the best solution IMO, and it's very much worth developing something you can do from home.

Only downside is because you are around at home, you do end up being kind of a SAHM as well, however much work you have on, as you are the one who's in to deal with the plumber/attend school events/chuck a wash on etc. But I love not having to deal with a boss and managing my own hours.*

Exactly this. Except I am knackered from working through the holidays.

Sparklingbrook · 14/08/2013 20:32

It is helping Who, I have to do stuff a bit out of my comfort zone, speak to people I have never met. That sort of thing.

At the bank I was responsible for teams of between 12 and 48 people. I wonder where that person went? It's odd.

SilveryMoon · 14/08/2013 20:38

I'm a TA. I work 8:30 - 3:45. I am very lucky that I have a wonderful friend who takes my ds's to school in the morning, I drop them to her about 8am. Dp works shifts but can usually collect them from school otherwise they go to after-school club.
The great thing about it is having holidays etc.
My salary is pretty good for a TA so no grumbles there for me, the only down side is being around children 24/7. It'd be nice to have a break every now and again

LeepyTime · 14/08/2013 20:42

Software engineer - I work part-time (mornings) and we can work from home up to 3 days a week; handy for days they finish early etc. Also I can do extra/overtime hours at night if needs be, without interrupting time with the children (Single mom!)

BellaVita · 14/08/2013 20:48

I work in a school - 25 hours term time only. Admin. Fits in perfectly.

Sharptic · 14/08/2013 20:49

I used to work for local government, they were very family friendly and the office job pay was much better than private sector.

I used to fit my hours around the kids, often swapping and changing for school plays, events etc.

Morale was very low though, and rightly so.

monstermunching70s · 14/08/2013 20:53

I work as clerk to governing body at a local primary school. Attend meetings in evening when DH home from work and do all other related admin in the evening and at weekends. Only averages 20 to 30 hours per month but is a help.

WipsGlitter · 14/08/2013 20:57

I work in PR and start at 9.30 so I can do drop off. But use after school. Half day Friday.

I think sometimes its about getting a job and then negotiating over hours.

BewitchedBefuzzledBewildered · 14/08/2013 21:02

School Secretary in a naice girls' school. 8-4 one week and 9-5 the next. Some holiday time work but usually 9-3, say for couple of days during half term and a week during Easter hols. In Summer we get 6 weeks off :)
Prior to this I worked as a senior PA for 10 years, I now earn the same money as in my past job .

I use childcare during term but very little during the holidays as Private Schools have longer terms therefore my time off coincides quite neatly with state school hols.

LauraChant · 14/08/2013 21:08

I am a freelance journalist/ writer/ researcher and so is DH, we both work from home so can juggle childcare and school run. Most of my work comes from the magazine I used to work for and I also emailed everyone I ever worked with who is now a commissioning editor to let them know I am available.
It would be good to regularly blog as well to get my name out there but paid for work always takes precedence.

My plan B if the journalism dries up is to go into eleven plus tutoring, it is massive round here.

PeppermintCreamsSaga · 14/08/2013 21:44

I work for local government two days a week 9-5. (I was full time, but opted for a job share when I returned after maternity leave)

I have a MIL who does the school runs, but if she's on holiday, I normally take DS to school and be 5 mins late to work (make it up during lunch) and either DP will pick him up (he's a shift worker who often finishes at 2) or I will finish at 2.45 and pick DS up. I'll make the lost hours up during school hours on another day.

As I can do 9.15-2.45 ish any day during term time, I can be fairly flexible for meetings and training sessions, and can take the time back elsewhere. Can also nip out for school plays, sports days etc and make the time up elsewhere.

I get the equivalent of 6 weeks holidays, and I'm encouraged to take these during school holidays because it's a quiet time for my department. MIL normally looks after DS during the holidays, but if she's away we juggle it between the two of us. If we didn't have MIL for childcare we'd used breakfast club/after school club/holiday club or a childminder for wraparound care.

I also have the option of working from home. Not really done that yet, but will be good for snow/sick days.

Most of my colleagues do similar.

Wheresmum · 14/08/2013 21:46

Teaching!

cece · 14/08/2013 21:48

Teaching is not a good job to fit in with your DC's education! Long, long hours, you can never get time off for Sports Day or Concerts. The only good thing is mostly the holidays are the same - except for when you have to work during the school holidays.

SophiaStantonLacy · 14/08/2013 21:54

I work for a charity doing admin based at home so work mornings (whilst littlest is at nursery) and evenings when they are in bed.

Arisbottle · 14/08/2013 22:01

I think if you are determined to tame teaching work with a family than it will do. I see far more of my children than I did in my previous career. Once they get to secondary plays etc are in the evening and parents don't go to sports day. If the OP has a partner or husband he can do sports day.

Arisbottle · 14/08/2013 22:02

I would avoid primary teaching, they seem to work far longer hours than a secondary teacher.

I have never worked in holidays