Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask for career advice?

54 replies

whynowblowwind · 18/05/2014 15:08

I am 32.

I have a degree in English.

I have 2 children. DS is 7, DD is just under a month old.

DH doesn't want any more children as we have a boy and a girl now. So I need to be thinking of options post motherhood, when DD is older so in a year or so.

I'm struck with a lack of imagination. Any thoughts? X

OP posts:
headlesslambrini · 18/05/2014 15:10

What do you enjoy? What skills do you have? What type of environment do you see yourself working in? Do you mind studying again if you had yo?

cantbelievethisishppening · 18/05/2014 15:13

Teaching?

Lilaclily · 18/05/2014 15:16

Do you want to do another qualification to train to ge something ?
Like a teacher, solicitor, accountant ?

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 18/05/2014 15:17

What did you do before babies?

Original poster
whynowblowwind · 18/05/2014 15:19

I was a teacher. I wasn't very good though Hmm

I don't think I have many skills! Grin I need something I can do, I think, in the first instance, I don't mind studying again.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 18/05/2014 15:20

What work experience do you have, what career did you have before you had the children?

Original poster
whynowblowwind · 18/05/2014 15:22

Just teaching. I haven't really done anything else.

OP posts:
ThinkIveBeenHacked · 18/05/2014 15:23

What about Childminding? Then that also takes care of your childcare needs too.

TheFarceAndTheSpurious · 18/05/2014 15:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
whynowblowwind · 18/05/2014 15:26

I think I'd need something permanent.

DH would never let me have the house to childmind in. He works shifts and so is sometimes around and about in the day.

OP posts:
TheFarceAndTheSpurious · 18/05/2014 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Lilaclily · 18/05/2014 15:30

Adult education ?

weatherall · 18/05/2014 15:32

He won't 'let you'?? Wtf is he your prison guard or your DP?

DorisAllTheDay · 18/05/2014 15:40

I would also consider temping. You don't sound very confident in your own abilities, and your experience of sectors also sounds rather limited, so temping would give you the opportunity to build your skills and knowledge before deciding what kind of career and/or further training would best suit you.

ilovesooty · 18/05/2014 15:41

I think you might have to consider something flexible/freelance/self employed. Your husband's work isn't regular hours, and it sounds as though (forgive me if I'm wrong) he possibly isn't going to support you doing anything to develop your career where he has to pick up childcare or be involved in running the home.

Original poster
whynowblowwind · 18/05/2014 15:44

Lol @ prison guard. No, he's on shifts so if (say) he was on a night shift he'd then be disturbed the next day by children in his house, you see.

I really, really don't think I could do anything related to education. I wasn't very good at it and was very unhappy.

Temping is a possibility but I'd like to work somewhere I can get to know people/make friends?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 18/05/2014 15:47

Have you considered volunteering in a helping capacity first to meet people and gain confidence? What about somewhere like the CAB? You also build skills, get training and they do have paid openings sometimes.

Original poster
whynowblowwind · 18/05/2014 15:51

Thanks Flowers

At the moment I'm trying to look into voluntary work but it is hard working it around child care, we have no family who can help and while I wouldn't mind working for nothing in a sense, breaking even, it's another thing to LOSE money especially with such a young baby.

I just feel a bit lost and like the rest of my life will consist of children and housework and emptiness.

OP posts:
PeppermintInfusion · 18/05/2014 15:51

Temping is good for getting a feel for what you're good at. What about tutoring children or admin in a uni/college? I have a degree in English too, considered teaching but realised I wasn't suited to the classroom. Through temping I found more 'interesting' admin jobs and eventually ended up with a completely different career.

A lot of temp roles are relatively long term, say 1-3 months and some are open ended with a view to eventually making it permanent.

TheFarceAndTheSpurious · 18/05/2014 15:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ilovesooty · 18/05/2014 15:55

The thing is, if you want to get out and meet people it is going to have a childcare implication. Could you also consider doing some work from home:writing, proofreading (there are online courses) or something like that?

ilovesooty · 18/05/2014 15:57

Or if you want to get out and meet people, how about dog walking? Lots of working people would pay for that.

Original poster
whynowblowwind · 18/05/2014 15:58

I know ilovesooty it is difficult.

I think I might be a bit depressed actually and feeling like I should be doing something with my life more than I am. I feel really inadequate when I do meet other women because I have no career. (We live in a well to do area.) Most of the mums here are late 30s and successful, I met a lawyer yesterday.

I have toyed with social work, or nursing? Not sure really.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 18/05/2014 16:02

It is difficult, but given your husband's career it doesn't sound as though training for something like social work or nursing is at all possible with children to consider - at this time anyway.

Original poster
whynowblowwind · 18/05/2014 16:04

Sad you're probably right.

Unless we had a nanny or au pair? When DD is a bit older?

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread