To ask why you go to work

[IamthepermedowlofVeronica]

Try to be brief but thorough....
Due back from 1 years maternity at the beginning of June. Hate job, don't want to go back. Have had offer of temporary ad hoc work between June and start of summer hols.
Wondered how much job seekers is whilst I apply and interview over summer hols. Did the online calculator tangy: If I work current hours and pay childcare I would earn £6 less than if I signed on job seekers.
So why should I go to work (no career, just a money earning job) and how does signing on work? Has anyone found it detrimental to confidence etc?
Hopefully I'll get another cash earning job in September or,something when ds will be 15 months

yeah I feel the same a lot of my friends who are also single parents have never worked and I've always worked I would be bored at home though

First and foremost to support my family. We could manage on DH's salary but it would be hard. I also enjoy my job and being on maternity leave ate away at my confidence so being back at work has given me a great boost :)

I'm not a mother so can't contribute in that sense; I have however been unemployed and hated it. Confidence and self esteem was the biggie - I felt so useless not working. I hated traipsing over to the jobcentre to have a smart arsed girl who's my age (so no right I felt to lecture me - what life experience does she have?) tell me what to do, that I'm not trying hard enough etc. They expect you to log on every single day, you need to justify your actions to them (like a naughty schoolgirl), and decision eg volunteering has to be ok'd by them first, and they expect you to do 35 hours of jobseeking every week minimum. Plus jobseekers is peanuts. I can see that JSA is better than nothing. But it's not easy to get, they make you jump through numerous hoops for your money, you're talked to like a clueless child, the money is ridiculous (would love to see the person who set the amount live on it!) and they make you attend helpful training sessions which give advice such as 'don't wear jeans to interview' - so basically assume you're thick as two short planks in any case

My job atm pays minimum wage (goes up after probationary period) so not much, but I feel useful, like I'm somebody. I did get a bit depressed when I was on jobseekers - couldn't see any direction for my life, wondered if I would always be unemployed, and the knock backs and rejections were painful.

In short, I go to work happy because:

• Self esteem and confidence
• I'm earning my money
• I have the chance of earning more money
• I have a lovely team
• I work in a children's home and like feeling like I'm making a difference

Why should you go to work? Really? Maybe you should ask yourself why I should go to work to keep you at home?

Because I love my job and want to set a good example to my children
Because I like earning money. Because I'd be bored if I didn't. Self esteem. Pride.