I'm a single parent and I moved near my family(my parents) for support 3 yrs ago. (My ex also moved near his/his job).. I've just started a job on 50k pro rata which I never dreamed of!!.. its 24 hrs a week..so is 32k... its flexible with one day working at home, one day non working and 3 days in office but it's a 60 mile car drive plus park and ride and takes 1.5 hrs total mins each way.. it's only 3 day a week commute and I leave 730 am.. leave office 315and home by 5 (so i realise thats not bad at all).. but its a v long car journry and petrol!!..
but altho my family are so helpful with childcare we aren't close emotionally.. I keep thinking if I move nearer the office I could save so much on travel and work a few more hours plus I'd actually be closer to sons dad... At moment he lives 1.5 hrs away but my job happens to be 45mins from my sons dad!
I have no emotional ties to my parents..they are great with child care having my son any night I fancy off but there's history of me and my mum not getting on so to be honest I'd only be missing the free child care but not missing any emotional support (sounds harsh but put it this way she made me feel crap as an overweight daughter but treats my son like a prince). I guess the only thing stopping me is I'm scared to be locked home alone 7 nights a week with no free child care but I'm sure I could hire one once a week with all travel money im saving!! Would u go for it? Or not??