To feel bad for being a stay at home mum now the kids are at school..

[AG29]

Since September both DC have been in school. I’d always hoped I’d be able to work but it’s becoming so hard. I’ve looked into school hour jobs but there doesn’t seem to be much around. I’ve looked into working around my partners hours but due to his shifts I can only commit to a Sunday at the minute, I’ve looked into working from home but again I’m not sure what I’m skilled enough to do. Job opportunities where I live are limited and a lot of casual work is seasonal. What would I do in the holidays? My family don’t help and the local childminders are full (only 2 in the village).

OH works and earns an okay wage, we own our home and we aren’t well off but aren’t really struggling financially either. We have two DC and they both have additional needs which is making it harder. School meetings, appointments, speech therapy etc. OH works shift work.

OH is happy for me to be at home readily available for DC.

But I just feel bad. I feel like society expects me to be working and contributing now they are both in school.

I don’t have many friends. Most days I just stay in and potter around the house. I’m very house proud and spend a lot of the day cleaning. I just feel like I have no purpose anymore.

I would love to work and working in school time is a possibility but how do people manage in the holidays?

[fishonabicycle]

Well, you could use a childminder near where you work. Doesn't have to be in your village.

[Jimjamjooney]

If you do genuinely wish to start working again, how about volunteering in a hospital? From that you could think about training as a health care assistant. I'm not sure of the qualifications you need but it might be something you could get by going to college again part time?

You could potentially stick as bank staff choosing your shifts, or use that as experience to qualify as an occupational therapist.