To quit a 50k a year job to retrain as a childminder?

[careerchangemaybe]

Just that really. I've recently returned to my job from maternity leave and I'm just hating the time apart from my DC, who is only 9 months. It's inspired me to consider a change of career to enable me to look after my child myself whilst earning a living. I know I'll make nowhere near my current salary but I'll be with my baby, so surely that makes up for the loss of money? Would this be an insane decision?? I do feel like I'm basing this more on emotions than logic. So happy to be told it's insane...

9 months old is such a great age...

You can also use parental leave to get more time off, albeit unpaid.

You could take 4 weeks extra off a year, which might be almost doubling your annual leave.

You'd still be quids in compared to childminding!

Have you considered being a nanny? I am one and returning to work with my baby. It won't be a walk in the park but it's what I know plus my baby and I can still earn.

I don’t think this would be a good idea sorry OP. But re jigging your hours or changing job to get more time with the baby might help

Can you go part time so less money but spend a day or two with your baby? When mine were toddlers working was a doddle compared to looking after them all day. I'd have gone mad if I had a house full that I had to prove myself to OFSTED for

The thing is, most women who went back to work didn’t want to at first either and they struggled too. But how you act now affects how much money you have when she needs help to get started in life. It affects the quality of her housing with you, the quality of her clothes, her toys, her food, her extra curricular clubs. It affects how stressed you and your partner are.

Money isn’t everything but it affects everything. It’s all on you & her dad to provide for her & future siblings.

I can tell you from experience getting paid when you are self employed is not easy, I’m very familiar with using the small claims online service now.

I wouldn't use a childminder who had their own young children at home with them, and I know a lot of people who say the same. Their child will always take priority as its nature to do that. You haven't even been back at work a month yet so take your time to settle in. If in 6-9 months you still feel the same look at it again then. You will probably only earn 12k a year, which is a hell of a drop from 50k! How will you cope financially on that. You will have Ofsted inspections, you have to follow the early years foundation curriculum etc......

Honestly, yes, it is a bit insane.

It may work out well when your dc is tiny, bit honestly, that is such a short period (and your care will be significantly compromised by juggling multiple dc so may not be the experience you are dreaming of).

I wouldn't underestimate the impact of financial worries or how constricting it is to be stuck in a low paid career further down the line.

Could you take a career break for a year?

The big longterm issue is, what do you do when your child is older? Will you still want to be a childminder when your baby is 5 or 10 or 15? And if there’s a chance you won’t - what do you do then? Will you actually be able to change back to anything like what you’re doing now with no recent experience?

Do. Not. Do. This.

A terrible idea. Sorry!

That yearning and separation is sooooo hard. It always annoys me when childcare is mentioned and women’s careers as if the only thing getting in the way is good childcare and mothers desire to actually be with their children is ignored.

But my DC are 10 & 12 and I am slowly rebuilding my career. I’m so glad I stuck at it through those tough early years. I have an ok pension, I have connections and I can now see ahead in 10 years time where I could end up in a senior position.

Also I hate to break it to you. Other kids are PITA! Parents of other kids that you are looking after are even more PItA!!!

You won’t have quality time with your baby because you will have to prioritise other people’s kids. That’s the reality.

I dud this OP.

I bitterly regret it - it really didn't work out well for my career. Or my relationship if I'm honest.

Yes, I had that time at home with my child which I'm glad I had but in retrospect I with I had tackled it in a better way - pared down my full time job by going part time and getting a balance that way.

I was out of my career for so long, it's been nigh on impossible to get my foot back on that ladder at a time when I've needed the salary the most.

@5foot5

Yes insane. Also, I must admit I would be hesitant about a childminder who was also looking after their own child at the same time. I would always suspect that their child would get most of the attention

Me too. I went to see a CM, on time and their child came in and said my child was touching their ps4, to which the mum replied, "ok, put it away". I realised in their home my child would be a second class citizen.

If you don't actively hate your job, I'd suggest sticking with it and reducing your hours. You'd earn a lot less through childminding, so would have to do a lot more hours, and that could lead to less one-to-one time with your daughter. Having a higher paid job makes things much more flexible, now and in the longer term.

There is NOTHING wrong with wanting to be with your baby. It's natural and should be norm (call of mermaids -- FGS). Babie's wellbeing is important too, not just career. Go part-time.

You will earn more working 1-2 days on a 9-5 basis with a small local firm than you will working 5 long days of childminding and feeling physically exhausted. And the 1-2 days away from your baby will be good for them in terms of healthy separation - otherwise you will be building a rod for your own back because when your child gets to 4 and has to be prised away from due to severe anxiety at having to attend nursery/school alone, that will be even more heart breaking…

I think it’s a good idea!

@user1478172746

There is NOTHING wrong with wanting to be with your baby. It's natural and should be norm (call of mermaids -- FGS). Babie's wellbeing is important too, not just career. Go part-time.

Thank you for this (and others who've acknowledged this point). It is incredibly hard. I've chosen to ignore a couple of previous posters who used terms like "ridiculous" or "a bit wet" to describe my yearning for my baby when I'm at work. I can only assume those posters are not strongly maternal like I am. 🤷‍♀️

It's a bad idea.

I understand that you aren't happy with how things are right now but this a nuclear option. Please consider a long term view and don't destroy your career and financial prospects.

Consider cutting your hours at work for a short term fix.

I agree reducing hours would be a good compromise rather than giving up career. Is your baby in childcare full time atm? I would also struggle to be away from my kids for so long. But I’d worry that you would also feel torn at hike as a child minder. Like if both your child and another were crying at the same time. It would be very hard.

OP, I did this. I had been made redundant. DP self employed and worked weird hours, weekends, overnight. I had to be in a position to do both ends of the day, drop off and pick up and DP opt in when he could, whilst still paying for the flexible arrangement . No family, no support. How can you work at that level and do it all?

That is half the story. I was an older mum and frankly, never thought I'd get the chance to be a mum, I was in the last chance saloon. I also knew my years of being mum were much reduced, I wanted every moment. So after maternity, I went back for a short time. I knew I wanted another and two at that level - impossible. I became a childminder.

It hasn't been easy. My eldest, 6 at the time, loved me having a baby in the house. She enjoyed the after school children too. My younger one (3) struggled a bit at first but then we got into a routine and while it was hard, it worked.

I went to every assembly, event, holidays, I was there. I've always been there.

It made me a better mum, planned activities, days out, picnics, I am the master of picnics! The paperwork and fear of ofsted is hard but there is so much support, childminders seek each other out and we nurture and help each other. I have met some amazing women and men in this work. You quickly get into a network and they are the people that sustain you. There are also online facebook groups galore for advice about everything, from activities for everything under the sun, paperwork, and when you need to vent. You are never alone.

If you really want to make it work the rewards are amazing in terms of the children and families you meet. Financially, it can be rewarding (get a pension sorted asap) lots of tax breaks too, and you get to be with your own children.

But now mine are older. I must admit, I'm a bit lost. What do I do now? For some, it's a vocation. I don't wish to return to babies and toddlers. I'm tired of my house always untidy, the instant cleaning, cooking. (Pay for a cleaner, it comes off your tax) My children sharing me and their toys.

I'm early 50s now and wondering what is next. I see my contemporaries in high level jobs and think, on a bad day, I've wasted my education, degree, postgrad, etc zzzz. But I made these choices and as women, there is always guilt and worry.

But still, overall, I don't regret a moment. Still wondering what is next but I'm in a Biden frame of mind - it really is up to me.

Well I do it and I love it. I've been a childminder for a long time though, but recentlyhad a baby. I wouldn't give up a 50k a year career for it though. That would be utter madness. You will make a fraction of that and you really won't get to give your child much attention.

I wouldn’t choose a childminder who had her own young child as a mindee as I would worry there
mine would be a 3rd wheel. I did change careers after maternity so that’s not totally ruled out. Can you go part time?

It's not pleasant (and also not accurate) to call you 'ridiculous' or 'wet', but the same goes for you casting aspersions on how 'maternal' other posters are, OP.

Alongside the points made by people who have actually had this experience, you need to be aware that it's extremely early days. Making what may well be an irreversible decision now wouldn't be wise. I'd be looking at reducing hours.

Childminding - during Covid?! Insane.

Trust me OP - I know some childminders - they wouldn’t recommend it but can’t go back to what they were going before.

I'm surprised by the strength of feeling against this to be honest. I was a childminder and enjoyed it and felt like it was a perfect way to be with my kids and still earn money. However, it is very tough and if you want to go back in the career you're currently in will have a huge negative impact on that so I would definitely take your time over this decision. Really investigate the reality of it, how many kids would you need to have in order to earn enough? Understand that it won't be like your maternity leave, it will be a bit compromise as your time won't be your own the same way.

Just to reassure you, I never came across the attitudes here of not trusting someone with their own kids. I was always full with a steady stream of enquiries. I think having my own kids worked in my favour, the other kids loved them and I absolutely got how tough it was being a working mum and felt a real sense of teamwork between our families. That anecdote up thread about the ps4 is bizarre in its conclusion that their own child would come 2nd place simply because the childminded kid was told to put the ps4 away. I don't get that at all...my lot all had to put away anything not suitable for sharing. Why wouldn't they?!