I'm probably living in dreamland...

[dreamingintheclouds]

I'm on Mat leave after my 2nd baby and have made really good friends with someone with a baby of a similar age.

We are both due back to work soon and are both desperately sad about having to leave our babies. Both DHs have good jobs so neither of us need to earn a lot, but just a bit to make life more comfortable.

We've both been having a brain storm to see if there's anything we could do together that would be more family-friendly. We've considered various ideas from setting up baby classes to making things to sell on Etsy but haven't come up with 'the' idea as yet - that could be because it doesn't exist!!

But just interested if anyone has managed to make something like this work and if so whether they could share their ideas?

As the title says I realise I am probably living in dreamland here and ABU, as I realise we are in a pretty lucky situation and everyone feels like this about returning to work to some extent. But hey, you can only dream!

There's a problem with putting any ideas on here, though, OP, as someone else might pinch them!

Why wouldn't the baby classes work?
Maybe setting up something like a messy play class / baby sign. Something a little different.

No idea whether this would be commercial but I would love someone to run a toddler-friendly escape room. Something for adults to have fun with while the toddlers can enjoy wrecking things / helping to find and build things.

You could become a childminder, get a job in a supermarket or care home working a couple of nights a week, or a couple of evenings in a pub?
I think it would be a lot easier to do something on your own.

What about an Etsy jewellery shop, where you hand-make earrings etc?

@HamsterTrumpet

No idea whether this would be commercial but I would love someone to run a toddler-friendly escape room. Something for adults to have fun with while the toddlers can enjoy wrecking things / helping to find and build things.

Love this idea, thank you!

The thing here that I'd be most worried about is setting up a business with someone you've known all of five minutes … it's already a potential disaster. Different personalities, different work ethics and levels of commitment.
Be very wary of parting with any money.

This panic is normal. If you have a job you used to love I'd return, maybe part time, and see how it goes. I'm sure lots of parents on here can relate, this is normal.

Painting pottery cafe?