Giving up childminding for a full time job? WWYD?

[1CantPickAName]

Would I be unreasonable to consider this job?

I am currently a childminder and have been for 9 years. It allows me to take and collect my youngest child from school and easily attend school plays/parents evenings etc. I look after 3 children aged 1, 2 & 3, 3 days a week and some after school children 5 days a week, Term time only and I regularly get contacted to see if and when I will have vacancies.

My plan was to give up childminding in 4 years, when my youngest starts secondary school, I regularly check job websites to keep an eye on what’s out there and what salaries are like. None of the jobs I’ve seen would pay me anywhere near what I’m earning now. But childminding is hard, there are a lot of great things about it but my own children hate having babies in the house and often ask me when I’m going to get a ‘real’ job. I was successful in a previous career but it had a terrible home/work balance, hence why I became a childminder.

I have been asked if I would like to apply for a job that I really like the sound of and I absolutely am qualified for. I haven’t been offered the job, I have the opportunity to apply before it is advertised. It pays a salary comparable to what I earn now, even when I factor in childcare costs. It pays a lot more than any jobs I have seen and I doubt any similar opportunities are going to come up.

There are 3 major downsides;

The first is that it is about an hours drive from my home on the m25, and that is if there are no delays. It is actually only about 20 miles from my home but that would mean driving through London in rush hour or it is 40 miles on the m25. It’s about an hour on public transport but that too can be unreliable and expensive.

The second downside is that it is 9-5 mon-Friday so means leaving home at 7.30 and maybe not getting back until possibly past 6.30pm, depending on travel. That is not striking a great home/work balance. But the salary does make up for it and I will be able to take time off for inset days etc.

The third downside is that 6 families would have to find alternative, suitable childcare (7 families if you included mine)

I’m really torn as it is a great opportunity. Any advice or insights would be very much appreciated

I wouldn’t worry to much about the other families (and I don’t mean that to sound as bad as it has probably come across, but...) in the same circumstances, very few families would worry about you and your income if they were thinking about changing childcare provider. At the end of the day, we are all replaceable and although at the beginning, they might struggle to understand your reasons, in time, they will remember this is your job and you are as entitled as anyone else to change direction if you want to. You have to do what is right for you and your family and if you feel that this job is where you want to progress to, then do it.

Thank You @Maryann1975

How will your chilldren feel about now having to go to a childminder themselves, instead of being at home?

It wouldn't do for me. I like being around before and after school for mine, even though they're in high school. I think it must be super stressful to work outside the home all day and then have to do everything when you get home. (Not that I spend the day cleaning or anything but I can accept parcels or put the occasional wash in).
Plus after being a cm for so long I'd really struggle to go back to having a boss. I like to be in control of my work.

It depends if that's what you want? You've been around your children so long and now you won't be there at all really if you get this job. The only family you need to worry about is your own and if it works for you. Personally I'd not go for it because of that commute and the long hours!

I think the commute will be the main problem unless you have plenty of backup if you get stuck in traffic etc

Agree that the commute is probably going to be your main problem. I use the M25 a fair bit to visit family and when it goes wrong it goes badly wrong.

How do you think your children will be going from home 24/7 to being in childcare 5 days a week?

However, at the end of the day, if you are not enjoying childminding then you should definitely consider this job but bear in mind that you could end up in the same position you were in 9 years ago with regard to work/life balance.

I wouldn’t. The pros don’t seem enough for me.

I wouldn't give up the flexibility and opportunity to be able to attend school events etc yet. Also school holidays, it's sometimes really hard to get them off as lots request them, plus commuting is soul destroying.

I know 4 childminders that have given up for a job out of the home as eventually it was not compatible with their own children. However, what you are proposing is going from one extreme to the other. I'd keep looking for jobs if I were you.

I gave up childminding for a job outside the home when my youngest was in reception.
It wasn't easy telling my families but they understood. The relief of having my home back to myself made it worthwhile. I never liked the fact that random people and outside agencies could come and look around my home. As a childminder I was constantly worried that one of my parents might go on maternity leave etc and my income was unreliable.
Working away from home took some adjustment for us all, I suffered a type of homesickness for a little while . However it was so lovely to be myself again, get lunch breaks and work as part of a team. I think it also did my family good to see that I wasn't necessarily available at the drop of a hat , eg if they forgot something for school they learnt to deal with the consequences.
So I agree that maybe it's time for you to make a change but perhaps look for something a bit easier to accommodate to start with?

I had to decline the offer as my children’s dad wouldn’t ‘help me out’ by occasionally taking his children to their evening classes if I ever got delayed at work!

I will look for something in a few years when my own kids are older,

Thank You all for your replies

I worked as a Teaching Assistant and managed a crèche once a week.