Why is finding a job so bloody hard?!

[SailAwayWithMeHoney]

I'm a lone parent to DS who is 4 and ready to start school soon (🎉)

I've been on my own since pregnancy and had to resign from both my jobs after DS was born sick.

I had to flee from DS bio-father when DS was a year so I no longer live anywhere near my family. (That's important as it means I have zero help, zero chance of help, and no one at all in the world to babysit)

Why oh why is it so bloody difficult to find a job that is going to fit in with school hours?!
Everything I'm capable of doing, qualified to do, would likely get a job doing again, always involves some evenings and at the very least alternate weekends. Childminders don't work those sorts of hours!

Help me MN - how do you lone parents with zero support juggle work and home?

(Disclaimer - please do not suggest I work in a school or nursery. I am absolutely not fit to work with children. 😬)

I'm suddenly really worried I won't be able to make it all work?
Like work hours, childcare, financially. Probably overthinking!

Go sail you can do this !!

You will do it trust me 100%

I've got the job - subject to dbs and references all coming back ok.

Training starts first week of July.

Childminder can't take DS until the 24th July.

I can't ring dwp yet because I have no hotbed a contract. Same with tax credits. A couple of friends will watch DS for me outside of childminder hours if I pay them. Somehow got to find weekend childcare and childcare for the training days.

Childminder says I can pay in arrears at first until tax credits are sorted but then need to pay up front.

Still very worried I won't be able to juggle it all. Scared I'll fail. what if we end up in a worse financial position?

All the baby sitting favours from friends need to be reassessed once ds starts school in September aswell.

Have not got. Not have no hotbed.

Congratulations! You have to just go for it. The first bit will be really hard while you find your routine but it will be better in the long run.

I think you can ring tax credits and estimate what you are going to be earning for the coming year. Entitlement is based on previous had year anyway.