Do you go out to work? what job do you do?

[SuperBunny]

atm, for reasons beyond my control, I am SAHM. I don't live in the UK but, if I move back, I will need to work. But how do you work if you have no family/ friends nearby to help with childcare? Do you 'just' find a really good childminder?

I used to be a teacher but I don't see how this would be possible now I have DS.

Hi
Well i am a childminder, i was doing this before i became a lone parent but its ideal now, means i am always here for my 2 during school holidays and if they are ill.

I look after 2 children whose mums are lone parents and they say without me their lives would not run so smoothly. I try to be flexible and as supportive as i can as i know how hard a job it is.

Thanks feelingold - I was thinking that would be the obvious solution, at least initially. And I sort of do it now, just without all the OFSTED regulations (because that isn't required here)

I will look into it. Can you earn enough money to live off though?

Hi again

Well I make a decent amount of money from it but I do work 5 x 10 hour days and I also get tax credits so I manage ok.

My mum bought me up as a single parent until I was seven. She ran a playgroup in the day (which I went to until I was at school) and worked ad hoc shifts in the evenings at the pub across the road from our house. She used to have holidays off and took me to the pub sometimes and I slept in one of the rooms upstairs, or she got a babysitter.
I think when I was ill I went to my grandparents or a friend of hers.

IMO If you move back to the UK you will be looked after in terms of benefits. Most of the childcare you will need will be covered. 80% provided you can work 16 hours a week. You will get top ups from Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits to a liveable amount.

If you can get into teaching here, even better.

Basically what I am saying is you have no need to worry if you want to move back. All childminders are registered and inspected. Just ask the local authority for there list.

Good luck.

Thank about Eve - I get nothing here so it's been awful and I know it will be easier in the UK. It's just scary!

50 hr week is an awful lot, FO but great that it fits in around DC.

Jeffa - it's that kind of balancing act that worries me! You hear all these stories of parents having 2 or 3 jobs and being there for their kids and I wonder how I'll manage it. I suppose I will because I will have to.

50 hours is a lot but i work 7.15 am til 5.15 pm mon to fri so not too bad. My kids get me to themselves at weekends.

Don't take any notice of hearsay. You will be fine and I'm pleased that I posted some reassurance for you.

It's not a bad setup here and no-one will starve but you have to cut your coat according to your cloth until you get on your feet.

I work 30 hours with one DC and no child care needed. It wouldn't be finacially beneficial to work any more hours as the day I have at home is paid for by the state IFSWIM. If I had a professional salary then it would be worth it.

Don't worry you will be fine.

Childminder here too, no other choice as can't afford childcare for 4 DC if I went out to work.

Thanks everyone

Could you do some tuition classes for kids? or supply teaching? supply teaching is good money and if you have a good agency who know your situation they can get you work on specific days?

I think I'll need to do a refresher course before I can do supply but I'll certainly look into it. Thanks.

def suggest you study/train/get more qualifications - whatever you'd like to go on to do.

i spent ages on IS when left with my 3 and wasted a lot of it - could have done loads of studying and training for free.

fortunately i do now have a brilliant job and a boss whose been happy to pay me to go to college where needed.

oh, and i'm a country estate worker type bloke, is excellent

bit of a mellors are we then sdo3
sorry for hijack there sb couldn't resist

I do 20 hours, went back to work after maternity leave for both children (was not single at the time).

Childcare has been a mixture of my mum and a CM. Would have been happy to just have the CM but am happier to have my mum involved.

I don't see why you couldn't teach still?
If you wanted part-time that would probably be a possibility aswell. I have friends who teach part-time and ds1 had job share teachers last year and this year.

SDOT, sounds like a great job. I had a friend who did that and it was perfect. I used to do some outdoorsy work but not enough to earn a living.

I will go back to teaching at some point but I don't see how I could work 60+ hours a week plus parents evenings and stuff until DS is a bit bigger and certainly not until I have good reliable childcare. We'll see - needs must & all that. I'll do what I have to do & DS will be ok whatever.

Will def look into training and courses though. Thanks for all help.

you could look at part time teaching jobs though. My friend (head of maths in a middle school - a job she applied for and got while pg with dc3) does 3 mornings, works out as 0.8 of timetable and she leaves at 1pm every day.

Yes she has parents evenings etc, and childcare for that would have to be sorted, but she doesn't have that many days when she goes back in the late afternoon/evening.

Not sure what you teach - I think part-time in secondary would be easier to arrange than primary, but as I said yesterday my son's yr Rec and 1 classes have both been job share.

If you enjoy teaching it seems mad to throw up a potentially good career with investigating the options.

Thanks Chasing Squirrels - I will definitely go back. I love teaching and have missed it so much - I was a primary teacher. I can't really decide what to do til I have moved and see what my options are. Part-time teaching would be ideal.

I am a teaching assistant in the school that my boys attend, so it fits in perfectly with school hours. No need for any extra childcare!

obviously you need to know where you will be and what is available. But as you already have it as a profession I certainly wouldn't write it off.

GOOD LUCK!