Hi !
So a bit of history, I've always worked full time in half decent jobs, I worked in police control room on decent money full time until I had my little girl who is 11 month now. I couldn't get the shifts/hours needed there to adapt to my new mam life so have a new job as a medical receptionist.
I have had to start working part time, and the receptionist role is pretty low paying - not far above min wage. I can't afford childcare full time. I use gran and grandad 2 days a week which I know is really lucky and I'm so grateful for that. So anyway, my pay has massively reduced, but so has my reliability. In the last few months where I've been brand new at my job, I've had to take unpaid time off for nursery closing and my little one having the flu ( not a cold, the flu !) And stomach bugs etc. It's been a nightmare. This has gone down as sick leave as I'm not entitled to parental leave, as I haven't been there a year yet. This means I get even less a month, and frankly look shit to my colleagues and employer. I mean I'd be annoyed at me if I was them. But what are you supposed to do???? What does everyone else do? Is there a secret I don't know about?
I've never been in such a financial struggle either. My partner is self employed and works HARD , in a physically demanding dirty long hours job which for some reason he enjoys, but he's in his 40s and has put his back out a few times recently so has had a few days here and there losing money.
I have an appointment with job centre to see if there's anything they can do to help but from what I've researched online there isn't. But I've never been on benefits or anything so don't know how it all works.
I love being a mam but God I wish I could go back to working full time shifts in the control room so we could have some money in and feel 'safe' instead of literally living week to week .
Is this the same with everyone or have we just messed up ??!