Work from home jobs?

[Catarinah]

Hi. So I'm currently on mat leave with my first baby who's now 4 months old. I am hoping to take another 8 months off so will have had a year, but, the thought of him going to nursery is already giving.massive anxiety and although it's early ish, I already know I wont feel comfortable for him to go to day care at 1. So... My question is, do you have any ideas of jobs I could look into that would allow some income by working from home? I am an education welfare officer and on good pay, but also a qualified teacher. I'm not sure whether I want to not work all together and do something from home so I some form of income, request to go part time in my current role or go and do some supply work (I'm also a qualified teacher and my boyfriend is a education recruiter... Handy really....) My mum said she will look after our boy 1, possibly 2 days a week, so I guess whether i work part time or not at all depends on that. I just don't know what I could do from home to earn some money if it comes down to not returning to work. Also, were hoping to move before baby no.2 to a bigger house, will we struggle getting a mortgage with one only my oh working? Thanks

Childminding? That's what I do, but it's long hours, not a high pay and can be stressful sometimes but I love it.

You are not married, you have no financial security, go back to your current job full time and split the childcare costs with your boyfriend. You can get tax relief on the cost of childcare. If you want to reduce your hours then get married.

I second getting married before you consider quitting your job! You have no protection for loss of income if you split up.

Bear in mind the strong possibility that your mum might not be willing or able to follow through on that childcare commitment long term.

As a teacher you could do some tutoring.

Stick with your job for now. Chances are they'll be offering much more flexible working soon anyway. If not Civil service are very flexible employers and with your skills you'd be able to go into many departments but DfE or Ofsted particularly

Unless you’ll be childminding, there really are no jobs you can do ‘working from home’ while simultaneously caring for your child. If you want to be self employed and can manage to run a part time business working naptimes and evenings or weekends, sure. But no employer will pay you to be at home working with small children in normal circumstances. Also it’s absolute hell frankly.

Children benefit from having carers who can give them focused attention and care. I have no guilt about mi e going to nursery. They had an amazing time and made wonderful friends. But it’s awful to sit in front of a screen all day shoving your kid in front of the tv so you can send some emails. And it’s no good for them either.

Also if you plan on becoming self employed, yes, it will be hard to get a mortgage for the first 2 years until you can prove your business plan will work. Can you get a mortgage for the house you want on one income? Do get married first. But also if your mother can provide childcare. You don’t need to work at home.

Four months is so young and right now the thought of leaving him in nursery will be understandably very daunting. I’m not saying it’s easy once their older, but it’s certainly feels less scary. I would go part time in your current role if you can. It will give you a nice balance. My DC is with a childminder, from what I can tell he has a great time! If you enjoy your job and need the money then it will be good for you and nursery will be fun for your DC. Although if you’re mum can do childcare I don’t understand why the nursery thing is an issue?

Second what a pp has said, unless you'll be doing child care, no employer will hire you to simultaneously work from home and look after your child

I think the expectation that you will be able to work from home with a one year old is a bit unrealistic. It only really works if you work for yourself and don't have a fixed time when anything has to be done. DP and I were both working from home with a 13 month old (me only part time) for 2 weeks and after that I took unpaid leave because it was impossible to get more than a 10 minute stretch undisturbed and we both barely got any work done and I wouldn't consider my child to be a particularly demanding one.

Can you see if you can go part time in your current role? I know it's boring to repeat everyone, but you'll be in a very precarious situation if you aren't married. What about tutouring that you could do in the evenings, weekends or online? Working standard hours when your other half is out of the house won't work with a one year old. Unless you really want to be a childminder and not just because it means you can be with your child, please dont. Also I felt the same as you when I started maternity leave, we were both ready by one for him to start with the CM; not saying this will be the same for you, but maybe stay open minded and see how you feel.

The ideal situation is going part in mt current role and my mum to childmind 2 days leaving possibly only 1 day to sort. But that's if my boss would allow me to go part time as i manage half the team although (not in an arrogant way) she does really value me as a worker so I'd hooe she'd rather have me part time than not at all. Funnily ebough, childminding is something I'd like to do after buyint a bigger house as I also speak Welsh and not many people do where we live, but the demand for children to learn is high... And as I mentioned I'm a qualified primary teacher too and a welfare officer so I have a wealth of experience working with children. Maybe I'll broach it with my manager sooner rather than later so I can start thinking of a plan... And if not maybe supply work part time but on a long term basis.