what kind of job fits in with, dropping off and picking children from school, having school holidays off and always being around for sickness etc?

[beachlover]

can you think of any ?
or is self employed the only way to go?
please give me some ideas,

Message withdrawn

MRM, well what are your skills and aptitudes? What are you interested in? There are quite a few things where you can pick your own hours to see clients etc - make-up artist, nail technician, freelance accountant, party planner...Actually it does sound like your best option might be a weekend job if you will only need to pay a childminder one weekend in four- how about something like working in a cab or courier office?

thanks for all the great ideas, the ones like like best are childminding, pet sitting, dog breeding,just thought of that myself, lunchtime bar work

i don't think i'd like working asda or similar really.

or selling porn !

i actually phoned a contact from my old job, well my bosses boss, who said they would love to have me back, but i would probably have to work at least 4 days a week and i know they would be long days, so although i don't feel that would be right, it kind of gave me a boost that they would still want me
guess i can't be that bad

i suppose to be totally honest with myself im not sure i really want a job, but feel a bit funny with dd starting school and feel a bit under pressure from family and friends perhaps because they think im a career girl or something, when really im a lazy sod
i really only fell into my old job to be honest.

can i just say don't be a teacher. it is not 8-4 every day. my dh is a teacher and this week will work 8-5.30, 8-9.30pm, 8-6, 8-8.30pm, and 8-4.
and he is justr a bog standard teacher, not HOD or anything.
if you were a TA the hours would be more like 8-4.

how about something like a receptionist at a vets/dentists/doctors?

I'm a TA, I work from 9 - 3.30. Love it.

la, do you work everyday?

don't really fancy being a doctors receptionist, but maybe working in a vets would be good, although more hand on with the animals

i really think im going to have to do something self employed as im too damn picky

lm i mean opps, and do you children at the school you work at?

you could prob get a job as a trainee vet nurse/receptionist then, might be good in the long term if they train you.

Yes, i work monday to friday.
I started there when my ds was 6, it's a different school to the one he goes to so then my hours were 9.30 - 3.00 so I could take him then go on to work. He's 12 now and at the secondary school so I now work 9 - 3.30, he leaves the house then I go to work but I'm still there for when he gets home.
I'm really lucky to work where I do, my boss is really understanding, and they've been brilliant over my hours and needing time off if ds has ever been ill.
I love my job, and I'd recommend it to anyone, really rewarding. And of course, the holidays are a definate bonus!!!

Some of us really have no help with childcare - dh works abroad and my mum died. Makes it hard for me. I have 4 children - do school runs at 7.30, 8.20 and 9.00, then again at 3, 3.15 and 4.20. Because of our rural location children can't walk, and there's no alternative if I don't pick up.
Dh never here so no use. Dh's dad has had a stroke therefore unable to help, my mum died, dad lives 15 country miles away. We are so remote that it is impossible to find a travelling childminder / cleaner etc.
I'd love to work. Very qualified teacher. Very open to suggestions.
It's not always that easy and not all childcare problems can be easily sorted.

I have worked until recently as a TA from 9.30am until 3pm, TA's can work less hours than teachers as you don't need to do planning or write reports.

I have friends who fit school hours around
Midwifery
Nursing
Physiotherapy
Gym Instructor
Counsellor
Environmental Health
Clerical
Farming
Country Park Ranger
Vicar (but she does do weekends!)

I work 9.30 to 3.30 for a major plc.I drop off and pick up each day, and can work flexibly during the major school hols. I put my dc into kids clubs for Feb and half of Oct half term, have May half term, 2-3 weeks at Summer, 1 week at Easter, and the bulk of xmas off. This is from banking hours owed. I am paid for 4 days a week, but work my hours to suit me, ie over 6/7 days. I know I am very lucky, but I do find that I have spent every day in the office for some time, apart from my 2 weeks abroad in the Summer. I often pick my dc up from school and bring them back to the office to do their home work whilst I finish something off. With a black berry and a work lap top I can do most office functions form home once the kiddies have gone to bed. In exchange for this flexibility, I find that I am working 40 hours +, but being paid only for 28. I think most big employers are wise to the fact that working mums are hard workers...

Sorry to hijack, but message for Egypt (don't know how to PM on here).

I heard that a woman who sells kids clothes and accessories through the fairs is trying to sell her business, so if you want something to do the hours might suit you. E-mail me on oldnewmummy @ yahoo.com.sg if you want to know more.

PeterDuck, thank you That texting research... never heard of it, but I'm intrigued!

I think whoever echoed me was right (sorry, forgotten who it was), in that getting childcare for the fourth weekend would be the best plan, and look for a straight weekends thing. In fact, some of my old colleagues might well give me a job, although the company was bought out by a horrible horrible corporation!

Nailpolish, I'd love to do straight opposites from dh. But he is out of the house 5.30am to 6pm one week, 11am to 11pm the second week, and then one weekend a month too. So its tricky to fit in with that!

Swedishmum - could you be an online tutor? There must be other families in your situation who can't find local tutors for their children.

mustrunmore, looks like you got good tips from others on this thread.

The only thing I wanted to say, and this is the big thing I learnt as an initially-reluctant-but-now-loving-it working mum, is not to be rigid about childcare concerns. You know, things like the child must be speaking before nursery, the child is being raised by strangers and will not know me, the child must be over 2/3, it will be so chaotic and the child won't know whether he/she is coming or going.

The fact is, until you try it, you don't know how your dcs will take to it. And you might be very pleasantly surprised (I was, twice). If your dcs hate it (as a mother, you WILL know), then change to another arrangement. But don't organise your working/home life around what you THINK your child wants. Because very often, children are actually a lot more adaptable than you give them credit for. Your dcs will also pick up on your positive attitude, and vice versa.

Each child is an individual.

To me, guilt is no friend. You have to work, bottomline, don't need to make things any more difficult for yourself.

thanks for all the wonderful info and ideas im so glad this thread has helped others too

its kind of like a virtual brainstorm isnt it