JOB- WHAT DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO?

[GReD677]

I haven't worked in around 3 years, eldest is 3 youngest is 18months.
Really want to get back to work 2 days a week, I do feel a bit selfish but just feel like i need to for my own wellbeing.

My eldest is going to school next year Septemeber 2027 and needing something that allows me to pick her up drop her off and have half terms off.

I did a online L3 TA course last year and passed took around a year but I am just not sure I want to do that job, seen so many bad things about how TA's get treated and expecting far too much, unless my daughter actually attends the school were i would he working in still will not be able to drop her off and pick her up.
Im thinking of cleaning - can be flexable and choose own hours but i clean my place all day every day and just would be exhausting!

What do people actually do?!

Yeah, never thought about that defaintly will look in to things now! Thank you x

I hear you OP.

currently feeling the same. It’s annoying when people ask ‘so what are you doing now?’ I’m like I don’t have a spare second of time and nothing seems to fit in. With childcare also I feel like it would take most of my wages

I’m self-employed so I choose my own hours. Of course it also has its downsides (no annual leave, sick leave, no good pension), but I’ll still choose this over an employment contract because I just need the flexibility. I’m a consultant but there’ll be many jobs you can do self-employed. Accountancy, business admin, graphic design, handywoman, personal training, photography, home bakery…or maybe tutoring since you have trained as TA?

@GReD677 i left my job in the private sector (well paid) and went to work for the civil service - not well paid. Flexi hours. I used to work from 6am until school pick up and we had a part time nanny (very difficult to find).

I work 4 days 8.30-4.30 in an office job!

Youngest goes nursery and school child goes breakfast club at 7.45

i pick school child up at 5/5.30 from after school and nursery child up at 6 🤷‍♀️

annual leave for holidays or else camps

a private nursery that doesn’t close for school holidays

many moons ago, when needed, I worked nights and dp worked days and we used holiday clubs

I am a TA...
My son is older but disabled ao I need to be there when his taxi drops him home, and need to be home in the holdays when he is, so a school based term time jobs is the only one that works for me
I started as a midday supervisor, to see whether it would work, and loved working with primary aged kids, so took in TA hours and now work every day.
Most if the TAs have school aged children, so the slt are very understanding about working g around school drops etc.

We both worked in international project management for major global organisations. We juggled, either by dropping off or picking up ourselves, or using extra care sessions at nursery & school; we also worked evenings and weekends if we had to. It cost a fortune and was exhausting but we had no option. How’s that for a realistic answer, OP?

We work full time in IT consulting and product design respectively. Both either at home, or visiting customers (which can be anywhere in Europe). Paid for nursery and grandparents (who live in the same village as us) very happy to help out with pickups/drop offs and after school.

The advice wasn’t judgemental …just telling you what other people do and how they manage to work with 2 toddlers.

I’m à TA. I love my job but I think unless it’s something you’re passionate about you shouldn’t go into it. The pay is is rubbish for what the role entails and it isn’t as family friendly as many think.

Wow that fantastic! I do not have the skills or experiance to work in such a good job - Unfortunately its just me juggling everything so trying to find a happy medium where I can work and do everything.

I work for a handful of different companies as an emergency standing secretary/receptionist/general admin. I can pick and choose when I want to work as there's almost always looking for an extra body & I have a great relationship with them all. It varies from educational sector/construction/ medical and legal. Very varied, interesting and I don't have any of the stress of bringing work home with in reality or in my head. Dh retired few weeks ago.

Yeah thats what I was thinking so ive worked in childcare for years, mainly nurseries and I absolutely loved it. I did that course because I really wanted to stay in the childcare industry as I do love it! I have friends that are TA's and they all say the same as you x

I work as support staff in a school.

I do just shorter than school hours, 4 days a week and 1 longer day a week when I use after school club. It means I can do drop off and pick up.

Term time only.

They are really in demand, do you think its the best thing to do while there so young?

i was in childcare full time working 8-6!
Thankyou, it is something to think about for sure just finding the right job i guess!

I don't get why some of these replies are so snippy!! If you have 2 kids you have to take the hit at some point, OP is just getting it over with.

When mine were that age I worked as a Business Officer then Manager (which is basically admin at different levels) in the Public Sector - I did 3 days a week and wfh one of those so the kids did 2 long and 1 short day at nursery. When they went to primary school I used breakfast and after school clubs on those days. We had no spare cash when they were both in childcare - plus DH had a bit longer commute so wasn't that much use though could wfh if there was illness etc.

It all depends on what you did before though? Don't think you've said what your experience is as obviously the best option is to do something similar but with flexible working.

Thanks for the “fantastic” comment OP. I can assure you it didn’t feel it at the time! We couldn’t afford to drop hours; but it was all very much worth it, they’re in tertiary education now & seem to be well balanced, sociable & independent.

why do you clean your own place ‘all day every day’?
That aside, cleaning might be a good option; you can set your own schedule. Good cleaners will always find work.

A surprising number on women at my child's nursery (which is year round, 8-6) work only term time, only school hours. One of them is lunch cover, for example, so that ratios stay high while staff have breaks. Others are like substitute teachers, basically employed X hours a week as cover for whichever nursery room needs them so that the nursery don't have to use agency staff.

Nothing fits around children
You make sacrifices... you work shifts, weekends.
You pay for childcare.
Thats it.
No point telling you what I do because its not an option but even so... some times me and my husband literally passed on the drive and handed small children over.
There is not an easy option- unless you're rich.

I mean like the constant cleaning when you have little ones - yeah think its the best option thabk you x

Home carer. Shifts are 9:00-14:30 so can drop DC at breakfast club and get back in time to pick them up

Im not either to be honest.
I worked in childcare full time 8-6.
Just trying to get my ducks in a row you know and figure out what the best option is. I dont have a big career goal just wanting something that I can enjoy doing and fit around my family so was curious to see what everyone does thank you x