Feel I have lost my way - PLEASE HELP

[katedan]

I have been a SAHM for 5 years and before that worked part time for 18 months while DS was little. In the 5 years I have been at home I have had twins who are nearly 4 and start at nursery 5 mornings a week from September for a year before starting full time school Sept 2011. So what do I do now? I cannot go back to the work I did before it was in the civil service and obviously there is not many jobs with them at the moment and I somewhat burned my bridges with them when they found me a post closer to home to be "family friendly" and I resigned within 2 weeks as I felt I was working just to pay someone else to look after the children. I am now worried that it was a mistake to not keep working P/T as I would have had a job once the children were at school. Instead I face having to start again at the bottom with few qualifications and what seems like no jobs around on the job market. I am doing a counselling course as I would like to help people and I have done lots of voluntary work while I have been at home but WHAT DO I Do NOW? I would like to use this next year to retrain, get work experience or some idea what I want to do so when the twins start school I can get working. I still have 30 years to give an employer so want to make the right choice in terms of carear.

Sorry this is long I would really appreciate your comments.

Seems like we are in a similar position. Depends on how far you want to go with the counselling course - is it your aim to get fully accredited and be a counsellor? From my job hunting there's lots about really. Yes it might mean going in at a lower level initially but I think you need to get in a more positive mind-set. There are some great opportunities to have a go at things - its not like you must then stay in that one job for the rest of your life!!
There are various career advice places - or maybe do one of those questionnaire that help fit your personality and qualifications to see what would suit you? What do you like doing? Do you have any passions? What about your voluntary work - what did you do? DO you have any contacts there who could point you in a new direction?

Have you looked at any of the Open University courses?

They might fit nicely around the children in that you could study during the day.

Hello

Yes I'd agree that being your own boss might be the way forward.

I found myself alone with a 2 month old, but now have a growing business (lo is now nearly 3), with two people joining this week, doing something I truely believe in. I organise my work around my lo so there are no childcare costs, and it's work, money and a challenge!

Good luck with it all though.

x

Counselling and voluntary work are useful skills to add to your C.V...maybe you could start your own lifecoach business to combine the two? Aslo take a look at franchise opportunities, some can cost a lot but some come ready packaged and don't take much setting up. Again, you can work on your own terms and choose your hours.

Check out what work-friendly skills you've been accruing over the last 5 years with this handy 10 minute free test:
www.venturenavigator.co.uk/skills

Your experience will not go to waste, honest!

Life coaching is an ever increasing field and definitely worth looking into if you want to help people.

I did a home study course and found it incredibly stimulating just learning new skills and very rewarding.

You could get a qualification within a year easily and see people or coach by phone when your DCs are at school.

Good Luck:)

I have a bit of the opposite problem. I had a good career, had my DD and then went back to my job after a 7 month maternity leave. When I went back, I was working crazy long hours, and started really resented my job and realised that I wanted to change careers (I worked at an advertising agency and decided I wanted to go 'client-side' because I think there is more longevity for my career there). So in a fit of frustration (and agreement with my DH), I resigned.

I have been looking for a job since (3 months) and I may be about to land a good job (fingers crossed) with more money but my other dilemma is that I REALLY want another baby.

We did try for another one a little when I went back to work but we didn't really make it a priority (we were both too tired). But now I'm thinking I am 36 years old and in the big picture, family is important, not a job, and I can't delay number 2 for too long because I'm not getting any younger.

However if we just get pregnant now (if we are lucky) I will be out of the workforce for 2 years (because no one will hire a pregnant girl and then I would be on unpaid maternity leave because I was not working before).

What has added to the baby pressure (and I knew I would feel this way) but 2 of the girls in my NCT group are pregnant as are a few of my friends so I am super jealous and super broody.

I wish I could turn back the clock, not resigned, got pregnant, took mat leave and then looked for a new job after baby 2.

I know nothing can be planned that way but now I just feel stuck that once I am in the new job, I will have to be there for some time so I don't pull a "Natasha Kaplinsky" and announce I am pregnant shortly after joining.

Ug. I have a constant pit in my stomach because I yearn to be pregnant again but know that I now have to sort the job out first.

Am I blowing this out of porportion? I just feel like I made a life mistake.

Anyway, my advice to others is to sit down rationally with your partner and make a pros/cons list with timescales before making any big decisions.