What should I do?????

[zaphod]

I have been offered a job for 3 mornings a week, at the playschool I used to work at. The financial rewards would be negligable, but I miss the company of other adults and would enjoy it.

On the other hand, I have 5 children and am busy enough looking after them and working as a clown for parties at weekends and the occasional evening. What if one of the children is sick on the days I work? Also my son goes to the playschool and will be in my group, IME playschool is about learning to be in a group without a parent.

It's only 3.45 hours for 3 days a week. HELP.

personally, I agree with you re playschool and them learning to be on their own

could you get a job at another pre-school?

Well, I don't need the job, as such. I just miss it, and my former colleagues, and all the children, so I wouldn't really be bothered to go to another playschool.

Actually, it is now apparent to me that despite the obvious drawbacks, I just want to do it. So now I am being selfish....AAARRRGH.

You're not being selfish zaphod. You're being you. It's allowed. 3 Mornings a week sounds like a good compromise to me. Your kids want you happy and fulfilled after all.

Congratulations on being offered the job btw.

I'd do it. At the end of the day, if you have a sick child, you have a sick child, and, like anyone else, could be expected to take a day off to be with him/her. In fact, as you'd be doing so few hours, if you had to have time off it would be easier to cover than for a full time person.

My friend is a trainee classroom assistant at her son's school, in his class, and the other staff are keen to support her in that they try to make sure that she doesn't supervise her son's group. I'm sure you could do something like this - working with your ds only when necessary. He'll probably be too busy playing with the other children to notice!

Whats so wrong about being a tiny bit selfish ???
You know you want to Zaphod - tee hee !!
I only have one child - ds.
But I ENJOY working two days a week.
I love him to bits , but don't want to be with him 24/7.
Is that so bad ?
I think, as you can imagine, there are many many posters, on mn, who feel exactly like you.

I definitely want to do it. It won't interfere with my 'real' work, ie. the work that pays, and I probably can move ds3 if necessary. Also, it will give me an excuse for why the house is like a tip.... can't do everything, I work you know.

(For some reason, people don't consider being a clown work, it's because it is so part-time. They don't see the hours practice with magic tricks and balloons and juggling.)

Thanks for your support, it ISN'T the end of the world if I do something for me for a change....