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Work

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Original poster

How much does hourly paid work have to be to tempt SAHM back?

25 replies

hex · 27/07/2006 21:15

DD2 is 15 months old and I've just been offered a job (£35 per hour) for 4 hrs one day a week.
Tempted to take it cause money would be great help to supplement dh's wages but feel a touch sad espcially since I know that time runs away so quickly once babies are toddling (and this is last baby).

What would other MNs do?

OP posts:

morningpaper · 27/07/2006 21:18

It's a personal choice this one

I work for a loss because I love working and don't want to be out of the workforce for too long

In a way the pay isn't really the issue

anthonykiedisbitontheside · 27/07/2006 21:19

Do it!! It's only four hours a week and you're getting paid £140 Why are you even thinking about it? LOL.

DumbledoresGirl · 27/07/2006 21:22

I 100% agree with anthonykiedisbitontheside. I would not even have to think about it, presuming the job is something you would enjoy and you have childcare sorted?

fruitful · 27/07/2006 21:25

Jump at it, of course! One half-day a week - your dd gets a nice half-day out at whatever childcare you're going to use, you get some sanity time, and some money. Fabulous. Unless the work is something horrific...

fruitful · 27/07/2006 21:26

By "horrific" obviously I was meaning "something that you wouldn't enjoy" rather than implying that you've been offered a job selling your body.

For which I expect you get paid more than that.

anthonykiedisbitontheside · 27/07/2006 21:26

Can i ask what it is you will be doing to earn that much and if you don't take it do you think i'll be able to do it?

Original poster

hex · 27/07/2006 21:27

It think childcare is sorted tho not without its costs (more 'time' than 'financial') as dh will look after dd1 and take dd2 swimming when he picks her up from school on the day I work. His FT job is flexible and so it would mean him making up some time at weekend (the other complicating factor - takes time away from family)

OP posts:

SueW · 27/07/2006 21:27

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

kama · 27/07/2006 21:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

anthonykiedisbitontheside · 27/07/2006 21:29

If your dh's job is flexible why does he not just do an extra hour a night/morning for 4 days and make it up that way so his weekends are free?

Original poster

hex · 27/07/2006 21:30

Couldn't sell my body after 2 kids even if I wanted too. It's lecturing so I would be talking/discussing with students about (hopefully) interesting topics. There will be some preparation though which I'd have to do.

OP posts:

DumbledoresGirl · 27/07/2006 21:34

morningpaper is right though in her response - pay isn't the only issue (OK she didn't exactly say that).

If I could have my time again, I would have loved to have been able to do something for 4 hours a week, just keeping my hand in, keeping me stimlated, giving dd's a different carer, etc. Yes your dh might have to make up a bit of time at the weekend, but not necessarily during family time? Also, he is gaining by spending time with his dds during the week. It is worth the cost IMO.

Jazzi · 27/07/2006 21:36

hex - I am also a lecturer, teaching about 4 hours a week. It is fantastic, the only downside is the marking, will you be doing that???

Original poster

hex · 27/07/2006 21:39

Yes I would have to do that but as far as I can tell you get paid for the last 2 weeks of a 15 week semester to do it (I think the teaching stops at week 13) so there will be time then - which I'd need cause I'd have 120 2000-word essays!)

OP posts:

Jazzi · 27/07/2006 21:42

Not trying to put you off, but I can usually manage to mark about 10-12 essays per day before my brain turns to total mush. It can be very time consuming!!!

Original poster

hex · 27/07/2006 21:49

Yes, 120 essays is a lot but overall the money would be handy. Perhaps, apart from loss of family time (tho I'll have to think about asking dh to work evenings...to make up his lost time) is that I'll have a completely mushy brain

OP posts:

Jazzi · 27/07/2006 21:53

Go for it - it is the best job in the world!!!

ssd · 29/07/2006 08:20

£35 an hour?

jeesus, I get £5.55 for 4 hours of shopwork.

ssd · 29/07/2006 08:21

thats per hour!!not for 4 hours!!

sylvm · 30/07/2006 11:27

Wow if I could find something to pay this rate per hour I wouldn't hesitate ...

catsmother · 30/07/2006 12:55

I confess I am rather gobsmacked at this thread.

I fully agree that baby time is precious and quickly disappears but we are "only" talking about 4 hours a week for a very good hourly rate of pay.

What's more, the child will be with the other parent (what could be better?) while you are working as opposed to a "stranger".

I would kill to be able to earn £560 for just 16 hours work in each 4 week period.

I am in the impossible position of being unable to work "normally", eg. "9 to 5" as once travel & childcare have been deducted I would be working for an absolute pittance AND, my toddler would be in FULL TIME childcare with a "stranger".

However, we do desperately need the money, so instead I work practically EVERY evening and weekend (totally anti-social hours - I have no me time, let alone "us" time) after being a F/T SAHM, for LESS than the minimum wage (.... but apparently, according to the powers that be, that's ok because I am technically self employed).

On average I do more than 40 hrs a WEEK to gross LESS than you'd get for 4 hours a week !!!

Ultimately of course this is YOUR choice and whatever any of us think you have to square how you feel about leaving your child, even if with their father and for a very short time.

However, FWIW I think you are in a very fortunate position and just 4 hours a week out of your baby's life probably won't even be noticed by her. I appreciate the time I spend with my toddler during the week but am totally angry/frustrated/feeling trapped in a Catch 22 by the fact I cannot afford to stop working weekends and therefore cannot enjoy family time with my DP and OUR daughter ...... as is he .... how can we have a relationship when one of us is always working ?

Oh - and I have a 1st class degree for all the good it's done me.

Now I may have just carried away a bit there and apologise if I've ranted, you of course are not responsible for my circumstances but I cannot help feeling when I read a "dilemma" like this that you are looking a gift horse in the mouth, all things considered.

I know I am not the only mum who really has no actual choice at all about whether she stays at home or works. There are probably many 100s of 1000s of us who are damned if we do and damned if we don't one way or another. It strikes me that you either have to be earning a very good wage to make it worthwhile returning to work, or, you have to have a very low household income so you qualify for help with childcare.

At the end of the day I suppose you have to assess whether or not you can live without the "great help" this extra money would bring, or whether it is actually essential (like my insulting pay is).

colditz · 30/07/2006 13:05

jESUS cHRIST aLMIGHTY, DO IT!!!!

\Sorry about caps, seriously, if you can earn as much in 4 hours as I used to earn in a WEEK then do it. It's only 4 hours a week, some people spend longer than that at the gym!

Gobbledigook · 30/07/2006 13:17

The money wouldn't be the issue for me here - it's just 4 hours a week - barely anything but it gets you out doing something for yourself and getting paid for it is a bonus. It's a no brainer really.

micegg · 30/07/2006 17:53

I agree with previous post. It's a no brainer in my eyes.

Original poster

hex · 06/08/2006 22:10

Thanks for all your posts - well..I've said yes to the p/t work. I know many of you have thought I'm loopy for hesitating but I think other things mediated the decision. For instance, it took us a long time and multiple IVF attempts to conceive our kids and I was just so grateful that we ended up being so lucky to have two beautiful daughters that I felt I needed to stay at home with them. Anyway, life moves on...and I'll probably be a better parent for doing something outside of the home. It was good to have all your views - a useful reality check - so thanks again.

OP posts:

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