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Original poster

Does everyone have a job once the last child has started primary school?

48 replies

Ellaroo · 17/12/2006 21:32

Just wondering (as don't have to face this one for a couple of years yet)...but I know that once all my children are at primary school I will still want to pick them up from and drop them off at school and be there full-time in the holidays and for any inset days...so my questions are:

Can you do this and fit in a job still?
What job do you do that allows you to do this?
Do you feel/or feel that others view you as self-indulgent/lazy if you want to do this and can't find a job that fits into school hours?

Would love to hear anyone's opinions on this.

OP posts:

kid · 27/12/2006 00:09

I really like the job I was doing when I had DS. I was very lucky to have family to look after DS while I went back part-time when he was 10 months old. He is now 4 and in full-time school so I work full-time school hours (and get all the holidays off)

flack · 27/12/2006 00:14

Children's party organiser?! Not only never have heard of such a thing, I honestly don't think I have never met anyone who would pay £100 an hour for that.

What funny circles some of you move in!!

CarolTheAncient... I really synced with your last post. It would just be so much stress if I had to juggle any sort of ordinary job with the unpredictability of children + their needs. So glad I don't have to. Or if I did have a job to juggle side-by-side with DCs, I'd want it be something undemanding and unimportant if I couldn't do it at no notice if also low paid. Like, er... flipping burgers for McD's.

twinsetandpearls · 27/12/2006 00:15

I can honestly say that if I was offered more money to do something else I wouldn't, would like to the same for more money though

twinsetandpearls · 27/12/2006 00:16

I have been offered anbd paid about that to organise parties for children, although it actually was not £100 an hour as although the party was only a few hours the work that went into the party. I would do it again for treat money as OI enjoyed it but would not give up my teaching to soley do kids parties.

twinsetandpearls · 27/12/2006 00:17

I have heard a ruomour that there is a middle way between £5 an hour and £100.

flack · 27/12/2006 00:29

Heehee, twinset.
Since I'm definitely too dim to figure it out for myself, could Xenia please make a complete list of all the jobs that earn at least £100 an hour?

This would help Pruni on her thread about her future, too.

so I can work down the list and perhaps (or not at all) feel smugly comfortable in knowing I'm unsuited for all, and (since it would be pointless to work for any less money) therefore reside happily enough in the luxury of being financially dependent on my possibly (probably) unreliable man who will maybe (doubtless) leave me one day for a younger woman...?

Well, actually, seriously, would be curious to know who/what really earns £100 an hour that could be remotely possible for me.

TurkeyTrotter · 27/12/2006 00:34

no - no intention! i hope not. did a child free year in between dc3 and 4 and it was fine
now got dc5 and thinking of dc6(?) maybe so i hope to maybe write a work of immense literary importance or some such thing.....

jenkel · 27/12/2006 00:41

I have 2 years to go before youngest starts school, but its something that I'm thinking about.

I have no problem with not earning, when I first met DH I supported him through university, we lived together and I worked full time. And we class whatever money we have as ours and always have it goes into a joint account and I have as much access as him.

I want to be able to do the school run, be around for school plays/activities, holidays and to be able to take time off if they are sick.

I am thinking along the lines of part time TA. That would give me time to get all the mundane stuff down, work and spend time with my family, DH currently works very long hours so any family time is valuable, I dont want to be doing housework at the weekend.

Another thing I am thinking about is to become a swimming instructor, from what I can gather you can more of less say what hours you want to do, or at least my DD's swimming instructor can, but havent done much research.

So thats what my plans are, we are also looking at emigrating to Oz, in a year or so, goodness knows what will happen then

jollyhollymum · 27/12/2006 00:51

TT how can anyone afford 6 kids and not work? Your DH needs to chat with mine about job swapping! I have four, work and we still struggle

wethreebobkings · 27/12/2006 01:03

I worked as a piano and flute teacher when ds was 1 year old. Then last year I realised that whilst working in the late afternoons and evenings was ideal as far as childcare went for a preschooler it would be totally rubbish once ds started school.

I had been running one baby music class per week, now I'll be running about 7 while ds is at kindy and only teaching at home whilst he is in bed (as pupils have left I haven't replaced them).

I did do some retraining and also a Diploma in early childhood music, so that by the time he starts school I will have a little empire- but still enough time to help out at school and always be there to pick him up.

Judy1234 · 27/12/2006 08:51

flack, depends where you live. I don't know anyone in my twins' class who hasn't paid for a party. Our entertainer who we have used quite a bit and also did my daughter's parties (she's now 22 so he had quite a long reputation) charged £200 for the 2 hour party. It's not unusual in London. Basically if you live in areas where people have no money they don't have spare money to pay for things. If you live in areas where people have more money than they know what to do with they waste it on parties, getting their hair done, home beauty treatments and all those things which those trying to set up on their own can do. But you can only do it if you have a local market for it.

"Since I'm definitely too dim to figure it out for myself, could Xenia please make a complete list of all the jobs that earn at least £100 an hour?"

Loads. It's something you need to advise teenagers about so they don't make irrevocable decisions to become vicars or university lecturers when with the same A levels they might be able to afford the car and education for their children they've always wanted, if that's what they want. Alternatively take them to church more so they aren't materialistic.

Mmm, I need to start work. For normal workers today is a normal working day and it's nearly 9am....

Children's party entertainers

Private dentists, doctors, accountants, lawyers, architects, management consultants, business advisers.

For a lot of those you'd need to get the experience and skills first working as an employee. My brother, sister and I all earn over that per hour or at least my brother does for his non NHS work (although he doesn't do a lot other than NHS as likes to spend time with his babies).

People buy and sell shares.

I mentioned writing. I'm quite fast at it so that increases the hourly rate.

When I marked exam papers I can't remember what that worked out per hour. It wasn't the best paid thing I did.

Sopme people buy and sell quite profitably in all kinds of areas. I know a lot of importers - bring in a consignment from China or South Africa, whole containers of things and then resell them but I'm not sure of their hourly profit.

I mentioned life coaches and therapists.

Easiest way we made money was borrowing and keeping a house.

My ex husband of course is the one with the best business idea. Teacher, marries me, waits, divorce after 18 years, takes away a cool nearly £900k. I should have thoought of that one myself. It's what leeching dependent women do on rich men all the time.

snowfunwhenyoureknackered · 27/12/2006 09:14

Xenia, I know money is important but I'd hate my kids to grow up thinking it's the be all and end all.

If they grow up to be plumbers/teachers/bin men and they are happy then I'll be happy.

If they work as a lawyer/dentist/doctor and hate every minute I'd feel so sorry for them.

Why are you so fixated on money? Is it because you feel people won't love you if you don't have enough money to spoil them?

Don't let your view if your ex colour your opinions on everyone.

Judy1234 · 27/12/2006 09:38

No. Just many people enjoy being actuaries and accountants as much as people who enjoy being nurses and teachers. You get thread after thread of women saying I can't afford to work as childcare is so expensive and you sit there thinking well why do people make choices to work as hard but for one tenth of the pay and then regret it and how can we ensure our children have happy lives which enables them to pay for what they think they may want.

I was asked what jobs paid over £100 an hour and I just said so. Surely anyone going back to work might prefer to earn that than £5 an hour? It seems a non issue to me.

On the other hand I love singing and I've sung for fairly low pay before because I enjoyed it so much and do it for nothing.

(apologies for ex husband comment....he now has some of the children for the 6 nights a year he has only the youngest two. I should be making the most of it not posting on here...)

Dior · 27/12/2006 15:17

Message withdrawn

twinsetandpearls · 27/12/2006 15:22

I justcan't imagine that I would enjoy being an accountant as much as being a teacher, just can't see where the job satisfaction would be,not having a go at accountants but it would just not make me happy and once you ahve paid the bills money is only there to make you happy.

As i said I could work at children's parties as I ahve done in the pastfor treat money but again the personal satisfaction isn't there.

I also think I would be prouder of my daughter if she was a teacher or a nurse rather than an accountant - but that is my lefty liberal principles shining out there.

I ahve been in the sitiuation where money was not an issue and once the novelty of being able to buy what I wanted had worn off it did not make me happy, I was much happier with my poor teacher friends than those with money coming out from every orifice.

Judy1234 · 27/12/2006 16:44

I think a lot of accountants do more good for this country than nurses to be honest but let's not debate that. Accountancy is fascinating. How could anyone not like it? You can do all sorts of things. Being a finance director on the board of Glaxo or something would be huge fun, how could it not be? Partner in Price WC would be great. These jobs are wonderful and too few women realise they are. You also can pass on skills and teach if you like that aspect as an accountant just as much as being a teacher. Anyway each to their own.

Lots of British entrepreneurs don't have a single GCSE and make millions. Qualifications is not much to do with it. It's mind set that counts.

twinsetandpearls · 27/12/2006 16:52

Weare going to agree to disagree which is just as well as we would be in a right pickle if we all wanted to do the same job.

My dp works in design and finds his job fascinating and I just don't get it at all.

twinsetandpearls · 27/12/2006 16:53

My ex husbands family had millions but no qualifications, so you areright theyare not a necessity but they do make life easier for those of us who do not have or want to ahve the ruthless streak needed for business.

wheresthehamster · 27/12/2006 17:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

flack · 27/12/2006 17:36

I do not have the "mindset" for a single one of the £100/hr jobs that Xenia listd. Or the training.

Now I know "Party organiser" means "Party Entertainer" I can almost understand! But around here think they only charge about £65/hr. I thought maybe a Party Organiser was somebody who booked the venue, sent out the invites, organised the catering, booked the entertainer, brought food in and out of the hall, prepped be4 party and cleaned up after, transported the gifts home, etc.

oxocube · 27/12/2006 18:00

Have only read the OP so apologise if repeating what others have said. I have 3 kids aged 11, 9 and 5. I trained as a teacher and worked until middle child was almost 4 (out of financial necessity) but am now very happily a 'housewife' or SAHM if that term is more acceptable. I love being at home and TBH am glad I do as given the amount of after school stuff our kids do, it wouldn't work if I had went out to work.

I love being the one at home and feel I am very lucky to be able to choose. Lots of my friends who have given up extremely well paid jobs to stay at home with their children are not as satisfied and sometimes wish their lives could be different but as we don't live in UK, the wives' options are sometimes limited.

Is there a stigma attached to mums of school age children who choose not to work? And if so, why?

flack · 29/12/2006 18:59

There is stigma no matter what we mums end up doing!!

Judy1234 · 29/12/2006 19:49

I never felt stigma for working. Lots of mothers round here don't work outside the home and they have childcare help. It's a pretty nice deal but you do have to keep your figure , keep fit and give a loto of good sex and do the usual things women of rich men have done for centuries. Don't know how they can stand that deal but each to their own.

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