Shift work Young kids, no childcare help

[Tattiespuds]

I was made redundant when pregnant and have been a sahm for 4yrs. DC 4 & 2. Not working hadn't been the plan but here we are.
I desperately want to get back to work but issues I'm facing are we have no nearby family to help us and my dh gets his rota weekly and the nature of his work means his days off and shifts change weekly by week so working around his is impossible.

So basically I have to find a way to work without relying on anyone else and I'm so overwhelmed.

In September my youngest will go to nursery but it's school hours only with no wrap around care... When they go to school I can use breakfast club etc then.

I'm wondering how other people manage, with no family help and working with kids.
If I can vision how it will work I guess i won't feel so anxious.

Bumping for you but you might get more responses if you move this to Chat as that’s a busy board.

I hope to return to work too this year after being a SAHM and we have no family nearby so we will be facing a similar situation.

I have a friend whose DH does shift work so she works around his shifts by telling the care home where she works as a senior care assistant her availability. They have always been able to accommodate her and she sometimes does extra shifts if her DH is off work. Alternatively can you look at some sort of part-time work from home? I’m looking at this and finding it hard though.

Thanks for your reply.
A part time work from home would be perfect but not easy to find.
I'll maybe report over in chat later today see if there is any more responses.
I was looking into care job but the local ones to me seem set shifts which again won't fit. Ugh

Either find a job that allows you to pick shifts, or organise set paid child care.

@Alienchannell21 this is my struggle. I have never yet come across a job that lets you pick shifts and with my skill set more jobs are shifts so dont necessarily fall on the Monday to Friday day time only. My previous job I have 10yr experience I'm confident I could walk into a job in that area (provided I don't lose my bottle at interview) but even part time jobs include evenings and weekends, which my husband also works.

I always imagined the struggle of being a working
Mum would be juggling work, kids and housework etc but necessarily trying to find a job you can actually do.

I had to resign from a job in December due to lack of childcare issues and I can’t work out how to get a job that fits school hours. Especially with my youngest finishing at 2:40 for bubble reasons.

Considering moving the kids schools to somewhere with wraparound care onsite, but they only started their new schools in September so seems a bit mean.

My husband outearns me by a lot so no point in asking him to reduce hours as I wouldn’t cover the dip. Yet I hate being at home, I like going to work.

Considering doing a course to make me more employable, but finding jobs to fit in with schools seems to be impossible.

how about in health care doing bank shifts? you can do them as and when they suit you

Midday supervisor at a school? Doesn't pay a lot (maybe £200/month and some money into a pension pot) but it's better than nothing and term time only. A good way to get into other school work as well.

@Didicat I completely sympathise with you... It's so hard I can't get my head around this.

@Penguin81 I considered this but after googling it I can't see where to apply for this.

@AngelSings I'd imagine there jobs are like hens teeth bit certainly something to keep and eye out for.

I’d second health care bank shifts. If the hours don’t suit you. Don’t feel discouraged. Tell them the hours that you can offer. Often they will be happy with any help they can get. Look at nhs job website or email one of the managers of the department of a hospital directly (they would be very greatful that someone is interested in a job). You should be able to find their contact details through a hospital’s website that you are interested in. Good luck