Stay at home with 2 DS or try and get a part time job

[RosieOJK]

Hi all, exactly what the title says really. I left a pretty decent career to go part time after DS1 and regretted it because I didn’t feel challenged and didn’t enjoy admin work but I did try to stick it out. When covid hit, my employer refused to furlough me to homeschool so I decided to leave and now I’m at a bit of a crossroads. Do I try and get a part time job knowing that it will probably be another dull admin job until DS2 goes to school in a couple of years but at least it keeps my hand in or do I wait the couple of years and see what’s about then? I did toy with the idea of training to do something else but have absolutely no idea what I would do. Financially I don’t need to work as DH earns enough for us to be comfortable. Thanks for reading and all advice welcome!

If you don't need to work then don't. I'ts really stressful trying to work and raise small children. Why put unnecessary stress in your lives?

Think about how you may feel.
A) so do you need to work, to feel valued or for adult interaction or money etc etc
B) would you feel unhappy not working.

If yes, then look for work or volunteering that actually interests you rather than falling into the first thing that comes along.
If no, then as pp says why not stay at home, provide love and care for your children and enjoy them?

Agreed, I’m just concerned that if our situation changes or if I decide I’d quite like to work when the DS are bigger, will I struggle to get back into a role if I’ve had a long time without working? The flip side of that is DS2 is a terrible sleeper and I’m exhausted about 80% of the time.

And thank you to both of you

Life is something that happens, whilst you are busy planning for a future that never comes, because you are living in the present.

Whilst it is a good idea to plan for ‘what may be’, don’t forget that anything could happen in the future. You could come into money or something bad could happen. So do now what makes your heart sing, not something that makes you depressed. Happiness is much under rated.
My caveat being so long as your finances allow and both of you are happy with the arrangement.

I would always work, even if only part time. It keeps you in the job market, makes sure you have something on your CV, gives you something else to focus on (even if it’s not your dream career), you continue to make NI and pension contributions, protects you financially should you and your DH split up.

It depends really if you like working. Personally, I really do and I could never be a SAHP. In your shoes, I would certainly be keeping my hand in the jobs market, targeting companies that might have scope for progression and on the job training. The "little" years are short in the context of a whole working life so if you can power through with the support of your husband, you'll find it easier to progress when they're a little older.

However, juggling work and small children is hard, so if you neither need nor want to work then it would probably be unnecessary pressure.