Should I leave a big career to be sahm/part time 1-2 days admin?

[Zogster]

Hi,

Just that really. I'm in a demanding job that I can't switch off from.
I'm considering changing mortgage arrangements and nursery fees to reduce cash flow burden for a few years.
I have a 7 year old and 2 year old plus health issues. Not sure what is possible but I know my current situation isn't sustainable.

I've drummed it into myself that I always need to work and earn more money. But I'm burned out and wondering if life is too short and maybe there is a different way.

Can anyone who has left a full time career to do a flex of sahm and part time job (job you can leave at the door and not stress about not a demanding job compressed or part time if that makes sense?! ) tell me their experiences please?

Thanks in advance x

Can you do freelance, ? Are you a single parent?

if you have health issues can you get health insurance or has it past that point?

I dunno but I’d look at a half way house, keeping your career going 3 days a week, or 4 days with less responsibility.

Try CBT to reduce anxiety.

I took a career break 12 years ago. Dc1&2 were 4&2. Dad had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 3 years earlier, and that, combined with how much we were paying out to nursery, made it a no brainer. I was able to look after Dad along with my sister and keep him in his own home, whilst being at home for our children.

After 18 months I wanted a bit of me time / independence / shampoo money as I called it. So I got a part time job working 2/3 evenings a week at a pub. Dad’s Alzheimer’s progressed. DC3 arrived 2014. Dad moved to a home the following year. He passed away 2018, then the following year dc3 started school full time and I was offered full time hours at work and a promotion. I’m now assistant manager. Pay is approx £28,000. We've never since needed childcare due to the shift patterns I work.
I sometimes serve some of my former NHS colleagues. It’s great to catch up, but their stress levels are through the roof and I don’t miss the demanding nature of the job. I never go home and worry about a pint I haven’t served.

I’d be on twice my current salary if I’d stayed in the NHS. But I wouldn’t swap the time I had with Dad, or with my children in their very younger years, for anything, especially not more money.

have you considered other job routes you could go for if you took time off?
council jobs, such as library assistant, receptionist positions at local FE college, TA etc. or depending on your skill set, you might have a range of higher paid job options you could consider after a break?