Hello! I've recently had my second baby after many years of trying and am loving becoming a mother again. At the same time as starting maternity leave, I left the job I've been in for ten years - by mutual agreement with my boss. I have recently moved to another city in a different area to where my job is based and my wage wasn't high enough to make commuting regularly financially viable (although wfh was the majority of days, I was asked to go in to the office 1-2 days a week). So I'm jobless, on stat maternity pay that runs out in a couple of months and I can't find any childcare for my new baby until later next year. So I'll be a sahp for a while which I'm happy about in many ways but am worried about money and work.
I have a few dilemmas I'm looking for advice with.
Firstly, I need to make some money when my mat leave money runs out whilst looking after my baby full time - so doing something in the evenings etc. I have a number of ideas but just am not sure which one to pursue. I've been thinking about making and selling crayons in funky shapes and themes, polymer clay jewellery, linocut cards and prints or healthy food packages with local delivery. Just not sure which one to go for, or whether any of them would be a good idea.
Secondly, I don't know what I can do job wise once I'm in a position to start work again. My friends all are in well paid jobs in good careers and I feel I made some poor career choices. I have spent ten years working for a small charity, doing well in my job I think but lacking any formal feedback structures or pay rise /promotion opportunities, I just don't know if I'm any good at what I do. I rarely got praise for anything as it wasn't in the directors nature to give feedback (positive or negative). I did a bit of everything for the charity really as it was so small - eventually had a comms focus but also did fundraising, bid writing, programme management, evaluation, festival producing, mentoring, staff management. I feel I may have lots of transferrable skills. I'd also like to earn well (who wouldn't!) - I'm in my late thirties with a crap pension pot and no savings. I can't afford to retrain, or pay to get coaching to help me with my dilemmas.
What can I be looking at for my next role when I have secured childcare for my child? I'd love something flexible, paid well and a positive working environment. I was thinking maybe civil service but worried that my brain is quite creative and maybe cs is too dry.
Sorry to rabbit on.
Thanks in advance.