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Solo mums and starting work

4 replies

rabia473 · 10/07/2024 21:03

Hey all. So I would class myself as a solo mum or single mum but I'm more solo as the children's father has nothing to do with them. So I'm talking about no visits, no meetings, no birthdays, no maintenance nothing. Anyway so it's just me and I have some support from my disabled mother but I try not burden her too much. My youngest is due to start full time school in September and I'm thinking of starting work part time. Money is just so tight and we are living in difficulty. I wouldn't be able to go back to my career as I live in a remote village and would need to travel far and long hours. I guess my question is... what do I do when it's half term or the summer holidays? I could only work term times. I would be doing minimal hours so I wouldn't be able to fund childcare. I'm already rushing around dropping them off and picking them up from mutiple locations. How do you single or solo mums work during the holidays?
I get that I could be a dinner lady at a school but not much openings and plus I need something that would challenge me a bit more.
Help me lol

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 10/07/2024 21:04

Holiday clubs or childminder just like none solo mums. Also breakfast / after school clubs during term time.

HowardTJMoon · 10/07/2024 21:21

It's a tough balancing act. I had a long commute so I changed my work hours to being paid for a four-day week but spread across five days. This meant I could leave work early enough every day to get my kids from after-school club.
For the school holidays I used a mix of my annual leave, holiday clubs and leaning on friends and family members to cover the gaps.

Justasleep · 10/07/2024 21:27

Holiday clubs and pairing up with other school parents to alternate playdates

Also unpaid parental leave when been in post over a year

littleapplecottage · 10/07/2024 22:59

Just have to shell out a load of money for childcare. Luckily still in the nursery years so at least I don't have holidays to deal with.

Have you looked at Universal Credit? It helps with childcare costs if you are working, it seems to be a scheme which actually helps?

I don't have any family close by, and so I think I'll have to pay for holiday clubs all year round once mine starts school, feel quite sad about that, but I don't have a choice and hopefully we can still have some time together when I have annual leave (plus every weekend too)

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