Stay At Home Mum return to work?

[els1789]

I have a 3 and a 6 year old. I have been a stay at home mum for the past 18months due to logistics of work and school. There’s been great times and hard times and I’m lucky that the last 6 months we got my 3 year old into a pre-school for 12 hours a week. So I get those 12 hours to myself. It’s really helped my mental health but it’s made money very very tight. I’ve had the opportunity to actually join my sons preschool part time as an administrator. And I’m really stuck on what I want.
I’ve enjoyed the days to myself but after a while you do end up just hanging about the house doing housework and you feel like you’re just floating. I miss having spending money for myself, I barely get any now. But will I kiss these days if I go back? Would it be awkward with my son being at the same place?

I would love any opinions/input. We have no family near by so school pick ups are down to me and this role would be term time within school hours. Thanks so much.

I don't think it would be awkward being in the same place - you're not in a teaching role and wouldn't overlap with him either in an admin role. It sounds like a good fit, especially if money is tight. Bit unfair otherwise on your partner if you're just at home.

I would take it and see how it goes.

I think you should think further ahead. In a year or two both your DC will be in school and if you have a part time role you will still have time to yourself whilst at the same time having a part time job, extra income etc. presumably this will also work around school hours and holidays- jobs like this are gold dust!

I work part time and now my youngest is at school I’m really enjoying some me time x

Thank you! I agree, wouldn’t be too awkward hopefully. My husband is actually pro not working, and old school mind set that I should be there for kids only but he would support either way.

So helpful, it’s hard to look ahead but that’s a really good thought. When they are both at school I would still have time to myself.

I'd go for the job. They don't come about very often and if you change your mind at least you'll have given it a try

I think you should go for it. It can be so, so difficult to get back in to the workforce. You’ve got an opportunity which works around your existing childcare, I’d bite their hand off! Also bear in mind it won’t be long before your younger one is at school, would you really want to not be working then?

School hours jobs are so difficult to find and you get all the holidays off with the children. I would go for it.

Take it. I'd have bitten a few hands off to get a job at DC school. I was annoyed when I saw a new admin staff member at DC school & it hadn't been advertised!!

Getting back into the workforce is harder than people think and I'm working in a role I hate because of limited options & letting myself become the default parent.

I also found DH liked me being at home because he could come & go as he pleased & not do much of anything at all.

Good grief of course you should take it!!!! In this job market you’ve been offered a come back into the work force, even though you’ve been out for 18 months, and at exactly the place you drop off and pick up your child!!! That is like gold dust. Absolutely grab it with both hands.

Yes, you probably will miss the time to yourself, but the money, adult company and sense of fulfilment from having an identity that isn’t just “mum” will be so worth it. I have too many friends who gave up work when their DC were little and now at late primary / early high school stage feel trapped at home and can’t get back into the workforce because they have been out too long.

Thank you everyone !! Appreciate all the comments back and I’ve listened and of course I’ll take it lol.