What could I do for a job?

[waitingtowork]

I'm a mum of three, mid thirties. Children are 7, 6 and 3. Eldest is autistic and needs a fair amount of support but does go to school. Husband is a farmer so works very long and unpredictable hours. I've been a SAHM since eldest was born.

Before children, I worked with children. I'm qualified as a level 3. I don't have any other qualifications. I don't particularly want to work with children again, or not as hands on, but maybe as some sort of school admin (I have very little admin experience though) - would need term time only I think as eldest can't access holiday clubs very easily.

We don't need me to work financially, but I feel like my mind needs a bit of a kick now I'm out of the baby fog. I think I probably need to do a course or something but I don't know in what.

I love houses, architecture etc but I don't think I'm clever enough to be an architect and I don't think it would be flexible enough around the children.

Any ideas? I am happy being a SAHM but don't really have anything to keep my brain engaged currently

There are lots of interesting courses online that would keep your brain active. If you want to go put to work you'd be limited if only available term time and in school hours. Do you have any skills you could monitise? A friend of mine became a piano tutor. This fit around her caring commitments at home. Could you look after people's dogs when they go on holiday if you live on a farm? Could you learn to groom a dog? It's not as hard as it looks. My DH learned during COVID and has done our 2 Lhassa Apso ever since.

If you like property what about an estate agent - lots of places have people who conduct viewings or property inspections on a freelance basis and you don’t need any qualifications.

This might be what you need, @waitingtowork:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

Spend a couple of hours browsing random threads - it may well leave you with some inspiration, or at least an idea for a next step.

1st thought was a play specialist in a hospital, but you said you'd not necessarily want to work with children.

My cousin has a similar situation with her eldest having quite severe SEN. As someone up thread suggested, she re trained as a dog groomer, picks her hours and loves it. She is currently set up at her home in a garage, but is now looking into a mobile unit.

Thank you for the replies.

I had wondered about being an estate agent, although I think my interests are more in the redeveloping side of houses. Could be a good place to start though.

Dog grooming is a possibility, or some kind of animal care. We have lots of space here, some empty barns.

I will have a good look through the mature students topic for some ideas for courses too - didn't know about this topic!

It is my enduring wish that MNHQ, having agreed to establishing the Mature Study board exactly for you, @waitingtowork, might one day make the tiniest bit of effort to let people know it exists …

Question - there is a job going at my youngest's preschool two days a week. I'm considering going for it - ideally it's not what I want to do, but I'm wondering whether it's worth doing it for a year or so just to get back on the working ladder... It fits around school hours/holidays and is on site of my children's school.

As an aside, I've also just been accepted as a school governor. Haven't properly started yet, but I'm wondering if this would be able to go on my CV and help towards future jobs at all? If it would, I think I'd not apply for the preschool job for now