Please share your thoughts. This is my dilemma:
I always planned to be a SAHM, but figured I could do a few hours freelance work evenings/weekends (when DH is there/DD is asleep) to bring in some money. To survive, ideally I need to bring in 200-300+ pounds a month.
My work ran out in Jan and Feb and we're about to move house, so things are tight and we're worried about money. I haven't had the time or energy to look for more work properly in Jan and Feb because of 1st trimester exhaustion and nausea. Now that I'm 12 weeks pregnant, I'm starting to feel better. For a while, I was napping when DD napped, and going to bed about 2 hours after her in the evenings. No free time at all.
I really need to earn as much as possible in the next 6 months to qualify for some maternity allowance. I wonder if it would be a good idea/ethical to look for a job now, because at least the money would be regular, unlike freelance which varies hugely from month to month. And to be honest, I think I would benefit from a break from childcare, by putting DD with a childminder.
The thing is that I don't actually want to leave DD with anyone (am I being pfb?) and I worry that in terms of drop-off/pick-up or sickness, I know I will have to do the bulk of this, not DH (his job is more responsible/important). I don't want to mess around an employer. I suppose a short-term contract would be ideal in the sense that I wouldn't have to "hand in my notice" when I need to stop working to have DC2. I just wonder if anyone would employ a pregnant woman for a few months or if they would consider me a liability.
The other thing is that to cover childcare costs, I'd have to work more hours as my hourly rate would be lower.
I suggested to DH that I get a Saturday job but he didn't like that idea as it would eat into our family time.
Sorry for rambling. I just needed to bounce a few ideas around and would appreciate your wisdom about work-life balance and paying the bills.