Yahay - I've been offered my first real shift of work....

[specialmagiclady]

.... Boo it's 4-7pm 1 day a week.

This would be ok if I could rely on DH to do childcare pickup and/or bed time but he's away most of the time for work during the week.

Kids are 3 and 5. Here are my options: Get a nanny/babsitter to cover school pickup to bedtime in our house. OR use a childminder who doesn't mind working 'til 7.30 one night a week. I feel it's a bit of a crap time of day to inflict on a babysitter character.

With childcare costs I would probably clear 8 or 9 pounds per shift. (My DH says "just make sure you don't buy a sandwich..." great).

So, do I go for career development over money and get my arse in gear, sort out the childcare and just bite the bullet and do 1 night a week. OR do I hold out for work during the school day, which does exist, so I can fit my work round my family not the other way around.

I sort of feel that with DH away a lot, the kids need me to be physically available to them. They need to know that mum will be there.

Or is that just the fear talking???

go for it
3 hours a week will get you used to the idea

it's one day a week. the kids will be fine. I'm with compo

forgot to say congratulations !

For less than a tenner a week I wouldn't bother (and if you haven't factored in travel costs, work clothes etc then it might even be less than that). I suppose it might depend on the likelihood of more work resulting from this job, and whether the timing of any extra shifts was likely to be better.

Depends how seriously you want to take your career development.

Plenty of people work for no net gain for a while, because childcare costs eat up all of one income. However, if the long term benefits outweigh the short term disadvantages, then there's your answer.

If you aren't bothered about what work you do, or career development, then hold out for a job which will fit around the family.

Your children will be fine whichever you choose.

Thanks for advice. I suppose the thing is if it had been in my original career then I would take it.

However, this is the new "fit round the kids, lower paid but hopefully steady" job. So think will hold out for better hours. Think will be getting some Saturday work - which means although I won't see much of DH, at least he'll look after the kids for nothing!