Going back to work

[u/Longjumping-Run3493]

What are we doing when our kids are all in school full time? Going back to work? Back to school? Rotting on the couch in the quiet? 😂

I’m sure I will enjoy the peace and quiet at first but I’ll get board of that pretty quickly. I currently workout / run 6 days a week. I have other hobby’s I could do to fill time. I know I will still have house work, grocery shopping and running kids to sports to do as well. But I feel like getting a job would be nice as well.

We are fortunate enough to have my husband’s job provide for our family so I don’t have to go back to work. But having something that gives me a little spending money and adult interaction might keep me from going crazy at home lol.

[u/AdeptnessOrnery6783]

Why don’t you choose something and make it better. There are all sorts of philanthropic projects in need of people. I’m working on watershed improvement and restoration

[u/Content-Bat-4808 → u/AdeptnessOrnery6783]

I started volunteering at animal shelter when my youngest went to school full time not really a job but keeps me busy and the cats dont care if i show up in my pajamas basically

my sister in law does meals on wheels twice a week she says it gives her enough to do without feeling like she back in office life

[u/Longjumping-Run3493 → u/Content-Bat-4808]

I worked at our local animal shelter pre kids as their vet tech… now we have to many animals so I’m not aloud to go back per my husband 😂😂

[u/AdeptnessOrnery6783 → u/Content-Bat-4808]

Having competent reliable people who care and don’t need to be paid is a huge deal for so many organizations. I grew up with a lot of driven and highly educated women who were known for their good works so it’s always been part of my life. I’m so looking forward to being able to make more of an impact in my community as my children get older. Teaching them to find their own way to make the world better in a very direct and real way

[u/averyrose2010 → u/AdeptnessOrnery6783]

That sounds really fun. How did you find something like that? The only things I've thought of was going back to volunteering at the hospital or working as a CASA.

[u/marbel]

I have a high school freshman and a sister grader, what is this free time you speak of? I have barely enough time to get dinner prepped after I get back from drop off (maybe an hour) let alone chores, appointments, etc before I have to turn around and get them to practice/tutoring/friends. I legit wonder who would even want to hire someone who has 60 available minutes haha

[u/Longjumping-Run3493 → u/marbel]

I fear this might be my reality 😂 but its worth a shot right?

[u/According-Sir3777]

We homeschool SOOOOO...

[u/Longjumping-Run3493 → u/According-Sir3777]

Love and hate that for you lol

[u/Dramtic-Brush]

I’m definitely getting a job. I need interaction, a goal to work towards and something to go “ah yes that’s all done”. Do you know what I mean?

[u/Longjumping-Run3493 → u/Dramtic-Brush]

YES!

[u/BamSteakPeopleCake → u/Dramtic-Brush]

“ah yes that’s all done”

You mean some tasks don't come back every day/week/month? Can't relate 🙃

[u/DelurkingtoComment]

My youngest is in 3rd grade and I have yet to be bored. Errands, chores, school dropoff and pickup take up a good amount of time. I also do a few hobbies, volunteer a bit at the school and joined a book club at my library. I enjoy crafts so I make my kids Halloween costumes every year and that takes up most of my October.

[u/South-Log-7086]

If you have a spouse who contributes to the household other than just financially, then return to work makes sense.

If spouse is pretty much siloed on work while you manage everything else, a stay at home parent basically has six hours a day for all chores, errands, cleaning, appointments and prep for household.

Between before school/after school, you still have 8-10 direct contact hours with the kids on top of that.

[u/greyfaye_]

I have tried getting a job with my son in school full time and can't 🫠 But I can't work certain days or hours because my son has private therapy 5x a week, so jobs either don't want to be flexible or don't pay enough to make it worth it you know?

[u/Longjumping-Run3493 → u/greyfaye_]

Totally get it!

[u/meaganhaha]

Make sure to try out having the days to yourself before you commit to something! It's amazing how I'm still constantly busy, have things to do, and loving having a little time to myself during the day

[u/Rare_Background8891]

My youngest is in fourth and I promise you I’m not bored.

[u/I_pinchyou]

I stay pretty busy. I try to do all the cleaning, grocery, meal plan, dog walks, appointments, exercise during the 30 hours she's at school. Some times I grab a lunch with a friend or go thrifting. But most of the time there is a project to work on or something I can organize. Also I worked a merchandising job for 3 months and missed pickup 2x. It wasn't worth it to me to go back We have no help and aftercare is expensive and only until 5:30

[u/ch536]

I really want to get a part time job for extra money that we desperately need and for something to occupy my thoughts with. However, I don't want to go back to what I was doing pre kids, I want to actually make a difference to the world whatever that may be

[u/Usual_Celebration493]

I have my Masters in social work and plan to do PRN home health or hospice when my youngest starts school. My husband’s job is not flexible and he works pretty long hours, so one of us needs to be available for sick days/field trips etc. I had a few months of my older two in full time school (when I was pregnant with my 3rd), and I will definitely want to do something.

[u/poop-dolla]

We luckily don’t necessarily need the money, so I’m using a little bit of time towards hobbies I haven’t been able to do much of the last few years, and a little bit of time towards house projects and stuff like that which have also been neglected the past few years. My youngest just started half days, so I only get a few hours free a day for now, which wouldn’t really make it feasible to work even if I wanted to. I’ve also been doing more of the chores that are difficult to do with kids around during the school hours, so I can be more attentive when everyone’s home.

I will very happily welcome the additional few hours a day I’ll get once the youngest gets to kindergarten in a couple of years. I have a feeling I’ll still have more things I want to do than I have time for even then. I ml i I got start volunteering more at that point too. I’d much rather do that than most jobs.

[u/Apprehensive_One6344]

Well i first started volunteering:

Our kids school
Animal shelter
Veterans hospital
Habitat for Humanity

Then i went back to school
Bachelor’s
Masters

Now im just kind of doing hobbies

[u/ChiliGoblin]

Some people need a job to be happy and I ain't one of them.

Before having kids I was a sahw and never had enough free time to do all my projects and hobbies. I really can't wait to get back to that.

The only way I'd be getting a job was if we wanted money for a ridiculous and useless project like buying a boat or something.

[u/Ohorules]

Put your kids in Scouts and volunteer to be the leader, that takes up plenty of my time lol. Also I spent a lot of time rotting on the couch. Plus any chores you normally do during the day still exist, so it's not 6-8 hours of free time. Still have to cook, clean, errands, etc.