Maybe give up on the ‘perfect dream job’ and settle for another, not as great, but more flexible job? Seems this is what you need to achieve balance

Unfortunately it sounds like you’re a bit stuck. We can’t all live our dreams simultaneously, I’d probably forget trying to stress out about trying to afford to squeeze in a nanny wage, just wait and see if a better more flexible opportunity comes along – or maybe start your OWN company which is more flexible?

I’m going to be studying for the first time in years and it will require some work experience so I am organising with family to watch my son, as he doesn’t spend too much time with them it will do everyone good.. But my partner works in a job that can be 6days to no days a week so we did discuss that in my opinion that there was only two options which was either one of was a full-time parent and the other was a fulltime worker or both of us got alternating part-time jobs. I ended up with fulltime mum as he wasn’t interested in the other options, but that’s only because my son is 5months old. But if I were you I would really look at talking to jobs and seeing what could be done and or doing the co pickups or asking for family help.

I work, my husband recently lost his job, however when he had a job my mum used to pick my daughter up from school, when I could not use her (when she went into hospital) I used the OSHC, they picked her up from school and I picked her up from there, it actually is pretty affordable. Other than that try family daycare, I have a friend that does it and regularly picks kids up from school and drops them off, and its a lot more affordable then even OSHC.

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  • • mom57522 replied
    • 16 Jun 2015 , 7:53 pm

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  I think this answer pretty much sums up the options.

Good Luck,l know you would like this job,hope something works out for you.

Swap picks with another mum … or you drop off they pick up?

Maybe look at all child care options?

Difficult decisions

I grew up going to after school care and loved it! Could be a good option

Some of the home cares that you can access through your local council might be a help, if you are employed over 15 hours a week you can get the rebates like you would for daycare. look into it, it might be a option for you.

Could you share the cost of a helper with other parents? What about after school care?

you need to find out more options. when your kids are all at school, you can get a place to pick them up if you are working. Also there is family daycare which should be pretty cheap. Government will help you with child care costs.

That’s the hard choice you have to make.. Is there any way of speaking to the boss and trying to arrange alternate working hours? Maybe start earlier so you can leave early to pick up kids? Your partner can do the drop off and you can do the pick up? Good luck.

I’m also contemplating the same at the moment. I love the job, but I really want to be there for my kids and not put them into child care, after school care, holiday care etc. They are our biggest investment at the moment.

That’s a tough decision to make, but you need a flexible job so you can do things like pick your children up. I would be trying to negotiate with the boss but if you can’t I’d not take the job.

Very difficult to decide. As a working mom you need some flexibility indeed. And maybe someone you trust that can help you out in case of emergencies. If I couldn’t sort that out, probably I wouldn’t accept the job. But that’s just my opinion.

Not an easy situation to be in, in general at the moment there feels like less and less re entering the work force jobs available let alone being able to get the dream job

It is hard. In my case I initially took a job that fitted with the hours I needed. In the meantime applying for what I want to do, that will fit in with the hours I need