Job Hunting

[Grandma_Bananarama]

I started a search for a new job today. When asked if I had any concerns or special circumstances they should know about, I had to share the children. I never get tired at the look of surprise on people's faces when I tell them there are four under 8. I am fortunate that I have daycare and before/after school care for the older ones. But I worry that I won't be able to get the kids ready, myself ready, the little ones at daycare, the older ones to school, and drive 45 to 60 minutes to work and still be on time. Can I do this? Will there be enough of me left at the end of the day to be a good and loving caregiver to them? Will there be enough time to even spend 2 hours with them before they have to go to bed. In that time I have to make dinner, bathe, and spend some loving time with them.

I know I need to work. I have worked hard my entire adult life till the kids came along, then I worked a whole different hard. My self-esteem demands I work. It's more than money. I can barely make it financially, but have done so for the last two years. If I want to work in the field I got my degree in, I will have to commute. What to do, what to do?!?!?!

So dear readers, has anyone else had this dilemma? What did you do to overcome the obstacles?

[Admin]

I started a search for a new job today. When asked if I had any concerns or special circumstances they should know about, I had to share the children. I never get tired at the look of surprise on people's faces when I tell them there are four under 8. I am fortunate that I have daycare and before/after school care for the older ones. But I worry that I won't be able to get the kids ready, myself ready, the little ones at daycare, the older ones to school, and drive 45 to 60 minutes to work and still be on time. Can I do this? Will there be enough of me left at the end of the day to be a good and loving caregiver to them? Will there be enough time to even spend 2 hours with them before they have to go to bed. In that time I have to make dinner, bathe, and spend some loving time with them.

I know I need to work. I have worked hard my entire adult life till the kids came along, then I worked a whole different hard. My self-esteem demands I work. It's more than money. I can barely make it financially, but have done so for the last two years. If I want to work in the field I got my degree in, I will have to commute. What to do, what to do?!?!?!

So dear readers, has anyone else had this dilemma? What did you do to overcome the obstacles?


It occurs to me you might need to consider changing locations to a place that living, school, day care, and work are all in a closer knit bundled area, or choose work that is closer to where you are, although I understand that working in your degree field would probably command a higher salary, but at the expense of your ability to care for the children and even your own sanity, should be considered as well, as you mention it is not just about the money, despite how necessary it is, and you certainly do not need more to worry about, as the kids can generate enough reasons on their own!

[Grandma_Bananarama]

I've thought about that, but I hate the thought of moving from the country. I have a hard time living without trees and pastures. I know what you say makes sense, I just have such a hard time reconciling the two different needs. It's the big, "What to do?" I'll give it some thought. THanks for the input.

[Kevin]

It sounds like you are returning to the workforce.

Use this job as a starting point while searching for a replacement job closer to home. Use this job as a reference of currently being in the workforce and working successfully.

The daycare you have, is it a commercial business or someone working from home?

If a commercial business and a closer one cannot be found how about a daycare provider who works from home and lives close to you? Many jurisdictions require home daycare providers to be registered and licensed. Check you local government website and see if licensed child care providers can be searched on their website, often by zip code. IF not call and ask if you can be mailed a list of such people in your zip code.

Perhaps there is a care provider who will come to your house and be a sitter there.

Kevin

[coppertime]

Too bad you can't do what most working people do - call Grandma! Oh yeah, you ARE the grandma. It seems that in a situation like this you just have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Don't worry too much about a routine as that will happen by itself. You've probably been in this same situation with your own children. It just seems more daunting looking back. I was a single mom with two boys 5 and 2 in 1973. I had to get a job because the child support I was awarded never came and whenever we went to court my ex just laughed at me. There were no daycare centers in those days, only home care with no oversight. One night while eating supper with my two boys the younger one was acting up and the older one said "why don't you do what Marybeth does when he acts up?" -Marybeth was the babysitter - when I asked him what Marybeth did he said "she tapes his mouth shut with duct tape!" In this day and age I would call the police but in those days there was nothing I could do but call one of my friends to take over babysitting until I could find someone else to do it full time. That wonderful friend is still my friend after all these years and several years ago she and her husband retired here to be with us. I feed them dinner every Wednesday and am still thanking them for being there for me when I needed them. My son is 38 now and doesn't remember the duct tape.