I work 2 days per week, and the rest of the time I'm with my 16 month old DD. I started out working 3 days per week when she was 7 months old, but a couple of months ago my hours were cut at work for financial reasons. I work for a very small, new, struggling non profit. I feel lucky that I have work in my field that I believe in (and got hired when DD was 7 months & I was in a new city), so I try not to stress about the money stuff.
But it's tough.. my paycheck barely pays for DD's childcare plus my student loans, with a little left over to contribute to groceries. It worked a lot better when I worked 3 days per week, because the student loans are a big portion of the costs I have to cover. Now I've just started a childcare swap with another mom to save money, and so that my daughter will have a more consistent playmate. We're starting out at 1 day each per week, but soon we'll be up to two days. It's a lot of work.
In some ways I feel like it would be better to find a higher paying full-time job, because then I wouldn't feel so split all over the place. But I love being with my daughter, and I'm pregnant and would like to hang on to this part time gig for as long as I can. If it weren't for the crappy pay it would be a perfect job. I don't know how I'll afford childcare for two kids when I go back after this baby is born, but I'll cross that bridge later. Right now I'm really early in pregnancy, and there are other things to worry about.
Anyone else in a similar place?
But it's tough.. my paycheck barely pays for DD's childcare plus my student loans, with a little left over to contribute to groceries. It worked a lot better when I worked 3 days per week, because the student loans are a big portion of the costs I have to cover. Now I've just started a childcare swap with another mom to save money, and so that my daughter will have a more consistent playmate. We're starting out at 1 day each per week, but soon we'll be up to two days. It's a lot of work.
In some ways I feel like it would be better to find a higher paying full-time job, because then I wouldn't feel so split all over the place. But I love being with my daughter, and I'm pregnant and would like to hang on to this part time gig for as long as I can. If it weren't for the crappy pay it would be a perfect job. I don't know how I'll afford childcare for two kids when I go back after this baby is born, but I'll cross that bridge later. Right now I'm really early in pregnancy, and there are other things to worry about.
Anyone else in a similar place?
For me, this job is giving me professional benefits for minimal hours, but my paycheck doesn't even cover my costs of keeping up my license, certifications I am pursuing, and continuing education credits. Eventually when my children are older than it will be better but my youngest is only 1 so that time is still far away.
