What to do once all the kids are in school?

[rlrtorr]

Ok so I have had all my kids into school for almost 2 years now. I have been taking classes online and some at a community college for the past 2 years as well. But the summer is coming and I'm thinking of not taking classes since i did take them last summer and I really just want a break. I feel a little guilty about not working outside of the home right now since my kids are in school. So i was wondering if you don't plan to home school your kids, what will you do when they are off to school?

[mamazee]

I do not plan to go back to work when my kids are in school full time. I'll still end up doing everything at home because my husband is used to it and has arranged his life and job responsibilities around that. He has been able to take a job that requires so many hours to do becasue he doesn't have to do a lot of stuff around the house, and he's unlikely to give that job up when both kids are in school full time, so I'll still do almost everything. And that's still a full time job, even when the kids are at school. A great deal of the work I do now is evenings and weekends, and I won't see any relief in that at all. I feel no guilt about it. Evenings and weekends running kids around, meals, laundry, and house cleaning will very very easily always come to over 40 hours a week.

[MrsGregory]

I plan to work part-time (in the mornings) when all of my babies, present and future, are established in school.  I'm thinking this should be around 1st, 2nd grade or so.  Once they're feeling confident, I'm going to introduce the idea of Mama working again to the family.  That's me.  That's my only plan.  If that doesn't work for you, maybe a volunteer position?  Perhaps a class that isn't a "school" class - like a pottery or jewelry-making class? 
 

[Drummer's Wife]

My kids are all in school full-time now, so I work very part-time and go to school myself. I'm actually wanting to get a full-time job, but I know it would be hard to juggle right now. Even though they are in school all day, I feel like every week there are multiple activities, meetings, etc., that I am expected to attend (or want to attend), between the 4 kids, at their school. Plus when they get sick. Then there's our puppy to care for, and all the things I tend to do like run errands and go grocery shopping.

I thought it would be easy to go back to work or be in school full-time once my kids got older, but it seems like such a challenge now that I'm there.

[rlrtorr]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife 

I thought it would be easy to go back to work or be in school full-time once my kids got older, but it seems like such a challenge now that I'm there.

This is exactly how I am feeling. But until they are older and able to stay home without adult around then I don't see how to make it work. My online classes are all I can handle and I'm about out of those, and will soon have to be accounted in the class room to finish up my nursing degree...
I also feel look down on for this by others some times and I guess it is good to know that others are out there in the same boat! :)

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by rlrtorr 

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife 

I thought it would be easy to go back to work or be in school full-time once my kids got older, but it seems like such a challenge now that I'm there.

This is exactly how I am feeling. But until they are older and able to stay home without adult around then I don't see how to make it work. My online classes are all I can handle and I'm about out of those, and will soon have to be accounted in the class room to finish up my nursing degree...
I also feel look down on for this by others some times and I guess it is good to know that others are out there in the same boat! :)

Yeah, the school hour thing makes it tricky, too. My kids get out at 12:45 every Wednesday, plus, while we do have a before and after-school program, it won't take my youngest until next school year. At that point, I'll have kids in two different schools with different start and end times, which also adds to the challenge of working full-time.

[Natalie12]

This is the first year that my two have been in school full time. I've always worked about 7-8 hours a week so that didn't change. The first few months I got stuff done and just got used to having them out of the house. Now, I was recently hired for a full time job. I'll be working as a teacher's assistant at a local daycare/preschool. The hours are perfect as I got to work when the kids are at school, and for vacations and summer they can come with me for free.

This is pretty ideal. I'm not sure what I'd do if I didn't have this job opportunity. I want to be available for my children, and yet I know that I'm ready for more work, so this is perfect for now.

[Mummoth]

Have another baby! 

Well, it's what I did... 

The schools always need parent volunteers, maybe there's a job there that appeals to you? If your goal is to get back to having a job at some point, it's something to put on the resume, as well as being something the kids might appreciate.I helped with a reading program for my kids and they loved having me around at school.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by Mummoth 

Have another baby! 

That's what I've been trying to do!  LOL!  I have four kids, but would love another one or two.

Anyhow, to update my last post on this thread, I actually did land a full-time since then.  I start in about a week, and am excited and nervous to be working 8 hrs a day after being home for 10+ years.  It's a great position, though, and I have faith that somehow it will all work out with the kids, etc.,  Just a big change!  No more afternoon naps for me while they are at school.  :D

[sweet]

There are many part time jobs that you can do from home.

See this Squidoo lense: http://www.squidoo.com/job-for-stay-at-home-mom