Is is possible to hold down a job with 2 littlies when they start school?

**spritzer** · 07-01-2008, 04:47pm

I've always intended to stop when Xander goes to primary school as it just seems impossible to manage otherwise but I realise loads of you do it.

How on earth to you manage with holidays and inset days and assemblies and finishing at 3 and so on?

Is it actually doable or do you just 'survive'? How do the kids cope with it?

I put this here as I didn't know if it was work or parenting

**bubbasweet** · 07-01-2008, 05:36pm

Childminder to collect them from school and look after them for a couple of hours? I don't have children myself, but my OH's sister in law does that for the two days a week she works. She's lucky though that her work is pretty flexible and she can make up hours here and there if she has to take an afternoon off for a nativity play or whatever.

**Booh** · 07-01-2008, 05:40pm

I too was going to say a childminder.

They will do all the taking to school / collecting / holidays etc leaving you to just go to the fun things like open days etc!

**~Twiggy~** · 07-01-2008, 05:46pm

Cleaning.

I have three part time jobs/contracts cleaning.

Three hours at a time over the week. Mostly mornings. One afternoon and a Saturday.

I find it possible but then I have only oner and he is a nursery for four hours at a time.

**spritzer** · 07-01-2008, 10:05pm

Very interesting. I guess childminding is an option with one but surely it would be expensive with 2?

**Sarasue** · 08-01-2008, 07:57am

Most schools have afterschool and breakfast clubs - either on school grounds or they will pick them up. Costs me £12 a day (London - 2 children).

School holidays, either I am off, my husband is off, holiday club at the after school club and childcare swops with friends.

TBH I finish work at 3pm 2 days a week so I can pick up those days

**Elle Driver** · 08-01-2008, 08:02am

This is something I'm thinking about, for when they are both at school.

My thoughts have been what others have suggested - childminder to do drop offs or to attend a breakfast club.

But for picking them up - I really want to do this and if I can't find a job where I don't finish early enough to pick them up from school then I dont think I'll return to work until I do. If that makes sense!

For some reason I dont mind the idea of them being *taken* to school but I really dont like the idea of them being *picked up* from school.

I think its because I want to do homwork with them, make their dinner, just generally be there for a few hours in the afternoon with them and spend some time with them.

*Betty Mae* · 08-01-2008, 08:09am

I have five at two (soon to be three) different schools and just couldn't manage (or afford) to go back to work. I really don't know how people manage it. I know school starts at 8.50am in some places and as they get older you can leave them in the playground earlier than that but the roadworks round here must mean that nobody is ever on time!

I just couldn't imagine any employer even putting up with me having days off here and there due to their sickness (not that they are very sick but bugs getting passed from one to the next child mean it could be weeks before they are all better!) and the guilt of needing to work but needing to be there for the kids would tear me up I think!

Unless I had my mum or MIL to help out I can't see it being possible and even then I would be resentful towards someone else spending those times with them.

**Princess Fiona** · 08-01-2008, 08:18am

Well no experience myself as i don't work and i don't have 2 yet

My Step Mum works full time and has 2 Sons aged 6 and 16 months. The older boy is at school, he gets taken to school by a neighbour every morning at 7:30am for "Breakfast Club" and then he stays at the "After School Club" until 6pm when either Step Mum or my Dad collect him.

The younger one is in full time Nursery from 7:45am - 6pm or thereabouts.

Its very expensive but she earns a very good wage as a Bank Manager

and it must be worth her while as she wouldn't do it otherwise.

I have a friend who has just had her 3rd and has given up work now but she did have her Son in full time school (he's 13) and her little girl was cared for by her Mum and her Mum also collected her boy from school, plus she finished work at 4pm.

As for holidays and asemblies etc, i know my Step Mum isn't involved in the School at all and didn't go to my Brothers Nativity Play as she couldn't take time from work

in the holidays she pays for the "holiday Club" run by the school and then relies on my Nan to look after the kids if the club isn't on or whatever.

**Daisy66** · 08-01-2008, 09:14am

Originally Posted by ProfessorVanessa.

For some reason I dont mind the idea of them being *taken* to school but I really dont like the idea of them being *picked up* from school.

I think its because I want to do homwork with them, make their dinner, just generally be there for a few hours in the afternoon with them and spend some time with them.

I totally feel the same way!

I'm lucky though as my current job is very flexible indeed and I will be able to arrange my hours so that I can pick Hannah up from school when she starts in August.

My current job is fairly boring and unsatisfying but because of the above, I'll have to stay in it for a while yet, as it's almost impossible to find part-time work that is reasonably paid, flexible AND satisfying, and I know I'm lucky to have it really.

Daisy

ETA My colleague has 5 kids and his wife has not worked for years as it would just be impossible really, for same reasons as Betty Mae explained above!