Question for former SAHM's who work PT low paid jobs by choice

[Anonymous]

OP, your solution is a simple one: Substitute teaching. Go through the paperwork and hiring procedures, attend the orientation, and then you can choose only to work at your kids' school and you can even customize which jobs you will accept. And if you aren't comfortable having your own class at first, you can limit yourself to instructional assistant jobs. Those are tough jobs, but at least you are not on your own. (Just know that the pay is very low...less than $15/hour)
But this way, you only work when you want to. And when your kid is sick, you don't take a job that day and no one cares because you aren't letting anyone down. Plus you get all holidays and summers off and obviously don't have to worry about staff inservice days as you would if you were actually employed part-time there. It will add a couple hundred bucks to your HHI, get you out of the house doing something worthwhile, plus you'll know what goes on inside your kids' school from a different perspective. EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT in the DC Metro area NEEDS substitutes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, your solution is a simple one: Substitute teaching. Go through the paperwork and hiring procedures, attend the orientation, and then you can choose only to work at your kids' school and you can even customize which jobs you will accept. And if you aren't comfortable having your own class at first, you can limit yourself to instructional assistant jobs. Those are tough jobs, but at least you are not on your own. (Just know that the pay is very low...less than $15/hour)
But this way, you only work when you want to. And when your kid is sick, you don't take a job that day and no one cares because you aren't letting anyone down. Plus you get all holidays and summers off and obviously don't have to worry about staff inservice days as you would if you were actually employed part-time there. It will add a couple hundred bucks to your HHI, get you out of the house doing something worthwhile, plus you'll know what goes on inside your kids' school from a different perspective. EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT in the DC Metro area NEEDS substitutes!

This post, FTW! OP, I am just like you and after a few years at my kid's school I thought it would be great to take an Instructional Asst. job in the kindergarten. But I regretted it only two months in when we had the first staff inservice and I had to attend while I scrambled to find childcare for my kid. Then my kid got sick. Then I realized the dentist appointments and doctor visits now had to be scheduled on non-school days. Then my inlaws arrived to visit us and I felt guilty that I couldn't meet them at the airport like I usually did so they had to take a cab. This is a litany of silly stuff, really...and I know that! But for me, it just built into resentment that I "had" to go in to work (at a very low-paying job that I didn't even need), and I realized it would have worked better if I had chosen something that was even more flexible. I didn't think about how much I would miss the freedom of my own time.

[Anonymous]

OP, I started subbing at a preschool when my youngest started to elementary school and eventually became an assistant. It was definitely a sanity-saver for me! I loved the social interaction, making a little money, and having the afternoons and summers off to spend with my kids. I only worked three days per week, so I was able to get my errands done on the other days and have the weekend free for family time or whatever. After many years, I made the transition to working as a paraeducator with the public school system. While the pay is decent, and the benefits are nice, I miss having free days during the week and because I'm often too tired to do anything after work, I end up grocery shopping and running errands on the weekends. I also miss the ease with which I used to take days off of work; now I have more paid days available, but the principal won't always approve them, and I have to coordinate my personal leave with my teammates; it's just more of a hassle to use my leave that it was at a small preschool.

There are lots of moms working at both preschools and in the public schools. I highly recommend getting on the sub list with some local preschools and with the county, to see if you like the work before you make too much of a commitment. Subbing is great because you can choose your work schedule! I often find myself envying the subs at my school, because they don't have to show up every day like I do! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, your solution is a simple one: Substitute teaching. Go through the paperwork and hiring procedures, attend the orientation, and then you can choose only to work at your kids' school and you can even customize which jobs you will accept. And if you aren't comfortable having your own class at first, you can limit yourself to instructional assistant jobs. Those are tough jobs, but at least you are not on your own. (Just know that the pay is very low...less than $15/hour)
But this way, you only work when you want to. And when your kid is sick, you don't take a job that day and no one cares because you aren't letting anyone down. Plus you get all holidays and summers off and obviously don't have to worry about staff inservice days as you would if you were actually employed part-time there. It will add a couple hundred bucks to your HHI, get you out of the house doing something worthwhile, plus you'll know what goes on inside your kids' school from a different perspective. EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT in the DC Metro area NEEDS substitutes!

How do you become a substitute teacher in DC? I do see the ads occasionally on Craigslist, but doesn't seem legitimate or even connected to DCPS. Can I show up at 8:45 am and leave 3 pm to pick up my own kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will be competing with other moms in your same position.

+1
Yep, like me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will be competing with other moms in your same position.

+1
Yep, like me

OP here. I know this. Although frankly, most of the other SAHM’s near me have no interest in doing anything, ever work-wise. They seem content going to the gym and running errands and going out to lunch. I like all these things to but don’t think it’s for me all day every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will be competing with other moms in your same position.

+1
Yep, like me

OP here. I know this. Although frankly, most of the other SAHM’s near me have no interest in doing anything, ever work-wise. They seem content going to the gym and running errands and going out to lunch. I like all these things to but don’t think it’s for me all day every day.

Start some kind of hobby career, like photography, painting, selling on Etsy, tutoring or piano.

[Anonymous]

I'm an adjunct and while the pay is low, I generally have the same summer and winter breaks as my kids. I schedule my classes during school hours 2 days per week. This still gives me time to run errands and make appointments on the other days. Sick days can be challenging but they happen on days I'm working, my DH can help in the morning and I can take over after my morning classes.

I really like being able to have adult conversations and a sense of accomplishment. I hope you find something you enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an adjunct and while the pay is low, I generally have the same summer and winter breaks as my kids. I schedule my classes during school hours 2 days per week. This still gives me time to run errands and make appointments on the other days. Sick days can be challenging but they happen on days I'm working, my DH can help in the morning and I can take over after my morning classes.

I really like being able to have adult conversations and a sense of accomplishment. I hope you find something you enjoy.

OP here. I think this is what I am lacking as well. I truly have nothing against long term SAHM's. I really thought I would be one. I've just been feeling bored and itchy this year. Husband is fine either way but agrees we should get house cleaners if I do end up finding something. I'm not looking for more than 15-20 hours max, and ideally no more than 3 days. I'm willing to wait patiently for the right fit - not planning to just take "whatever." I agree subbing might be a good starting point.

Thanks again everyone for the insight.

[Anonymous]

I needed to go back to work mentally but I ended up in a school that has a super stressful office envt. The janitor actually told me that they could not keep people in my position because it was underpaid for the stress level.
Be careful what job you take!

[Anonymous]

I'm jealous that you re-entering the work force is simply bc you're bored at home.
The rest of us have to re-enter bc we need that extra income.

So please leave the ideal/"perfect" jobs at the preschools, school office, and any other job that neatly fits with the school year to us. You can have the volunteer jobs, find a rewarding hobby, or the like.

[Anonymous]

"The janitor actually told me that they could not keep people in my position because it was underpaid for the stress level."

Let me guess, attendance secretary at a high school. You wouldn't believe the crap kids get away with, and their parents write notes to back them up. And like someone else said in another thread, there's no consequences at school anymore.

[Anonymous]

I felt like this and started teaching yoga. I liked the free gym and yoga memberships and discounts (30% at athleta and tons of places) that came with it. I liked choosing my own hours and weeks that I wanted to work more I just said yes to the thousand sub requests always available. Spin, Pilates, barre- most are weekend certifications if yoga (200 hours) is too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm jealous that you re-entering the work force is simply bc you're bored at home.
The rest of us have to re-enter bc we need that extra income.

So please leave the ideal/"perfect" jobs at the preschools, school office, and any other job that neatly fits with the school year to us. You can have the volunteer jobs, find a rewarding hobby, or the like.

That’s dumb. If she doesn’t work you scream lazy if she does you tell her you deserve it more? Frankly if someone who never left the workforce is working part time at a preschool maybe they ought to have left and raised kids.

[Anonymous]

I went back to work PT not because we needed the money but because I love the intellectual outlet/ using my brain in a very different way, the adult interaction part and I liked my kids seeing me have an identity outside of being a mom. Plus the pay for my job is quite high so I like keeping my foot in the door in case something ever happened to DH's job and I needed to support our family.

I ramped up housekeeping help but overall I think it's great.