Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 22:59     Subject: Re:9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Paraeducator. Short days, get experience, healthcare included, if your principal is good and likes you they might find a job like front desk etc for you.

What did you do before you got married?


Part time paraeducators don’t get benefits.


Yes they do in MCPS. as long as you work at least 4 hours per day
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 09:47     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Look for a job in the school system. Your child's school may need an office manager or something like that.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 14:07     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:Home caregiver for elderly, often required only mornings

No benefits.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 12:44     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:If you have a professional background, contact staffing agencies relates to what you did (bookkeeping, paralegal, communications). You may be able to find a part-time, and or work from home gig that could work. You may need to take something you don’t love, but it pays and gets you started, then you can be more selective moving forward.


This is great advice.

Once you have some updated dates/work experience on your resume, then you can start applying to administrative positions at the community college level or university level. You may even be able to carve out some time for a one-day-a-week after-school activity for your kids.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 12:30     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Some counties help paras become teachers. Para or other school hour job. Health room technicians than move into full time county job? PAA and move up?
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 17:02     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You need to give up on a 9-2 schedule. Your kids will be fine with fewer activities, carpools and/or a PT nanny. Plenty of women work full days with kids and it’s manageable.


And plenty of those women aren’t mothers of kids who just lost their father. When my husband died, my kids benefited greatly from continuing with their prior activities and schedules while they adjusted to all of the other changes such a big loss brings. OP isn’t trying to keep it the same forever, but is trying to do what’s best for her family in this particular moment.


Thank you for understanding. My kids need to be with their friends and their adult mentors, particularly their male coaches and instructors. I don’t want to isolate them at home or have them face further losses just now.


OP, just jumping in to say I another (new) poster who fully respects this priority of yours. I think that is the best thing you can do for them right now. Might you be able to get help with rides for a few months -- as in a carpool that you are not really participating in. Tons of people would be more than willing to help a recent widow. One of my kids was on a team with a kid who lost a parent and the whole team really rallied to help as much as possible.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 16:57     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You need to give up on a 9-2 schedule. Your kids will be fine with fewer activities, carpools and/or a PT nanny. Plenty of women work full days with kids and it’s manageable.


And plenty of those women aren’t mothers of kids who just lost their father. When my husband died, my kids benefited greatly from continuing with their prior activities and schedules while they adjusted to all of the other changes such a big loss brings. OP isn’t trying to keep it the same forever, but is trying to do what’s best for her family in this particular moment.


Thank you for understanding. My kids need to be with their friends and their adult mentors, particularly their male coaches and instructors. I don’t want to isolate them at home or have them face further losses just now.


This impulse is both understandable and arguably misguided. Your lives have changed, pretending they have not is going to be counterproductive. The kids need to adapt to the new reality, as do you. Your priority should be your future financial security, not trying to completely insulate your kids from the impact of the loss you all have experienced by funding entirely optional social/sports/arts whatever activities. Get a full-time job with benefits and develop a solid financial plan for your retirement. That should be your highest priority, not trying to keep everything status quo ante, as nice (and as unrealistic) as that would be.


If you haven’t lost your spouse and had to raise kids that lost their parent you have no basis to tell OP that her plan is misguided. You try starting a brand new career while raising traumatized kids and report back on how well that goes.


As a mom, you have to do what you have to do. If you can’t afford your house no amount of extra curricular activities will make up for it. I think people here are really encouraging OP to think realistically rather than emotionally. It’s hard but it’s what needs to be done.


OP was clear that she has life insurance and survivor benefits that will buy some time. She seems like she is putting together a sensible plan which balances what her kids need right now which is stability and relationships with adults who aren’t grieving, and long term planning. She knows that the choices she makes now won’t be permanent.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 16:52     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
16:49 again: It will be low-paying, but a lot of churches have various part time and flexible positions. I'd also reach out to small businesses. For instance, I know someone who helped out a Realtor part time.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 16:49     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You need to give up on a 9-2 schedule. Your kids will be fine with fewer activities, carpools and/or a PT nanny. Plenty of women work full days with kids and it’s manageable.


And plenty of those women aren’t mothers of kids who just lost their father. When my husband died, my kids benefited greatly from continuing with their prior activities and schedules while they adjusted to all of the other changes such a big loss brings. OP isn’t trying to keep it the same forever, but is trying to do what’s best for her family in this particular moment.


Thank you for understanding. My kids need to be with their friends and their adult mentors, particularly their male coaches and instructors. I don’t want to isolate them at home or have them face further losses just now.


This impulse is both understandable and arguably misguided. Your lives have changed, pretending they have not is going to be counterproductive. The kids need to adapt to the new reality, as do you. Your priority should be your future financial security, not trying to completely insulate your kids from the impact of the loss you all have experienced by funding entirely optional social/sports/arts whatever activities. Get a full-time job with benefits and develop a solid financial plan for your retirement. That should be your highest priority, not trying to keep everything status quo ante, as nice (and as unrealistic) as that would be.


If you haven’t lost your spouse and had to raise kids that lost their parent you have no basis to tell OP that her plan is misguided. You try starting a brand new career while raising traumatized kids and report back on how well that goes.


As a mom, you have to do what you have to do. If you can’t afford your house no amount of extra curricular activities will make up for it. I think people here are really encouraging OP to think realistically rather than emotionally. It’s hard but it’s what needs to be done.


This. Losses happen. Coping requires clearminded planning for a new reality, not behaviors which try to mask the situation which will ultimately make outcomes worse.


She appears quite clear minded and is planning for a new reality. There's so much more to her new reality than maximizing money, yet still she is developing a long-term financial plan by looking for a job to bring some income in now while setting herself up to ramp up when things are emotionally more stable.

In retirement, even a small income makes a tremendous difference in how long your assets last. The same is true with the life insurance money she has.

I support you, OP, and think you are doing the right thing for you and your family.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 12:59     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You need to give up on a 9-2 schedule. Your kids will be fine with fewer activities, carpools and/or a PT nanny. Plenty of women work full days with kids and it’s manageable.


And plenty of those women aren’t mothers of kids who just lost their father. When my husband died, my kids benefited greatly from continuing with their prior activities and schedules while they adjusted to all of the other changes such a big loss brings. OP isn’t trying to keep it the same forever, but is trying to do what’s best for her family in this particular moment.


Thank you for understanding. My kids need to be with their friends and their adult mentors, particularly their male coaches and instructors. I don’t want to isolate them at home or have them face further losses just now.


This impulse is both understandable and arguably misguided. Your lives have changed, pretending they have not is going to be counterproductive. The kids need to adapt to the new reality, as do you. Your priority should be your future financial security, not trying to completely insulate your kids from the impact of the loss you all have experienced by funding entirely optional social/sports/arts whatever activities. Get a full-time job with benefits and develop a solid financial plan for your retirement. That should be your highest priority, not trying to keep everything status quo ante, as nice (and as unrealistic) as that would be.


If you haven’t lost your spouse and had to raise kids that lost their parent you have no basis to tell OP that her plan is misguided. You try starting a brand new career while raising traumatized kids and report back on how well that goes.


As a mom, you have to do what you have to do. If you can’t afford your house no amount of extra curricular activities will make up for it. I think people here are really encouraging OP to think realistically rather than emotionally. It’s hard but it’s what needs to be done.


This. Losses happen. Coping requires clearminded planning for a new reality, not behaviors which try to mask the situation which will ultimately make outcomes worse.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 11:30     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You need to give up on a 9-2 schedule. Your kids will be fine with fewer activities, carpools and/or a PT nanny. Plenty of women work full days with kids and it’s manageable.


And plenty of those women aren’t mothers of kids who just lost their father. When my husband died, my kids benefited greatly from continuing with their prior activities and schedules while they adjusted to all of the other changes such a big loss brings. OP isn’t trying to keep it the same forever, but is trying to do what’s best for her family in this particular moment.


Thank you for understanding. My kids need to be with their friends and their adult mentors, particularly their male coaches and instructors. I don’t want to isolate them at home or have them face further losses just now.


This impulse is both understandable and arguably misguided. Your lives have changed, pretending they have not is going to be counterproductive. The kids need to adapt to the new reality, as do you. Your priority should be your future financial security, not trying to completely insulate your kids from the impact of the loss you all have experienced by funding entirely optional social/sports/arts whatever activities. Get a full-time job with benefits and develop a solid financial plan for your retirement. That should be your highest priority, not trying to keep everything status quo ante, as nice (and as unrealistic) as that would be.


If you haven’t lost your spouse and had to raise kids that lost their parent you have no basis to tell OP that her plan is misguided. You try starting a brand new career while raising traumatized kids and report back on how well that goes.


As a mom, you have to do what you have to do. If you can’t afford your house no amount of extra curricular activities will make up for it. I think people here are really encouraging OP to think realistically rather than emotionally. It’s hard but it’s what needs to be done.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 07:46     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Kindergarten aide or classroom SpEd assistant. These are the two popular former-SAHM jobs near us. I think they only pay like $25k/year but have excellent benefits, school hours and no teacher workdays. Plus all the breaks.

I work a half day school job (no benefits, get benefits from husband) but I would choose one of the above jobs if I suddenly wanted benefits with a good schedule.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 04:57     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Bank teller?
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 04:00     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You need to give up on a 9-2 schedule. Your kids will be fine with fewer activities, carpools and/or a PT nanny. Plenty of women work full days with kids and it’s manageable.


And plenty of those women aren’t mothers of kids who just lost their father. When my husband died, my kids benefited greatly from continuing with their prior activities and schedules while they adjusted to all of the other changes such a big loss brings. OP isn’t trying to keep it the same forever, but is trying to do what’s best for her family in this particular moment.


Thank you for understanding. My kids need to be with their friends and their adult mentors, particularly their male coaches and instructors. I don’t want to isolate them at home or have them face further losses just now.


This impulse is both understandable and arguably misguided. Your lives have changed, pretending they have not is going to be counterproductive. The kids need to adapt to the new reality, as do you. Your priority should be your future financial security, not trying to completely insulate your kids from the impact of the loss you all have experienced by funding entirely optional social/sports/arts whatever activities. Get a full-time job with benefits and develop a solid financial plan for your retirement. That should be your highest priority, not trying to keep everything status quo ante, as nice (and as unrealistic) as that would be.


If you haven’t lost your spouse and had to raise kids that lost their parent you have no basis to tell OP that her plan is misguided. You try starting a brand new career while raising traumatized kids and report back on how well that goes.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 23:37     Subject: 9-2 job ideas for recent widow?
Anonymous wrote:Alimony is still a thing? I thought that was a thing of the past.


Nope