[caroline10]

I currently work part-time 3 days a week in an office job, basically just for the $$$ (not a career or anything). We have a DD who is in mid/upper primary. I have been working for about a year and a half, and also worked for a few years when she first started school until my job became redundant.

I am so over work. I always dreamt that I would be a SAHM and be there to drop her off and pick her up from school everday, be able to do all the school things like volunteer for excursions, help out and be part of the school community, be there for her after school to help her with homework etc etc. Instead she spends time in afterschool care for the majority of the week, and I have to battle to get permission from my boss if I want to have a day off to volunteer for something etc etc etc.

I know these are all small things but these are things I've always wanted to do, and I can see primary school slipping away and we will never get it back. I don't even enjoy the work I do tbh. It is purely for $$$ sake.

My delimma of course is, if I leave, we will struggle to manage on one income. We can do it with some over, but not anything significant enough to pay more than just minimum repayments on our loan, and not enough to save for holidays or repairs to our house (we have a few that need attention) or anything like that. I fear leaving my job because it will really impact on us financially, and I also fear that if I take another few years off that I will find it really difficult to get back into the workforce, particularly part time as there as so few of these jobs about. But the fact is I am miserable at the moment. I am really miserable, and I can see time passing and I know I am not going to get any of this back. I really resent having to go to work because I feel like I am missing something precious that I can't ever get back if that makes sense. But at the same time I am worried that if I leave we will really struggle and I may regret the decision. My DH is happy for me to leave, he is pretty easygoing aobut it all, so he is happy to support me but I just don't know what the right thing is to do.

Any advice or thoughts would be welcome, I am really struggling atm.


ETA to clarify the situation a bit further:

Stuff we will not be able to afford if I am not working would be stuff like holidays, replacing our old car, etc etc. We would have some over, but nothing significant and would be paying down our morgage slowly just bit by bit (however we have a large chunk of it already paid off so it is not a big loan). So I don't know, how much of that is financial stability and how much is wants? Do we need to go on a big holiday, no, but would I like to give that experience to my daughter before she starts high school, yes. It's that kind of thing.



This post has been edited by caroline10: 19/07/2012, 11:57 AM

[caroline10]

ETA I know it's only part-time but I still deeply feel like I am missing out on so much. I am often required to cover for other staff and getting leave approved is a nightmare.

[Fluster]

I hate (HATE) being stressed financially, so if I was in your shoes, I would find another job. I don't really like working, but if you have nice workmates it can make it bearable.

I also think there's a bit of a danger in being too available to your child, particularly one in late primary, however this may just be based on my own experience with my son!

[Gloriosa]

I wouldn't. You still have the other 2 days.
What does your husband think? Would he be happy with it? Would you be happy to have your husband stay at home if your husband's dream was to be a stay at home dad and leave you financially poor?

[sparkles30]

Could you drop a day and work only two days? Might give you the best of both worlds.

[ali27]

I would keep working. Being part time, you are able to have some of the experiences you want with your daughter, without impacting too much on the family's finances. Scrapping by for money all the time is stressful and if it can be avoided, then I would take that option.

[haras1972]

Op I hear you, I'm really struggling with work and going to finish in 4 weeks and take the rest of the year off, and then try to find another job next year, part time and close to home...

Could you start looking for a new job instead of just leaving? More friendly hours so you could at least drop the after school care. Say 9-2, 4 days a week?

What other work could you do? A friend of mine does night clerical work at a hospital, weekend jobs, other night jobs...

Good luck, hope it works out for you...

[Rachaelxxx]

Based on what you are saying, no I wouldn't leave your job. Could you possibly find something else where you only worked 2 days a week and only did school hours. That still leaves you 3 days a week. Personally for me I think you would become very bored, very quickly. I know it's easy to think you won't when you aren't 100% in your job, but just remember that grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence.

[caroline10]

Could you drop a day and work only two days? Might give you the best of both worlds.

Sadly no, I don't think so. My boss often pushes for me to be there more than I am, so I can't see that cutting back a day would be approved. My boss is always drilling 'the needs of the business' into us, and I have had to be very firm about not staying back late more than is absolutely crucial.

[KA]

It is really hard when finances are tight. If you can manage it I would do it. She won't be in primary school for much longer and you could use the time during the day to work from home and maybe provide office services, typing etc. for a few extra dollars.

I think it would be lovely for her to have more access to you and for you to get a little more involved with your daughter's school even if it does mean tightening your belt and going without things.

Good luck with your decision.