Any other SAHMs with only school age children?

[ADisneyQueen]

I am a SAHM , DDs will be going into 5th and 1st grade. I've been thinking about getting a part time job, but due to DH's job, I can only work when the kids are at school. I really don't have to work, but I do like to do volunteer work with church and girl scouts. I am feeling guilty about being home when they are in school all day. I guess people wonder what I do with myself. Does anyone stay at home like me and not homeschool?

 

[TaraPA]

Same boat here. Last year was the 1st time in 10 years I had been ALONE for 8 hours a day! I loved it, but started to get bored. I'm in your same boat, I didin't need to work but was restless, DH travels for work so I can only work while the kids are in school, etc. I found a part time job (8-12 hours a week) that I love, and it gets me out of the house. Why don't you look for something to do at your kids' school? They ALWAYS need volunteers, and often have paid positions during school hours as well.

 

[Whosemom]

I'm "graduating" this year, too. Last year my baby was in kindergarten 2 full days and 1 half day a week. Since I volunteered at the school one day, I really only had one full day here alone. So, next Wednesday is my commencement - the beginning of the next stage. Woohoo! full of possibilities.

I have a work-from-home job that no one will be pulling me from, so it will go from an all day thing to a couple of hours. I'm picturing better planned activities for my scout troop and Sunday School class, a cleaner house, better suppers. I want to take the dog to an obedience training course. I want to take an ASL course.

EGADS it sounds like I can't wait to get rid of them. But that's not true. There are so many things we didn't do this summer that I wanted to do. I have a 6th grader and a 3rd grader in addition to the 1st grader, and I always end up this last week dragging them at break-neck speed from one museum to the next. This year, though I have a project with a deadline.

which reminds me, time to stop procrastinating! ttyl!

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

How funny...my husband and I were just talking about this last night....

HE thinks when my youngest (who is only 1.5) starts school that I will "get a job"... Boy, does he have another thing coming....

My oldest is going into 1st grade and my youngest is only 1.5. I would love another baby, but EVENTUALLY all of my kids will be in school. When that time comes, I have already decided that I am staying home. Will I be bored out of my mind? Heck yeah! BUT, I like the fact that I will be here for them during their summers and when they're sick....KWIM? If I got a part time job, I would have to work during their summers and that's not something I am willing to do.

I KNOW when the time comes, it's going to be a battle between myself and my husband, but my time with my children is just not something I am going to give up. For right now, I am basically not saying anything and waiting it out. My husband will learn of my decision eventually. Tough taffy for him.

 

[jodifla]

How funny...my husband and I were just talking about this last night....

HE thinks when my youngest (who is only 1.5) starts school that I will "get a job"... Boy, does he have another thing coming....

My oldest is going into 1st grade and my youngest is only 1.5. I would love another baby, but EVENTUALLY all of my kids will be in school. When that time comes, I have already decided that I am staying home. Will I be bored out of my mind? Heck yeah! BUT, I like the fact that I will be here for them during their summers and when they're sick....KWIM? If I got a part time job, I would have to work during their summers and that's not something I am willing to do.

I KNOW when the time comes, it's going to be a battle between myself and my husband, but my time with my children is just not something I am going to give up. For right now, I am basically not saying anything and waiting it out. My husband will learn of my decision eventually. Tough taffy for him.

I don't get this. Your husband wants you to get a job, but you'll just ignore him? How is that fair?

 

[tweedlemom]

I was a teacher before my husband and I had children. After our first son was born, I decided to be a SAHM. However, I substitute teach one day every week. (Would you be interested in subbing? If you worked solely at your childrens school, you'd have the same hours they did.) I love teaching and I love being a mom too, so this gives me the best of both worlds. I'm home with the boys the majority of the time, but one day every week I get to work; I really enjoy getting out and being with the students and seeing my teacher friends! Once my youngest is in school full-time (2 years from now), I will go back to teaching full-time. This arrangement works very well for our family. (My mom is able to babysit the kids once a week.) Hopefully, you will be able to find something that fits your family perfectly too! Good luck!

 

[tonilea]

We are several years from this, but I am concerned about DS being able to do after school activities with my current part-time job.

If we send him to school, I may look into sub-ing. That is what my sister is doing.

Like you she doesn't have to work, but she does enjoy getting out some. Unfortunately (?), as a certified teacher, she is very popular on the sub list and has worked more than she wanted to. Their lives are very hectic and a two week sub job left her husband with the distinct impression that his life was much easier with her home.

 

[mnasmom3]

My youngest will be in full day school for the first time this year and I'm going to be working part time. I can't see myself not doing something for the time their at school. There are times now that I get bored. Hopefully part time is the answer for me.

 

[stacy6552]

When my son hit first grade, I became a substitute teacher. Its been great. The hours are perfect. I work only as much as I want to. The added bonus is all the extra face time I get at his school. Maybe you should consider that.

 

[jenlynn0808]

When my sister and I were both in school full time our Mom became a substitute "lunch lady" at all three elementary schools, it eventually turned into a full time gig at our school. It was perfect for our family at the time...mom was out of the house, making "fun money" but home whenever we were.

Coming from another perspective now...I teach and I have had a few mothers over the years that have worked for the school district. In the district I teach for parents can be "lunch parents", crossing guards, lunchtime secretaries, administrative secretaries, classroom volunteers (this one is a non paying position). My MIL works as a parapro in a headstart program, and my Mom works as a substitute secretary for a district in NJ.

This option might give you what you want...a little fun money (you could always spend it on a WDW trip ) and you would be home when the kids are becasue they wouldn't need you to work if the kids are out.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[Harvest02]

I have to agree with several of the other posts on here -- substitute teaching is the way to go!!!! I have two DS going into 5th and 2nd grade, and subbing is great because you can be on their schedule. I started last year for the first time, and already a teacher has e-mailed me and I will have a job for the end of this month(they don't even start school until tomorrow!). I love the flexibility of it(you can still go on field trips, take days off if you don't feel like working or have appts. to go to, or if your kids end up sick). My goal is to look into a Transition to Teaching program in the next month and possibly get my teaching certificate so that I can teach full time. I love being at the schools!!!

 

[tadamom]

I was going to suggest subbing too. You could also look into a Mom's Morning Out/Preschool position. I think this is what I will do when my youngest starts school in 4 years. The Mom's Morning Out programs run by the same schedule as the school's. My sons preschool was from 9:25 - 12:30 (or 1:30 if he stayed for lunch). Good luck.

 

[Whosemom]

How funny...my husband and I were just talking about this last night....

HE thinks when my youngest (who is only 1.5) starts school that I will "get a job"... Boy, does he have another thing coming....

My oldest is going into 1st grade and my youngest is only 1.5. I would love another baby, but EVENTUALLY all of my kids will be in school. When that time comes, I have already decided that I am staying home. Will I be bored out of my mind? Heck yeah! BUT, I like the fact that I will be here for them during their summers and when they're sick....KWIM? If I got a part time job, I would have to work during their summers and that's not something I am willing to do.

I KNOW when the time comes, it's going to be a battle between myself and my husband, but my time with my children is just not something I am going to give up. For right now, I am basically not saying anything and waiting it out. My husband will learn of my decision eventually. Tough taffy for him.

Oh yeah, is not the answer to this one. If you don't want head-on discussions now, you could at least day-dream out loud about your vision of how things will be.

 

[mom23boys]

I am in the same boat but I am returning to work 2 days a week. I really could not resist going back. My youngest is going to K this year and the other two boys are in 8th and 3rd grades.

I will work Mon & Tues 8:30-2:30 and leave Thursday as a possible extra day or if the kids are sick Mon/Tues I can go on Thursday.

No holidays no summers when the kids are off, I am off. They pay is great and the schedule cannot be beat.

 

[enjkp]

Hey there I am glad that I am not in this alone. I am going to be home alone for the first time in 10 years. My oldest son is 9 years just turned it and I have been a SAHM since I was pregnant with him. NOT worked outside of the house. I now have one going into 4th and one in the 2nd and one going into Kindergarten. I am losing my baby to school. It breaks my heart.

I have been trying to figure out what I am going to do with myself. I know that I don't want to be easy access for friends and family to use me as a FREE sitter. I have my kids in school don't want to take on someone else's kids for FREE with mine gone. I don't mind it when I have mine here with me what is another one
I keep thinking I will have a cleaner house. At least until the kids get home from school.
I have been asked to volunteer in the second grade that is the class my middle one will be in . . . . my daughter and baby will be going to Kindergarten so I thought that would be good to be close to her maybe.
She is not looking forward to school at all from what I can tell.

Now to sub do you have to have schooling for that ? Extra schooling that is ?
Just wondering

Thanks so much...........................................for putting a SMILE on my face in knowing that there are others out there like me.

 

[tadamom]

Now to sub do you have to have schooling for that ? Extra schooling that is ?
Just wondering

My mom (she's 54) subs in Alabama and the only thing she had to do was have a background check done. Last year was really her first full year to sub and she could have worked nearly everyday!

 

[Brook1099]

My DD is going into 2nd grade and my Dh is going into 1st grade. I have been a SAHM and believe it or not the time they are in school does go fast. I always do my chores and errand and before yu know it its time to pick them up. This year I have decided to go back to work, I am going to do cafeteria work so my hours and days off are the same as theres. Summer vacation together I think if you dont have to do it for money reasons this is something to look into. The pay around here stinks but its time out of the house and a few extra bucks.

 

[mumom95]

14 more days until I'm in the same situation. My ds will be a second grader and my dd will be a first grader. I've been a SAHM for the past 8 years, and it is finally time to have a little time for me. I want to get caught up on my scrapbooks, start an exercise program, maybe take a cooking class. Plus, I'm going to go through each room of the house, one room a day, and completely clean it, from top to bottom, closets, under the beds, dressers and all. Plus, I still want to volunteer in their classes, I'm on the PTC and a girl scout leader, so I'll have time to plan for that. And I'll finally be able to go to the hairdresser, doctor, dentist and all those other type of appts by myself.

I have also applied for my substitute teaching license (and received it), so I would also like to sub at my kids school or within the district. In Ohio, you have to have at least a bachelors degree and a background check to be a substitute. I was a teacher before I had my son, but I don't think I'll go back to teaching full time, but you never know.

I know it sounds like I'm excited to get rid of my kids (and I won't lie, some days I am ) but I'm sad to see this part of their life end. Up until now I have been their whole world to them, and now they are entering a world where I'm not their everything. At the same time, I am so excited for them.

 

[weldon1]

In Missouri you have to have 60 credit hours to be a substitute teacher & a background check. You do not have to have college hours to be a substitute para.

This will be my fifth school year as a sub. My youngest is starting 5th grade next week and oldest (twins) will be in 6th. It's really nice taking the kids with you in the morning and coming home with them in the afternoons.

Two years ago I went back to school for my bachelor's degree in elementary education. I graduated in May 2007. I am planning on subbing again this school year.

By the way, depending on where you live, the pay is great too (our school district is $100 day this year).

Good luck.

 

[dyna]

I have been a SAHM for 30 yrs DH never wanted me workin not even part time not even volunteer work.

BELIEVE ME I can find things to do an not be bored at home. My youngest is now 17 with the older ones 30 an 28 and I'm needed at home now as much as I ever was. Just as sure as I leave for a day an go out someone will NEED me before the day is over. If not one of my own kids my elderly mother.