Moms: Would you like this work schedule?

[Luv Bunnies]

OK moms, I need your input on the work schedule for a job that I'm considering. I work for my local school district as a special ed instructional aide. I've been in special ed preschool for the past 8 years and, quite frankly, I'm getting a little burned out on changing diapers. The district has been posting new jobs as they become available and I can apply for a transfer if I see one I'm interested in.

I just got a posting last week for a 4-hour/day position with a split shift. It would be 8:15 - 10:15 a.m. and then from 12:50 - 2:50 p.m. The main responsibility would be to help a child with blood glucose monitoring and watching for warning signs of an impending reaction. I'm assuming those are the most critical times of day for the child. I have no problem dealing with the medical aspect and I would receive training from the school nurse.

But what about those hours? My current position is from 8:30 - 2:00 p.m. so I've never had a break during the day. It would be wonderful to come home and do some cleaning, laundry, etc. or do the grocery shopping (the school is only about 5 minutes from my house). But, I'm wondering if it would be hard to leave work and have to go back again later. Would it end up being a big drag and would I be better off working straight through? Also, my 4th grader gets off school at 2:45 p.m. His school is only about 5 minutes away so he would end up waiting for about 10 minutes everyday. I'm used to being there as soon as he steps out of the classroom. But 10 minutes doesn't seem like long to wait, does it?

I'm trying to rationalize this and decide if I want to transfer. Any ideas or opinions? Thanks!

 

[DeeDeeDis]

I've done splits shifts before and didn't mind them at all.
with the two hour break you could get alot done, like grocery shopping or running errors without having to drag
the kids along.

You will be losing 1 1/2 hours per day, how is that going to effect your lifestyle?

Your right 10 minutes is not long but you still have to ask yourself How independent / responsible is your 4th grader? Do you have a neighbor who would be home in case he needed them? Would you be able to have your cell with you so he could text you when he got home?

It takes a very special person to have the presonnality to work with children with special needs, and i know i could not do this type of work so I just want to say THANK YOU for all you do for these young people.

 

[DVC Sadie]

After 8 years on the job it would sure beat diaper duty.

Just think of all of the things you could do in that time between your shift, or you could choose to do nothing but take a rest.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I've done splits shifts before and didn't mind them at all.
with the two hour break you could get alot done, like grocery shopping or running errors without having to drag
the kids along.

You will be losing 1 1/2 hours per day, how is that going to effect your lifestyle?

Your right 10 minutes is not long but you still have to ask yourself How independent / responsible is your 4th grader? Do you have a neighbor who would be home in case he needed them? Would you be able to have your cell with you so he could text you when he got home?

It takes a very special person to have the presonnality to work with children with special needs, and i know i could not do this type of work so I just want to say THANK YOU for all you do for these young people.

Thanks for the reply. I would actually go from a total of 25 hours a week to 20 since we have minimum days on Wednesday. I'm not worried about reducing my hours. I started out working in my preschool job at 3 hours a day and they just kept adding hours. Going back to 4 hours a day would be fine by me!

I wouldn't actually let my 4th grader go home alone. I would have him wait at his school for 10 minutes until I could pick him up. I would be working at the next school over in the district so it's very close. By the time he gathers his backpack, lunchbox, homework, etc. and horses around with his friends, it's usually 10 minutes after the final bell until we leave anyway. I would tell him to get his things together and stand in front of the office until I get there. That's where all the buses pull up and where other kids wait for their parents. I think he would be fine there and probably wouldn't be there for more than 5 minutes before I get there. His dismissal is at 2:45 and mine would be at 2:50 about 5 minutes away.

Thanks for the thoughts and the kind words!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

After 8 years on the job it would sure beat diaper duty.

Just think of all of the things you could do in that time between your shift, or you could choose to do nothing but take a rest.

Yeah, diaper duty is getting old. Especially since my boys are long past that stage! I am thinking about all the things I could do in that time. It's so much easier to run errands without the kids in tow. I could even fit in a hair appointment! This is beginning to sound better and better....

 

[taymaesmom]

I say do it. I work the craziest schedule in the world and I love having my free time. I too work for the school district. I work 7:30-8:30, 10:30-1:00, and 3:00-6pm. On my morning break I usually run errands, grocery shop etc. THe afternoon break which is shorter I run home and do some cleaning or just relax. Its great cause I have time to do laundry as I come and go. I am able to schedule dr appts during that time too. When I started I just worked the lunch shift, then last year I added the after school shift and then towards the end of the year this year I added the early shift. It also gives me time to have a late lunch with my friend, her youngest is in pre-k so we will have a late lunch or a shopping trip with no kids, without any guilt!

 

[toystorymom]

Sounds interesting, definitely different. Having the break mid-day might be nice, you could get some things done while your own kids are at school. Just yesterday I said I would starve before I took my 3 kids to the grocery store again. I'd personally rather work the 4 hours all in a row and get it over with, but if it's somthing you would enjoy, I think you could make it work. Is your son's school okay with him waiting at the office for that short amount of time?

I'm curious how old the diabetic child is and what exactly your responsibilities would include.

Good luck with the decision.

 

[minkydog]

I would love that schedule! I'm a school nurse so my hours are 8:30-4:15. I would love to have a short break in the middle to get some errands done, doctor appointments, hair cuts, etc.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

Think of it as a longer lunch period. It would be nice to be able to run errands & what not in the middle of the day. You probably will find that you are able to pick your son up around the same time since, as you said, by the time he gathers everything up some time has elapsed.
Good luck!

 

[Disneychix]

Think of it as an extended lunch hour. I would love it!

I would only worry about your DS if there isn't a place for him to wait or if the school has some restriction on times of pickup. But I doubt 5-10 mins is going to be a problem.

 

[licountrygirl]

I drive a school bus ( and yes, I still have my hearing) and I love working a split shift. Granted, it's a long day, but at least as a mom, you get to do what you need to do during the day.

I have to be at work at 6:15am and I am back in my house about 9:45am and I leave again at 1:45 until 4:45.

I do my laundry, food shopping, cleaning - whatever during that break. Some very rare times, I can sneak in a nap.

It's a very long day, because with all the running around and mom duties - you're constantly going from getting up at 5:30 am and not getting "done" til after dinner. My thought is that at least most of it is done after the dinner dishes and the evening is more or less free.

I love my job (can do without some of those little angels) but the pay is good and I'm always home when my kids are for days off and vacations. At my location, as soon as our kids turn 3, they can ride with us and there goes any need for babysitters!

I would hate to lose my split shift.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I'm curious how old the diabetic child is and what exactly your responsibilities would include.

All the HR person has been able to tell me is that the child is a 1st grader (I don't even know if it's a boy or a girl). My duties would include helping him/her monitor blood glucose levels. I'm assuming we'd go to the health clerk's office to do this a few times a day. I would also be trained to look for warning signs of low blood sugar and what steps to take to correct it. I actually think this would be kind of interesting. My mom was a nurse and I considered becoming one long, long ago (I ended up with a degree in PR instead). My dad is a diabetic so I've become educated on the process of checking blood sugar, etc. Meanwhile, I'm still considering my options...