DerpyNarwhal
DerpyNarwhal

Your thoughts plz

howdy!!

Folks I need your inputs please. I am a single parent to two kids and have a full time job which is basically the only financial source and now WFH is ending and my problem is:

  1. With the role n responsibilities i am fully booked for office work and not able to take care of the kids or house like i want to

  2. Even if i hire someone like nanny i still thinking of their safety and activities they r doing bcoz i want to engage them is teaching or making them learn spend time with them as they grow be there for them ( bcoz i know how lonely it is to have working parents) so i don’t want them left with nanny bcoz i believe money can be made again but their childhood will not return

  3. Even if i get a WFH role, my time, energy and thinking capabilities will be taken up by the job only again leaving me less energetic, time to care for my kids

4 Everyone is against me leaving the job bcoz that’s the only financial source I have but i want to shift my stream maybe join as a school admin or start a food business that i can handle without much of mental stress but the pay will be way less

So I am looking for something which gives me the time and mental peace to spend and raise my kids with a decent money to meet the needs.

What can i do??? please tell me any other way out or a guaranteed income source along with being with my kids

21mo ago
SwirlyRaccoon
SwirlyRaccoon
Target21mo

First of all, kudos to you for what you're doing and trying to do 🙌

I'm not sure whether this will help or not:
You can try moving to organizations which are relatively famous for work life balance. Pay may not be fancy, but you will have time.

You can go for remote (if possible async) roles. There are a good number of companies (especially outside India) that allows async work. This should be beneficial.

I would suggest you to not to try anything on your own. You might end up spending more time on it than you would imagine.

DerpyNarwhal
DerpyNarwhal
Amazon21mo

thank you for your kind words. I believe by async you mean IT field however I am not in IT field.

SquishyBoba
SquishyBoba

You are a champion. I hope you are able to figure out a win-win solution.

Is a creche or playhouse available in the office or very near to the office? If so, you can drop the kids there, then work at the office, if required, can check on them during the day, and pick them up in the evening.

SquishyBoba
SquishyBoba

And then play/read/eat with them in the evening till night when to go to sleep. After that pick up some office work which is pending. Weekends fully devoted to the kids, do all household chores with them participating, except when they sleep when you can do some.offive work if required.

SquishyBoba
SquishyBoba

I know it sounds hectic, but if you have a good cook & maid to take care of housework, then it is possible.

MagicalJellybean
MagicalJellybean

Also be open and ask for help - from your family, friends, get a cook/maid to do household chores so that your time at home is am totally spent with them. It needs a village to raise children so be open to ask for help.

On the job front, keep looking for remote roles especially in companies that are known for good work life balance. Doing your own stint might not be the best way forward here as more often than not it requires more input and working hours ( at least initially).

You are a fighter and will figure this out too. Just trust yourself and don’t lose patience. All the best!

DerpyNarwhal
DerpyNarwhal
Amazon21mo

thank you 😊

ZestyLlama
ZestyLlama

Try setting up a playschool or tutions

DerpyNarwhal
DerpyNarwhal
Amazon21mo

yes that’s a good idea

GigglyDonut
GigglyDonut

Tough spot, sorry to hear this.

#3 is an assumption. Try switching to IT companies.
Entrepreneurship should be a risk you should take after some savings given your circumstances.

You could try:

  1. LinkedIn apply software/WFH offering companies where you can leverage your skills for decent pay and get a WFH (finance roles are sparse so stay hopeful).
  2. Build a safety net of income
  3. Explore enterpreneurship etc

Other job options - home tuitions, virtual tutoring with edtech companies, create a course on platforms like skillshare etc if you're good, freelance at upwork/fivver, freelance with local companies/stores, etc.

DerpyNarwhal
DerpyNarwhal
Amazon21mo

thank you 🙏 these are good options to try. My sister is in IT field and i see her worse busy than me so I do not want to go that way.

I am also looking into affiliate marketing option but have 0 knowledge

CosmicRaccoon
CosmicRaccoon

Hats off on handling 2 kids single handedly. We are getting a touch time from our kid. I will totally agree with the nanny part. We have changed nanny 5 times in the past 12 months. If you consider nanny, I request you to not go ahead with any agency. They are the worst.
I am not sure about the age of your kids, but I think they maybe younger than 10 years old. Certain things which you can consider doing:

  1. Check if there exists any freelance/consulting gigs for the kind of work you are currently into. If it’s not available, try checking any other kind of activity which maybe a hobby of yours but can allow you to get some side income. In the mean time, you will need to get nanny otherwise it will be difficult for you to handle work and kids both.
  2. When you’re opting for nanny, pls do make sure to have your parents come over for sometime or any of your closed ones to atleast stay for a month to check the behaviour of your nanny without your presence. We have done this and it works. Also, CCTV installation goes without saying. Don’t worry, you will find nanny who are educated enough. You will just need to be patient.
  3. Being a single parent is one of the toughest jobs, time and work management becomes very crucial. Definitely get help wherever is required, so that you can spend quality time with your kids.

I would request you to not leave your job as it’s your primary source of income and would help us saving up for your kids future

DerpyNarwhal
DerpyNarwhal
Amazon21mo

thank you, it’s a good idea but it’s just me n kids

DancingNoodle
DancingNoodle

Have you considered 2nd marriage

DerpyNarwhal
DerpyNarwhal
Amazon21mo

naah, after my exp. and two kids i cannot be in that phase again.

DerpyNarwhal
DerpyNarwhal
Amazon21mo

Thank you everyone for sharing your inputs. Considering your suggestion not to quit the job, I am thinking of taking a Leave without pay or sabbatical for 3 months n join back if things don’t work out in my favour. Has anyone taken this path or knows on what grounds I can be granted either of these. Please let me know. Thank you in advance

SleepyMochi
SleepyMochi

Texans on grapevine as well ?

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