Stuck

[Brain]

Ngaiz, I tried to reply to your PM but it says that your inbox is full! Please clear it so I can reply .

As someone who understands exactly where the OP is coming from, my post was to offer an example of a plan and examples of what sacrifices often need to be made.

I am very well aware of what's in store should I choose to follow that path. This isn't a decision I came to overnight. As an adult with work and life experience I feel I am better equipped to deal with the bull ****.

[Brain]

I'm a single mum with two toddlers and no help from anyone else so I know how tricky it can be to find the space to progress. My thoughts are that it is slow and steady. I have a career i can go back to but even with that i need some retraining etc and it's so hard to do when i have full responsibility for the children and no family to help. I also don't want to return full time to my career, i want to do something new as well, so it will take some planning. My beginning point has been to put my children in child care for one day a week. I'm working REALLY hard to make that one day count! Is my only 8 hours of the week that i don't have the twins so i want it to have a longer term focus. Even if half the day has to be basic appointments, shopping etc, i always allocate at least half to online training, accessing information, updating some basic skills like first aid certificates etc. I am choosing to be a SAHM at the moment but see myself working part time when my twins are in kindy and near fulltime when they are in school. So i have a couple of years to work up to being ready to go. If i use this one day a week from now then that really adds up to time well spent! And i can see already that life dots free up. For example my children can now happily do an activity for an hour while i get something done, so i can tick off little bits of study here and there etc. As they get older this will be more and more possible. It's a reeeeeaaaallly tough road when you don't have anyone at all to mind the kids for even an hour, but slow and steady wins the race if you just take the first step. I don't want to look back in a couple of years and wish I'd used my time differently. Family is my focus but I'm slowly making the changes to lead into the next phase. With 3 children. ..are any in school yet? Does this free up your days at all?

Good luck, and good on you! You are completely correct - slow and steady wins the race. Which is what I was on about in my posts anyway. I have one child in school, but that doesn't free up my time as I still have two home!

[Brain]

I was interested in teaching before I had kids, maybe after one child, but now that my youngest is growing up - no way!! I want to be surrounded by adults at work, who speak in adult talk. I really enjoy being at home, don't get me wrong, but I enjoy it because they are my children. So a definite definite no there.

What about teaching geography at high school? Personally I couldn't handle high school kids but I know there are online courses in teaching that have csp's and you can do a masters in teaching with any degree - 2 years full time or PT equiv. having kids has made me more interested in education / teaching - though in reality I don't know how much influence / independence if any teachers have but it wouldn't be boring!!

[Brain]

If you have transferable skills you could try applying around in entry level positions- most places in my experience like to see at least some sort of proof you can do the work though, and remember you'll be up against anyone else applying that may have Certs or experience or both- so it definitely gives an advantage.

The course is tedious sure, but it's quick and it does teach you how to do a lot of what you'll be asked to do in the job.

In saying that- you never know if you can get your foot in the door then you can just go from there gaining experience.

I'm in the process of applying for work myself- hoping to have a good experience soon and gain some sort of career out of it- but for me it's all about supporting my family and keeping us above water- the pension just really doesn't keep us afloat.

Thanks! That was definitely really helpful!

You may be happy to know that I now have a plan you guys have helped me tremendously in drawing up a battle plan.

And yes, single parenting pension isn't exactly rocking it - this is why I'm so lucky to be able to afford my rent nowadays, so I can finally branch out and follow my dreams a little more.

[Ngaiz]

Ngaiz, I tried to reply to your PM but it says that your inbox is full! Please clear it so I can reply .

Done ;-)