athomeontheprairie Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 I really need a place to think "outloud" Constructive feedback welcome. Currently I work outside the home for approximately 20 hours a week. My kids either come with me or go to their Grandma's (or both, she lives within walking distance). I am about to be offered a job babysitting two of the most amazing kids (5 yo girl and a 1 yo boy.) Their current babysitter is moving later this summer. I would start in either late July or August. I really am torn! I loved babysitting for this family before, but I really love my current job also. Backstory on my current job: I left it at the birth of baby #4, but stayed on payroll as a sub, consultant, and to help with year-end work. After I had been gone a year my replacement's family moved out of state abruptly and I was asked to come back temporarily (as no one on the board knew how to do my job). So here I am 8 months later. Pros: We get off the farm. I get to see people. (If I am at the farm I can see the mailman IF I can get outside around 1 when he comes by. Otherwise I can't SEE anyone for the day. If you don't live rural you may not understand this...) My kids get to see other kids 2-3 days a week. I started an after-school program for my oldest at my job (includes her and 24 other youth from the community). Has been great! (and exhausting) I get to see my parents several times a week Access to a computer (both for me and my girls) Free printing/copying services Grandparents taking kids to Violin practice and out to lunch one day a week Cons: We spend 3 hours each week driving ( I hate driving. And in the winter with the snow, and the spring/fall rains? I have 20 miles of gravel. I usually put 6 new tires on my van each year) Little pay Most of my paycheck is eaten up in fuel. Lots of work outside my working hours putting stuff together for youth programming Away from home a lot. School schedule changed when I took this job and we moved to a 4.5 day school week year-round (I don't actually view this as a con, but sometimes I wish our daily schedule was constant, instead of a different schedule for 3 days) Required meetings at least once a month that force me to find child care. My new job would be childcare in home for two great kids ages 5 and 1. Their parents are amazing to work for. Ive babysat for them in the past when their current sitters had things going on. Pros: Stay at home the boy is the same age as mine. No changing of schedule-same thing every day- consistent. No driving- no fuel cost. Can take all the kids on a day trip whenever is convenient (currently limited by my job) Increase in pay by 140%, (this is huge. And not to lose that money with fuel!) I already have 4 kids, really whats 2 more? (These are two of the easiest kids ever) Only working when on the clock (instead of currently planning for my job in the evening after the kids are in bed) Cons: Must be at home morning (drop off), noon (bus), afternoon (bus) and evening (pickup) Leaving home will either be tied to the bus schedule for the K'er OR coordinating with the parents for her to be elsewhere while we go out (this has been easy for the current babysitter, and I don't foresee it being a problem here either) Can I homeschool with 2 extra little ones? My kids not seeing friends as often Rearranging violin as that she can come to me, or going into town in the evening (or?) What am I not thinking of? What would you choose? Ahhhh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 It sounds like the first job is really all about your kids seeing other kids, you getting out, and you getting an outlet for your creative side (planning for the youth). It's not really about the $. The second seems like the $ is a big thing. And the lack of driving, which you dislike. So, I guess I'd ask, why are you working? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Does your current job create future possibilities professionally, and do you care about that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 If you can make 140% more babysitting! I'd have a HARD time seeing the first job as worthwhile professionally. If there were benefits. Or a shot at advancement, that would be different. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 I don't mind being at home, I'd be the sitter. Perhaps with a more flexible daytime schedule (and yes, working around bus schedules is doable) you may be able to get out to simply SOCIALIZE with other homeschoolers. It sounds liike your first job is more for socialization for you and the kids. If you can get paid more, find people to socialize with and destress your life, what's not to like about that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 So difficult. Your pros are really great. Your cons are really not great. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 What a tough choice. I did see this: Pros: Can take all the kids on a day trip whenever is convenient (currently limited by my job) Cons: Must be at home morning (drop off), noon (bus), afternoon (bus) and evening (pickup) Leaving home will either be tied to the bus schedule for the K'er OR coordinating with the parents for her to be elsewhere while we go out (this has been easy for the current babysitter, and I don't foresee it being a problem here either) So, it sounds like you might not actually be able to get out for many day trips, if you're tied to the drop-off/pick-up schedule....in case that's important to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted April 24, 2015 Author Share Posted April 24, 2015 What a tough choice. I did see this: So, it sounds like you might not actually be able to get out for many day trips, if you're tied to the drop-off/pick-up schedule....in case that's important to you. I actually wondered if anybody would notice this or not. day trips here, are not unplanned. Everything is just too far away. I go out as much as the current family does, and she finds it easily doable. it would mean the trips into town to the library etc. might be difficult, but the true day trips would not be hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Is the money worth the total change for your family? Are you really on board with staying home, not seeing friends and family as often, rearranging lessons, being tied to the school schedule etc. It sounds like a break now but will you start resenting being tied down? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Another pro to your current job is that any sort of outside job is likely to look much better on a future resume than babysitting. So, for me, a lot would depend on when I plan to go back to full-time work. If I planned to home school for the next eleven billionty years, I'd probably go with the babysitting job (well, *I* wouldn't, because I'm not that fond of other people's kids, but that doesn't seem to be a problem for you). If we were uncertain about homeschooling or the money situation, and I really wanted to keep the doors open for future employment, I'd stay at the outside job. Also, I would consider seeing the grandparents and other kids to be additional big plusses. A strong relationship with grandparents is a precious thing. Also, my kids were fine with limited socializing at 9, but really began to need 'more' around 11. By 13/14 I was doing a lot more planning and driving related to their social lives (and continue to do so, and don't see an end in sight until they leave for college). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 How do your kids feel about it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 you asked what you weren't thinking of.... for me, i would add pros to current job: being family together. and to babysitting, a con for me would be not being family together. you would be family +2. it alters dynamic hugely. your kids get less of your attention, and someone else's kids get more. a 1 year old isn't just one more kid, its one more kid with needs who is competition with your own 1 year old. i have taken care of other people's kids with my own. i am good at it. their kids benefit. mine don't. fwiw, ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 If it were me, I would switch to the babysitting, hands down, in a heartbeat. And I'd figure out a way to have other kids over sometimes. I'd also join something just for me, to look forward to and to have some adult company. Maybe a book group. Or a knitting or weaving guild. Something that gets me together with other adults that I have something in common with. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Can you take the extra kids with you into town and visiting? Then you wouldn't be so isolated. Or is the 5yo in K, and you would have to be back for the bus and you live far out so you wouldn't be able to? (Maybe you could convince the other family to let you homeschool the K'er... :laugh: ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Keep in mind that the babysitting job is likely to change somewhat in a year when the 5'er goes to full day. That might open up time for field trips, our a day of in-town activities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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