Hunter's Moon Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I know, 100%, that I want to be a homeschooling mom when I have children. There is no doubt in my mind that that is what I want. So, as I sit here thinking of my career choices, what career would you have chosen that paid well enough but was flexible enough for you to homeschool, whether it be part-time, or flexible full-time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 accountant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Nursing (I know of several who can work part time or a shift other than days. Pay is good, benefits provided. My sil works 3 days a week but is the insurance provider for their family as my brother's job doesn't provide it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 The people I know with the most flexibility and the best part time incomes are the occupational therapists and physical therapists that are working with my children. There are also some speech therapists I know who work for a private company and can have flexibility in scheduling. They are all making over $50 an hour. I chose teaching and am glad I did however. It didn't really help me homeschool but it has stopped some of that 'you can't be qualified to homeschool' talk others hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted September 10, 2010 Author Share Posted September 10, 2010 The people I know with the most flexibility and the best part time incomes are the occupational therapists and physical therapists that are working with my children. There are also some speech therapists I know who work for a private company and can have flexibility in scheduling. They are all making over $50 an hour. I chose teaching and am glad I did however. It didn't really help me homeschool but it has stopped some of that 'you can't be qualified to homeschool' talk others hear. Ha, funny you brought that up because I've been researching it. It justs seems an awful long time to get to be an OT or PT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in OK Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I'm already doing it. :) Midwifery. We do a 4-day school week so I see clients on our off day, Friday. When a birth happens my dh works from home so I have the freedom to leave when I need to and not worry about getting home at a certain time. I also teach childbirth classes which allows me to set my own schedule and teach in the evenings and one Saturday a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Counselor. Altough my personal bias is that counseling is not an early adult stage career in most cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Ha, funny you brought that up because I've been researching it. It justs seems an awful long time to get to be an OT or PT. :iagree:I looked it up and the primary way to get an OT degree in my area was through a Master's Degree program that cost in excess of $90,000 in fees alone. This was just for the OT part, not even counting the pre-reqs or BS needed beforehand. These programs are extremely competitive too. It is a great job after you get the degree, but man are there bottle-necks at the university level to get into nursing, PT, or OT. I would say professor at a university or community college, but that is also a lot of school and there seem to be fewer and fewer jobs available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJCMom Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I'm going to school for court reporting. My goal is to use that education to become a live television broadcast captioner. It's something I can do from home with part-time hours and still average over $50 an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Nursing! I am a teacher and it doesn't provide flexibility. I am able to teach classes and tutor, but I do not make much money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Honestly? A doctor of some sort, possibly a pediatrician. As far as it being a homeschooling friendly job, I guess it would depend on the demands of your particular practice. In one city where we lived years ago, we used a peds practice that was composed mainly of mom doctors. They each only worked part time. We never felt neglected in any way because we were served by non-full-time physicians. I'm sure they could have made more money but they all worked together to strike a good balance between career and family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted September 10, 2010 Author Share Posted September 10, 2010 :iagree:I looked it up and the primary way to get an OT degree in my area was through a Master's Degree program that cost in excess of $90,000 in fees alone. This was just for the OT part, not even counting the pre-reqs or BS needed beforehand. These programs are extremely competitive too. It is a great job after you get the degree, but man are there bottle-necks at the university level to get into nursing, PT, or OT. Yeah, I was making a game plan in my head but the more I think about it, the dumber it sounds. I was thinking about becoming a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at community college. Added up all the costs and it was about $10,000 in all. Then I planned on getting a job, saving up and going to college to work to become an OT. There are just too many ifs. I read a lot of COTAs getting replaced by actual OTs because they can write evals while COTAs can't. Nothing is ever easy:glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I would have gone the music performance route instead of music ed. It's what I really wanted in the first place, and it would have put me in a better position to give private lessons and make real $ after dc. I'd be interested in being an OT, but I'd have to go back to school...maybe when my dc are older... The *BIG* thing, from my pov, is to avoid student loan debt. If you must get student loans, make SURE it's an amount that you can pay off quickly after graduating. I'm a 31yo mom of 3dc, with tons of SL debt for a degree I don't use...It would have been better, for *me,* to focus on getting dh out of school (and making $) first and then take my sweet time on my school while I'm at home with the kids. School would be a welcome diversion from irl at this point;), and I could afford it if not for these loans I'm making payments on... I *wish* I had the foresight to even *think* about this at your age.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dansamy Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Honestly? Exactly what I am doing now: nursing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted September 10, 2010 Author Share Posted September 10, 2010 I would have gone the music performance route instead of music ed. It's what I really wanted in the first place, and it would have put me in a better position to give private lessons and make real $ after dc. I'd be interested in being an OT, but I'd have to go back to school...maybe when my dc are older... The *BIG* thing, from my pov, is to avoid student loan debt. If you must get student loans, make SURE it's an amount that you can pay off quickly after graduating. I'm a 31yo mom of 3dc, with tons of SL debt for a degree I don't use...It would have been better, for *me,* to focus on getting dh out of school (and making $) first and then take my sweet time on my school while I'm at home with the kids. School would be a welcome diversion from irl at this point;), and I could afford it if not for these loans I'm making payments on... I *wish* I had the foresight to even *think* about this at your age.:001_smile: Thank you. That is why I am against the OT thing a bit. Most careers I've looked into require much higher levels of schooling than I could imagine affording. Even with scholarships, I doubt I could cover costs all the way to a Master's degree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 CPA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooblink Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 A gold digger. :D Nah! I'd say nursing, but I'm not sure I have the stomach for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted September 10, 2010 Author Share Posted September 10, 2010 A gold digger. :D Nah! I'd say nursing, but I'm not sure I have the stomach for it. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 The women I know who have the most money & the most flexibility are nurses and medical doctors. Nothing else even comes close. Medicine, Dear Watson. People always get sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Well, I did have a career before hsing, but I couldn't hs and do it. I was a high school counselor and a high school teacher before that. If I had thought of hsing before I had kids, I might have chosen nursing, although I have to honestly say that I was never medically inclined. I could teach ESL in a CC or even a college setting in the evening. I haven't pursued it here, but I might at some point! Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Surgical assistant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganClassicalPrep Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 No experience yet, but I'm hoping I've chosen the right career path for me! :D I'm in school for history, hoping to be a college professor. It offers a little more flexibility than a 9-5 job. I have one professor who lives 4 hours away 4 days a week and teaches her classes the other 3. I have previously had professors who teach a class on campus and 2-3 online. There is a lot of work that can be done from home, and there are part time opportunities. (Ok... I *really* want to be an author, but I need something that actually makes money while I'm trying to get published! lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Bookstore manager/owner. Still hope to do this somesay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Knowing what I know now I'd have chosen nursing or a midwife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 The people I know with the most flexibility and the best part time incomes are the occupational therapists and physical therapists that are working with my children. There are also some speech therapists I know who work for a private company and can have flexibility in scheduling. They are all making over $50 an hour. I chose teaching and am glad I did however. It didn't really help me homeschool but it has stopped some of that 'you can't be qualified to homeschool' talk others hear. I always tell my daughter she should become an OT or a speech therapist. My son's OT had two kids and she could work whatever hours she wanted to. She could even bring her kids with her. My sons speech therapist was self employed. She lived/worked in the same town and her office was walking distance to her house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Air traffic control--kidding but with coordinating 4 kids' schedules plus my part-time job, that would have helped! Some moms I know have done the following part-time work: Speech & language pathologist, counseling, children's ministry , any kind of lessons (tutoring, music, art, teaching middle and high school homeschool classes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 (edited) If this had existed 25 years ago when I was trying to figure out what to get training in, I would have done it in a heart beat. I did receive the training about 2 years ago and now work at the local university. I. love. it. Basically, it's providing communication access services to deaf and hard-of-hearing people by learning a keyboard abbreviation system and using specialized laptop computers to type the spoken communications in a room. You type on one laptop, and the client reads on another. They are getting real-time access to what is happening in the room, and if they want to ask a question or make a comment, they can either voice that themselves, or type the words to you to voice for them. It's like sign language -- but some deaf and most HOH people don't know sign language, while they CAN read this text. The training is quick (1.5 to 3 mos.), inexpensive ($400) and the job pays pretty well -- I make $20/hour at the university, but freelancers charge more (I'm aiming for that eventually). It does help if there's a school/university already using this service (so you apply with them; my university paid for my training because they were already utilizing TW transcribers), but I'm the kind of person where, if I lived somewhere it isn't currently in use, I'd introduce it and try to get them to hire me. Edited September 11, 2010 by milovaný Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 If I could go back to my freshman year of college, I would go into nursing. I know a lot of moms who have good part-time nursing jobs and I think I would be good at/enjoy the work. Before I had kids, I was a teacher (middle school/high school). There is so much wrong with schools/education, I will never go back to teaching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 I have a good friend who is a doctor and works part time. She makes more than enough to live comfortably and be there whenever her children need her. Had I known that was an option, I would have continued my pre-med studies. As it is being an adjunct is great. I will never make enough money to support my family but it helps cover extras and gives me the flexibility to homeschool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 The women I know who have the most money & the most flexibility are nurses and medical doctors. Nothing else even comes close. Medicine, Dear Watson. People always get sick. Add to that a PA. My SIL is just finishing her PA schooling, she has had several job offers and she will be able to choose a job with quite a bit of flexibility (the best hours and money for her would probably be in dermatology). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglei Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Librarian - which is what I did back-in-the-day . . . While I enjoyed all aspects of it, I would possibly want to concentrate on cataloging these days . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKNG Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 If I had the stomach for it - Homicide Detective. Since I don't have the stomach for it, high school history teacher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missionarymom Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 A graphic designer, a nurse or an occupational therapist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Stephanie - You have SUCH foresight. I admire that. My own dd is thinking along these lines, too. But I want to challenge you. . . What do you love? What do you feel you are "wired" for? Where are your gifts and strengths? Head that direction. When you get to the point where you want to/need to work to provide an income, etc, doing what you love is a big help. (Says the mom who's providing summer camps/classes in my home - teaching science, music, history - and LOVING it!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 I will always regret that I didn't become an RN or a scrub nurse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 (Says the mom who's providing summer camps/classes in my home - teaching science, music, history - and LOVING it!) Heather! This is my latest idea! LOL. I have a bunch. But I could seriously see me/my kids doing summer camps here at our house. Can I PM you? (Don't answer that because I'm already on my way to do so .... ) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 If, for whatever reason, you were going to do that for life? If you didn't have children, for example? I think you should start with what you think you would actually like doing that is actually an employable skill. No sense becoming a nurse or therapist if you are really more of a computer programming kind of gal, right? Start down the path of something you might like. If you actually like your work, it will make the days easier when you are struggling with the demands of balancing parenting, wifery, and work. Nothing worse of leaving children you absolutely adore for a job you hate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted September 11, 2010 Author Share Posted September 11, 2010 (edited) Stephanie - You have SUCH foresight. I admire that. My own dd is thinking along these lines, too. But I want to challenge you. . . What do you love? What do you feel you are "wired" for? Where are your gifts and strengths? Head that direction. When you get to the point where you want to/need to work to provide an income, etc, doing what you love is a big help. (Says the mom who's providing summer camps/classes in my home - teaching science, music, history - and LOVING it!) If, for whatever reason, you were going to do that for life? If you didn't have children, for example? I think you should start with what you think you would actually like doing that is actually an employable skill. No sense becoming a nurse or therapist if you are really more of a computer programming kind of gal, right? Start down the path of something you might like. If you actually like your work, it will make the days easier when you are struggling with the demands of balancing parenting, wifery, and work. Nothing worse of leaving children you absolutely adore for a job you hate. I love researching. I just don't know where to go from there. I was looking into becoming a Curator/Archivist but most require a Masters or Doctorate to even be considered and I don't know if I'll be able to afford to go that far. I love reading, but I hate writing. I am thinking of double majoring- one of the majors being English so I could edit on the side, away from a main job. I want to find something I will love, but also want to be practical. The Curator/Archivist job isn't seeming too practical to me right now because I would be in college so long, I don't know how I would support myself, plus pay tuition. I wanted to be a Special Needs Teacher because I have worked with Special Needs kids at my old school for a video project and loved it. I would want to do it on the Elementary level, not high school but with all the talk of teachers getting bad benefits and bad pay, it isn't seeming too good right now, so the next step was OT. That one seems most promising because I can become a COTA and find a job for that while I pay my way through college to become an OT. My dreams seem limited when it comes to money :001_unsure: I guess, if money was no matter at all and I knew 100% right now that I could pay my way through college in the future, I would definitely say I want to become a Curator or Archivist for museums or even the Smithsonian. Edited September 11, 2010 by BeatleMania Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 I think I would have gone to medical school if I hadn't had children at such a young age. I'm working towards nursing right now. It's medical, it's flexible, it's compatible with HSing. I'm kind of thinking that I will love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0mmaBuck Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 I'm a Physical Therapist. Depending on the type of setting I work in, I can have great flexibility (like I do now as an ergonomic consultant) or very little flexibility (like I did when I managed an outpatient ortho clinic). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 (edited) You should do what you know you will love, Tiger. It breaks my heart to think of a young person limiting her passion. You can attend a state school, even part time. You can live at home. Even if you have to take out some loans at the graduate level, it's an investment in your own life, your own future. Be smart about it. I know a young man who lives in NYC and at 25 is now attending law school and blowing people away with his intelligence and maturity. His tuition is minimal as he is a NYC resident. Don't make a life decision too soon, or for the wrong reasons. Having kids is amazing, but there is also another interesting and wonderful world out there. You can have that and motherhood. To everything there is a season. Edited September 11, 2010 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 I had my fun and did my thing prior to having dd. Having dd later in my life allowed me to do the things I wanted to do. I was a police officer and a fire fighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 I know a woman who homeschools. She and her boys spend half the year in France, her country of birth. She's an architect who specializes in designing huge, walk-in closets and closet makeovers for those big McMansions and the big old homes around this area which many people buy and renovate. I'm talking 7-figure homes. ;-) Anyway, she loves her career and it's very flexible. She's hired, meets with the clients a couple of times, draws up the plans, meets with the builder a couple of times and she's paid. She takes on as few or as many clients as she wants, and works on plans after her kids go to bed at night or while they're napping. I always think she's got a very cool job! Best of luck to you in your search! astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wilhelm Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Quite a few years after getting my degree in Biology I discovered landscaping...and then I discovered Historical Landscaping. I wish I had gone that route.... as it is, I have never really held a job that utilized my Biology degree other than homeschooling. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 (edited) I would have enjoyed being a homicide detective, an FBI agent on the FBI task force on missing children, or a surgeon. I would have been a nurse or a physician if I'd realized I'd be homeschooling though, because the hours are flexible in some cases. I used to know a nurse who worked 12 hour shifts on Saturday and Sundays and got paid for a 40-hour week. I have a friend who is a nephrologist -- she has worked part-time since she had kids, for 16 years. I also like that these jobs are portable. Edited September 11, 2010 by RoughCollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 If you're interested in special needs children, you could still pursue that. There is a strong market around here for tutoring for kids with LD's of various kinds, for instance. Really good tutors can get $50 per hour; most make at least $25-$30. Tutoring is reasonably flexible, though limited to nonschool hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celticmom Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 The Information Technology field has a history of flexible scheduling and once you have some experience there are often work from home opportunities. I would avoid System Administrator type jobs because they sometimes have 80+ hour weeks but there are other positions that are a good fit. Help-desk positions are sometimes work from home and while many have been outsourced not all of them have. Also, Web Design especially freelance web page design. Information Security would also be an area to consider. One caveat is that I would not go into any of these careers if you are not fond of computers and technical detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Get trained in something that you genuinely enjoy and are good at. Then when you are a homeschooling mom you will find a way to do that. Also--without knowing your interests and abilities, that's a very, very difficult question to answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamturner Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 If one has a talent or interest in music, then piano teacher, voice teacher, music education are options. I wish I had pursued music education. I know a friend who is homeschooling and teaches piano in the afternoons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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