The emotional side to trying to get into work

I have been a single parent for two years now and have constantly been trying to find a job which will work around my sons school hours. It is incredibly difficult to find something that will provide hours to suit the school times without incurring extra fees of afterschool childcare AND simultaniously provide enough money to cover bills and housing costs.

Many people without children or whom have a complete family forget the most important part of being a single working parent: You and you alone are responsible for the wage that is coming into your home for you and your children. You no longer have two parents wages to play around with. You have to somehow miraculously work less hours and cover two adults wage packets in this time.

At times it gets me down quite a fair bit and i become quite low after many failed job attempts.

However, i recently acquired a piece of paper with a bit of a pick me up written on it. It reminds me that being a parent within itself is possibly the most important job in the world and also the most challenging and rewarding. It also in a way helped me realise my own capabilities and filled my CV out a little more after recognising i was a lot more qualified in certain areas than i had realised.

Please read this pick me up, smile, and realise, that just because you do not have a job and a wage and all that is recognised by small minded people you certainly have something much more impressive .... this:

WANTED!! - A responsible person required - male or female - to undertake a life long project.

Candidates should be totally committed.

Willing to work 24 hours daily, including weekends during initial 16 year period.

Occasional holiday's possible but may be cancelled at no notice.

Essential that you have a knowledge of:

• Health issues
• Nutrition
• Psychology
• Child development
• Household management
• Education system

Necessary Skills:

• Stress management
• Conflict resolution
• Negotiation
• Problem solving
• Communication skills
• Listening skills
• Budgeting
• Time management
• Decision making
• Ability to set boudaries and priorities as well as providing loving support

Necessary Qualities:

• Energy
• Tolerance
• Patience
• Good self esteem
• Self confidence
• Sense of humour

No training or experience needed

No salary but very rewarding work for the right person

hope this made you smile in some way

Hi Suzanne

I know exactly what you mean, it seems catch 22, we can't work the hours to earn enough to live as a single parent family, and to be fully involved in our children's life, and  we are isolated in the fact we aren't in a working enviroment for our adult stimulation and social interaction.

It does frustrate me, as most of our opportunities to even meet someone is limited, we who don't work, feel guilty, (or is it just me ?) can't afford for us as adults, to socialise, as all the money is taken and any spare is invested into the children.

However i have been told we are allowed to earn £20 a week, ontop of our income,. Where are these jobs ???????? term time ?????

There are jobs in school for term time employment, but it is part-time and also you are contracted, so no guarentee to being kept on .

Loved your post, honestly , being a 24/7 parent is absolutely draining, in all aspects, energy, confidence, social. 

Hi, i do work 16 hours a week with a view to increasing to 20 when my daughter goes to school this september. I recently found myself on the recieving end of someones gripes about people who get housing and coucil tax benifit by someone that had increased her hours to 25 only to find she wasn't entitled to any benifits now. I have since been looking into my own entitlments and found that i would be better off doing 20 rather than 25  but if i do 30 which i could just fit in, i will be off benifits but earn a bit more still gettting some tax credits. I will also have the problem of child care in the holidays. My guilt is telling me i should do this! I worked full time for twenty years before i had my daughter. Should i feel guilty about recieving help now?

poopy

work 30 hours cant win pay shit,ex pays nothing up to eyeballs in debt  ,since eldest child turned 18 less childtax credit he hasnt got job,now going back to college,so it will return for him.mortgage and all bills shot up my wage didnt. ex stopped paying car loan so had to take that on too.child moans your not at home,have all school holidays off.cant need to work already going under.no one in holidays to look after child.too old at 14 for childcare. dad is worshipped even though he pays nowt and doesnt  visit.child says his uncle dads brothers says dad has too look after himself first.exscuse me I have to look after our children first me well I come last its called being a parent.applied for benefit for council tax got 23 per week for 2 weeks then eldest turned 18 and suddenly it was stopped and my council tax went up,eldest autistic not able to hold down job,now going back college so will get benefit but not till he starts.till then its gone up by 30 pounds a month.

would be  better off on benefits they do not make it easy.

If I had support of family it would be bettter but im only child ,parents passed on so really am single in every sense.