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I have found the thread Life before being a SAHM really interesting...but I am also interested to read about peoples intentions/aspirations/palns for returning to work/study/ or just regaining some personal identity back.
I am constantly thinking about life after being a SAHM and to date I am still stumped as to what I REALLY want to do and which is the best option for me.
When my youngest went to school I felt exactly like I did at the end of year 12. I had no idea what to do with my new found freedom. I applied for jobs which I didn't get so ended up going to uni. Now I've got myself a job and love it, I had a semester off uni, I've enrolled for next semester. I can't wait!
I found a couple of baaaaaad poorly paying jobs and it was just the incentive i needed to take myself off to TAFE for 2 years and get myself a new career in a well-paying sector that appreciates my innate talents! I SAHM'd for > 4 years and the thing that kept me sane during that time was exploring a whole lot of things I was interested in via night classes and short courses. Did things like photography, pottery, Auslan, writing poetry, candlemaking, bellydancing, etc. Also made a point of going out to info sessions and short talks at the public library (lots of different topics).
Tinkerbell - How did you decide "what" you wanted to study?
MD - I am planning on doing some small courses next year. My first one is learning how to sew. I also need to do some sort of self discovery and learn about being just being me.
Hmm, interesting, life after being a sahm, to be honest i have no idea what im going to do once i no longer am needed for this job.
I used to work in childcare, but i really dont want to go back there, i thought about studying, but not sure what carer takes my fancy, i did think about midwifery, as i have given birth so many times, i could see myself helping others to give birth, but i have lost my own identity atm, that trying to find a carer path now is kinda pointless for me.
So i will just continue to be a sahm, and hope that once it is over i will have a life to call my own.
(Dont get me wrong, i love being a sahm.)
I think about this a lot too. I didn't realise that there were other people out there that had no idea what they want to do after they aren't a SAHM anymore. I have absolutely no idea. I was a teacher before I became a SAHM and I don't think I want to teach anymore. I did it for five years and that was enough for me.
I am thinking of going back to uni once my youngest starts kindy (which will still be about 4 years away) but I have no idea what I want to study. I have looked at a few different options but really don't know.
My DH is a business manager for the Townsville branch of an international company and he does all the hiring of his own staff. I will probably work a couple of days a week for him while I study. He already employs me 15 hours a week to do data entry stuff that I can do from home. He thinks it is funny that he is my boss :)
I am interested to see what other people want to do as I have no idea.
Great thread!
I was lucky enough to find a full-time job within about 15 mins of home when DD was 4.5 months old. I didn't mind the being home part, but didn't like the constant un-predictableness of having an infant. I felt out of control. I am a fairly structured person who likes to know what the day will bring and likes to plan ahead which is fairly hard with an infant. Also DH had quit his job due to stress so I had to work.
I've worked in admin for the past 5 years so I found it easy to get a job. However, when I tried on the clothes that I was going to wear for my interview I felt out of my depth and like I was "faking it" as I didn't feel capable or confident to have a career anymore. But, once I had the suit on for the interview and got out of the house, I suddenly got my confidence back and excelled in the interview. I started working 4 days later and even though it was a brand new job, the part of being at work was great and I felt like myself again. I think the experience will hopefully better prepare me for when I have my next bub.
I tossed up between nursing and teaching. In the end I went for teaching purely for the working hours and holidays. Fickle I know but I live an hour away from a hospital so the hours I'd be away from home would be less if I was a teacher.:
At the moment I am doing my HSC via OTEN, and the plan is to work out what I want to study after that ends at the end of next year. That is only of course if our business isnt so busy that it needs me here to work. I am a graphic designer so I can do the work if I need to, but DH insists that I find my own life career.
I have so much to think about with that too - because DH is the WFHD and I technically am now on the countdown. No more babies means when this one hits school, my SAHM days are over..
I am tossing up between these 2 options too. Although I am thinking of doing a teacher aid course initially to test the waters. I like the idea of having school holidays off.On the other hand I love babies so midwifery is a real interest for me...:
Great thread Bek. I've been thinking about what to do alot. My DF says he will support me in whatever I want to do, I just have to make a decision. Now, making the decision, that is the hardest part! I have no idea. Been toying with the idea of nursing for years, but not sure if I'd like the hours. Teaching would be another option I think, since I already have a degree (not in teaching) and wouldn't have to do as much study as nursing.
That was my reasoning exactly...I figured each new thing I tried I could either incorporate it into the new me (if it fit) or if not it was one more thing off the list of possibilities that I knew was not for me.:
MD - I am planning on doing some small courses next year. My first one is learning how to sew. I also need to do some sort of self discovery and learn about being just being me.
Funny thing, for a long time I fancied I'd turn my hand to photography but the weird thing is it was my DH who ended up changing career to prof photographer. LOL So, you never know. I really think the most valuable thing is just trying stuff and each new thing you learn something more about what really makes you tick.
Once both the boys start school I'm planning to improve my backhand and join my local golf club. I'm also looking forward to long lunches and watching adult films at the cinema (no not that kind of adult film :doh:).
I was constantly thinking of what I was going to do when I went back to work. The day DH & I decided that I'd go back to work full time, I read a job ad for Centrelink Call Centre and knew I had to apply. It was the only job I applied for and I got it. I have no idea what drew me to it, as I've never had any intention to work in a call centre before. This job is just amazing and I couldn't picture myself doing anything else. I'm still often thinking of different courses to do part time/nights to keep my brain stimulated though.
Interesting topic! I am only now getting into the swing of the sahm thing. With DS I studied and went to work when he was 15mths. This time I started a small business while on maternity leave which resulted in me not really having any maternity leave so DH wanted me to have this year off. I am looking forward to going back to teaching next year and currently doing my Masters in RE and hope to get a job in admin/curriculum in few years time
I've been thinking about this lately Bek :)
I might go back to uni and finish my social work degree, but the idea of midwifery appeals to me too. I'm planning on doind some kind of study next year (or maybe the year after...) but I'm not sure what yet.
It's exciting. I miss my old life but having all these different career options to choose from, all over again, is fantastic :)
Lori - I love that you have a great attitude about returning to work. Personally it scares the b-jeebers out of me.
Another sweet little career to think about if you want to work within school hours and have school holidays off, is library technician...it's a paraprofessional diploma, you can get it done over 2 years at TAFE, and then once you are working within the school system the jobs are everywhere. Just a little something that ppl might not have considered...
An old friend of mine has done this and really enjoying the work. It really fits in well around her family. Another friend is also considering it.:
That does sound interesting! something to think about if I decide to leave my current job.:
I never worked before kids, was PG straight out of yr 12 and spent the next 10-ish years with kids.
I had a few part-time jobs in kitchens etc, nothing special.
I literally walked into my current job...went into the store for something & was offered an interview. (It's kind of retail with a technical bent...printers & ink.)
I did 3 months in a store & then got moved into the admin / management side of it. Can't imagine leaving atm... it's not great money but they are so good to me & flexible & understanding re family. Plus it is challenging, and for me that's a must.
I am very lucky to have walked into it, as I had no idea what I was going to do.
I have always wanted to do further study but am put off by the potential cost, and the fact that we can't really afford for me not to work...& I don't know if I can mange work + study + kids... and then would I be guaranteed a job at the end of it? The things I am interested in aren't exactly jobs you just walk into I don't think :dunno:
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Funny you wrote this, I am looking into this option too lol