Returning to work and searching for childcare

For me, half term represents a break from being Mum’s Taxi! In a normal week, as well as the twice daily school run, we have swimming lessons, karate, football, Beavers, Rainbows to get to and from. I think this is normal judging by the conversations I have with my mum friends as we pass and rush to get our children somewhere on time.

I love that my children want to try new experiences and I’m happy for them to try different classes until they find things they enjoy. Last year my daughter tried ballet which she didn’t enjoy. I was really sad about this, much more than her!

The only problem with all this running around during the week is that it impacts on my working life. I want my children to go to after school clubs but I know that a childminder wouldn’t collect them if I was working. This is where I really wish we had family living near us. I can’t help but feel envious when I see children being collected by their grandparents rather than a childminder. A lot of people rely on grandparents for childcare help but that’s not an option for us. I would love a little help but unfortunately our parents live too far away to help us out.

It’s not just after school either, I would love to entrust my children to grandparents so we could go out in the evening! I’m not sure why, but I just don’t trust anyone looking after my children but us or our family. This means a severe lack of a social life unless we have family staying or are visiting them.

Childcare costs are expensive which is why we found it cheaper for me to stay at home for the last few years. I thought childcare would be less of an issue when the children were both at school, little did I realise it would still be a problem.

I am really ready to go back to work and would love to find a job that fits around school hours, like a lot of mums. Wish me luck with my job hunting this year!

Disclosure – this is a collaborative post