Part-time job, is it worth it?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Part-time job, is it worth it?
11
Sun, 02-12-2006 - 5:59pm

Once again I'm here to beg everyone's opinions and thoughts on a new possibility for my family. We're really at a crossroads, where we're considering many different paths, and the one thing that we keep butting up against is our debt--if only it were paid off!

So, the company that has asked me to come work full-time, I will probably not accept the offer. But I am considering making a counter-proposal for a half-time work-from-home position. I think I could probably negotiate four days a week from home, one from their office (the kids would stay with a neighbor). They had offered me $40k for the full-time position, so I'm not sure whether to ask a little more or a little less than half that for half time (any thoughts on the matter--they wouldn't have to worry about benefits, so perhaps they could give me higher cash compensation--they are pretty desperate to have me come work there--but then halftime isn't their first choice--working from home is a nice benefit in itself--??).

At any rate, it would come out to about $1000 a month net after taxes, charity, etc., etc. Probably more than that, but I'm estimating low for the sake of deciding whether it's worth it.

With that money, we would pay the debt off, including my car, by February 2007 (presuming I start work in March 2006). That is ten months sooner than otherwise (cutting payoff time almost in half).

Here are the possible down sides: Less time for gardening, housekeeping, etc. I would have to keep to a very rigid schedule--probably getting up in the morning for breakfast, cleaning, stuff with kids, then get them set up with an independent activity. Work from 9 to 11. Then break for lunch with the kids, then an activity--like gardening, or exploring the nearby woods. Then I would work from either 1 to 3 or 2 to 4 (hopefully, younger ds would sleep through most or part of this; ds #1 would probably watch movies, alas). After that, fix dinner, and hang out with the kids. In summer we could go outdoors again in the evening.

On days when I would work in the office, I would probably work something like 9 to 1 while the kids hung out at a neighbor's. Also, older ds may be in school starting this Fall (he's five--we were planning to homeschool, but he wants to go to school, and there are several attractive options around here--in fact, one of the things we really want to have the debt paid off for, is so we can afford private school if we decide to go that route.)

The job would be fun and challenging, but it is not where I see my ultimate path going. Still, it would hone my skills and introduce me to a lot of people and businesses. And I like the people I'd be working with.

But is it worth taking 20 hours away from my kids, and tightening my schedule like that?

What do you think? The routine might actually be better for the kids (I'm terrible about changing my mind, changing the schedule, deciding what to do at the last minute, etc., so they don't get much structure in their day at present, and I know they prefer a little bit of structure). But 20 hours might be a bit much. Anything less than that, though, and I'm not sure it would be enough money to really make a big dent in our debt very quickly. I don't know.

I'm listening for clarity. And one place I'm listening is right here! Thanks!!

Heather

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sun, 02-12-2006 - 9:35pm

I think the big question is the personality of your kids. I have 2 children-DD is 7 and DS is 2. I was in grad school and had a teaching assistantship when DD was born, taught per course from when she was 9 months up to 18 months and then had another assistantship from 18 months-4 years. It was hard fitting everything in but she played well independently and grading is flexible.

When I had my second, I was working part-time teaching and finishing up my degree. It's nearly impossible. I look at your proposed schedule and laugh hysterically-there is no way he would do an independent activity for 2 hours-I tend to be lucky if I get in 15 minute chunks. He rarely slows down for TV (has gotten better lately) and views naps as bizarre torture dreamed up by exhausted parents.

Having said all that, please don't think I'm saying that this is a terrible idea-I know there are people out there who make it work but I do think a great deal depends on how well your children play independently, how much mommy time they want, etc. Does the work have to fit into that schedule? Will you be consulting with people via phone, etc.? Since my work is mostly lesson planning, grading and writing-I wind up doing most of it at night. I've also put DS into a Parent's Day Out which is giving me 4 glory filled hours a week to teach the class, have an office hour and deal with some grading. Yippee!

I did have a lovely uninterrupted hour yesterday where I viewed the Olympics on TV while they peacefully painted in the kitchen. Of course, with my children, after that hour I had another 30 minutes of scrubbing everything in the kitchen since they had transitioned from watercolors to craft paint and covered everything in side plus painted their full bodies. So, I might just be a teensy bit negative on children doing anything that doesn't involve an adult standing over them with cleaning supplies gripped firmly in one hand!

Taleyna

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Sun, 02-12-2006 - 11:07pm

Hi Heather,
Well, I'm sure I'll bring a different perspective to this as a childless professional so consider the source. :)

You don't say what kind of work this is so maybe this is not pertinent but I would be darn sure that it is appropriate for you to be doing the work with the kids in the house at all. It sounds like you are receiving this offer because you are well respected and highly desired as an employee. That is something to be strongly protected because you never know when you might actually need that FT $40k position and these sorts of connections could be very valuable. If you take a position with the intent of caring for your kids while doing the work and that is not what they had in mind or it doesn't work out well, you would be endangering that resource.

That being said, it sounds like a good oppty. Some of the things you mentioned make it particularly attractive: fun and challenging work, decent salary for part time work and working at home, liking the people, etc.

Any sense of how DS#2 will do on his own when DS#1 starts school next fall? Will he be old enough then to amuse himself or is that going to be a challenge?

Hope that helps...

Peg

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2005
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 12:44am
Hi Heather --
My gut feeling is you should skip the job for now -- you wouldn't really be "staying home with the kids" because you would actually be tied to the job -- the 4 hours a day will be really hard to fit in since it sounds like a lot of the work is during the day when the kids are around. Second, is it worth it tax wise? And then, the kids are only young once -- you'll never get this time back again. I remember a section from the Heidi story -- Heidi had come to live with her uncle on the mountain. She was more a city girl, not used to the mountain ways. One day, some of the girls asked her to go strawberry gathering with them. Heidi asked the Uncle if she could go. He told her to go, and to do what the other girls did since she had never been strawberry picking before. After the girls filled their baskets, they went to the market and sold them. So did Heidi. When she came home, she showed the Uncle the coins she had earned. He was very unhappy. He had spent all day thinking of the sweet mountain berries she would bring home. He told her to bite the coin. And to remember that money was not the important thing. At least that's how I remember the story.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is -- yes we have debt, but the most important thing we have are our families, loved ones, children. And the most important thing we can do is spend time with them. Real time, like it sounds like you have been doing.
Boy, do I ever know what you mean about wanting to get free of debt. But we really have to keep focused on the truly important things. I spent many weekends last year trying to earn extra money to put toward debt. But I lost a lot of time I can never get back. And the tax bill was not a nice thing to see.
Just my experience.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Megan


Edited 2/13/2006 1:52 am ET by looking4info2005
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2003
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 1:19am

This is from someone who does not have kids, so take it with that in mind.

Unless you have no good options for public school, I would wait until the kids are in school. This way, you get to enjoy them. While the debt must be driving you mad, I think you'd resent it even more if you were working and missing out on adventures with your kids.

Your debt will be paid off, slowly and steadily, and when 2008 rolls around, and you are debt free, what do you want to look back on?

Just my 2 cents. And I'm sure your kids will be happy either way - plenty of children have both parents working, and you'd still be around. It's just - will you be happy?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-10-2005
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 8:47am

well, i think I can offer you an interesting perspective on this... considering I am currently doing what you are thinking about! I am full time, work at home mom. I do accounting and collections. And children ARE able to entertain themselves for 2 hours.

Check out my blog! A Hesitant Housewife
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 10:28am

Your post made me laugh out loud! I can SO see my first son in your second child. He's five, now, though, and he does well for long stretches. My second son is way more laid back, and at two he already plays alone for long stretches.

So I think that part would be okay.

But, I'm actually thinking this may not be such a good idea after all... more in a later post.

Thanks so much for the laugh and the thoughts!

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 10:35am

Thanks so much for your perspective! I completely understand where you're coming from. The job would primarily be writing. It's something I already do on a freelance basis from home, including some freelance for this company (which is how they know me and why they want me to come work for them). When the owner offered me the full-time job, he indicated at that time that they would like to work with me on whatever basis I am able and willing, and that he was open to discussing work-at-home options. So it seems very feasible.

The hardest part would be carving out scream-free half-hour chunks for "meeting" with clients by phone. I could do some of that from the office on my office day, but there would always be times when I would need to "meet" with them during other times. I would almost never need to meet with a client in person, as the company is a national franchise serving clients all over the country, so it's already expected that most of our work is done by phone.

I do "meet" with clients from home already, and mostly it works fine. Occasionally they hear child noise in the background, which I explain briefly, and so far everyone's been very open and fine with that. The difference would be in the frequency with which I would have to do that, and it's possible that I might occasionally run into a situation where a client was uncomfortable with it, or where a child was screaming inconsolably and a meeting would have to be postponed.

Anyway, I do appreciate these questions. They keep me thinking and open up new issues to explore. Thanks for taking the time to help.

Blessings,

Heather

P.S. I'm leaning toward not doing the job thing after all--more in a later post. Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 10:42am

Thank you so much for the Heidi story. I was a small child the last time I saw that movie. It's a valuable lesson, and one I am learning to heed. I think I will probably skip the job, for that reason among a few others. Just thinking about it realistically, I'm realizing I would probably be pretty miserable.

As for the taxes, I had already worked that into my estimations. I made about $12k in freelance income last year, which gets taxed heavily because I pay all my own social security and medicare, plus I pay self employment taxes. The "job" would pay about $20k, and the employer would pay his portion of taxes. So I'm guestimating my *net* income would be about $1000 a month, probably more.

Still, is it worth this precious time with my kids? Is it worth missing out on gardening opportunities and trips to the zoo and the nature museum and the fish store and the library? Heck, private school can wait. He's only five. He doesn't have to be in school at all (not even home "school") for another year. We can find plenty of free enrichment activities out our back door.

Besides, if I push it, I can make more than $20k in freelance income in fewer hours. It just takes self-discipline. But the beauty of freelance is, I can make my own decisions on a week-by-week basis as to whether it's worth it or not.

So, anyway, I really appreciate all this feedback. It's helped me really focus in and answer the big questions. Thank you all so much. I knew I'd get valuable insight here.

Blessings,

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 10:44am
Thank you! This is exactly the sort of thing I needed to hear. You are absolutely right.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 02-13-2006 - 10:49am

Wow, you ARE the queen. I stand in awe of people like you who truly can do it all. (Gestures of awe and adoration, lol).

I'm leaning toward *not* doing the job thing, for a number of reasons (see previous post), but I truly appreciate the input. It's nice to hear that it can be done.

Thank you and blessings,

Heather

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