foreveryoung Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Well Ladies and gents - there's definitely a wide spectrum of careers and some very interesting ones - would love to hear all the weird and wonderful stories from those of you who took out of hours calls..... well I dont think mine is as interesting as all the above, since I was 17 I have working in health care, nursing homes, care in the community and in the local hospital as a health care assistant - truly where my heart lays... for the last almost 3 years I have been working as a childminder (wondering whether to out up my fees, partially due to the vat inflation is that I haven't changed my fees since I set them when I started out.) As well as childminding I am attending a access into health care to then hopefully apply and get into uni to study Paramedic science - to become a paramedic (everything that can be crossed is crossed as I dont want to childmind any more - I want my home back Emma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Wow I envy you all. I was an Estate Agent (Don't all shout at me at once!!) for twenty year on and off. In between I was an Executive JobClub Leader which I loved. My last couple of jobs were self employed the first once was buying and running a sandwich shop. I then sold it and bought a Tea Rooms which was situated in the local park near where I lived. Then last year - we decided to move to Lincolnshire from Yorkshire (good motorcycling roads) and since then have not been working. Although i love our cottage and my hens Madge, Matilda and Gladys, and my Border terrier Ziggy I feel as if I am going stir crazy. My hubby is out in the paddock all day building hedges and fences etc and I am stagnating. Ours is a very small village and we are right on the edge of it - a mile and a half from the pub and shop. There seem to be no-one (female ) nearby and I am getting very down in the dumps. I also sang in a band for quite a few years as well as with various theatre groups so I am missing the social scene. My Amazon Kindle is getting a lot of use. Sorry for the rant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Sometimes I get to escape the STIs and do 'flu instead. Thats a sentence i wouldnt ever have thought i'd hear! I agree about the intresting jobs people have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 That bit made me laugh too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I'm a stay at home mum to 3 little boys. So do all the cooking, cleaning, gardening, childcare etc. Also a lot of walking back & fore to the school. I love being at home with them, it's what I always said I would do when we had children. We're lucky that we've got a low mortgage and have never had extravagant lifestyles so we can afford it. I would like a bit more time to do the things I enjoy like glass painting & reading, but that's something I can do once they're all in school. I can't imagine ever going back to work. Before I had the children I worked in the traffic management department of the local council, mostly dealing with the admin of parking tickets. I took a lot of very irate phone calls Hubby works in the video department at the hospital. He films everything from operations to training videos. He has had to film post-mortems in the past, which he amazed himself by getting through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 He has had to film post-mortems in the past, which he amazed himself by getting through. I have never been to a post mortem although I did once have the opportunity but my boss wouldn't let me as I was 6 months pregnant. I am a Criminal Defence Solicitor so its a possibility. I am pretty immune to what most people would think of as gore, it is the much simpler ordinary things that are upsetting, for example a child clients background and upbringing. I love the positives of my job, helping people, being their voice, and sometimes making a difference. However the negatives are many... out of hours calls, attitude of people (towards me and thats not the clients) and the comparitively rubbish pay -after spending in excess of £20k to qualify. You certainly don't do this job for the money. I also juggle this with being a full time mum. Both jobs being alot harder because of the other one!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmab Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I love this thread. So many interesting professions! I'm feeling inspired! X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I'm feeling inspired! X I'm feeling inadequate . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I'll make you feel better ANH - I'm a lazy goodfornothing. Because I stay at home and do nothing all day whereas my OH has A JOB! So that I means I cook, clean, nurse, wash, iron, taxi driver, old lady carer, entertainer and shopper, mediator of disputes big or small, pet caterer and vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 You have to have a sense of humour, thick skin and be unshockable - every so often I will be left with my gob on the floor at something I come across. You also develop a dirty sense of humour almost black I would say. You have to if you dont want to burn out. I thought the sense of homour was part of the job description Im an advanced nurse practitioner in a GP practice, posh name for general dogs body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Love this thread...given me a lump in my throat for some silly reason...probably because I so admire ladies/gents for working and having children too...feel bad just being a stay at home Mum I moved from my hometown (approx 100 miles away) 11 years ago this year to start a new life here...and since then have been a stay at home Mum to four children. I know I am very fortunate to be in this position. I have often said I am happy to work outside the home but Mr Snox says I run the ship so to speak and he doesn't want it any other way. He works for a construction company and the 'boss' men are horrid to him It gets him down...he is seriously considering freelancing again...he is much happier doing that Hope this is the year he is happier in his work To be honest I feel pretty scared about going out there and working for someone again...my confidence has waned since being a stay at home Mum.I definitely would not want to return to my previous line of work...would be very happy being a 'checkout' person I have become a bit of a hermit lately...not caring to socialise like before...thought it was since we got our yellow lab pup, Heidi and not wanting to leave her home alone...but maybe it is because I am at last becoming happy with my own company Sorry I can't offer any help with any work skills...but I am a good listener if that would help anyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Love this thread...given me a lump in my throat for some silly reason...probably because I so admire ladies/gents for working and having children too...feel bad just being a stay at home Mum ITo be honest I feel pretty scared about going out there and working for someone again...my confidence has waned since being a stay at home Mum.I definitely would not want to return to my previous line of work...would be very happy being a 'checkout' person I have become a bit of a hermit lately...not caring to socialise like before...thought it was since we got our yellow lab pup, Heidi and not wanting to leave her home alone...but maybe it is because I am at last becoming happy with my own company Sorry I can't offer any help with any work skills...but I am a good listener if that would help anyone dont appologuise for being a stay at home mum , its a full time job, 4 kids is hard work. It would cost a fortune to get someone to do all the things you do, think how much you are worth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Love this thread...given me a lump in my throat for some silly reason...probably because I so admire ladies/gents for working and having children too...feel bad just being a stay at home Mum I moved from my hometown (approx 100 miles away) 11 years ago this year to start a new life here...and since then have been a stay at home Mum to four children. I know I am very fortunate to be in this position. I have often said I am happy to work outside the home but Mr Snox says I run the ship so to speak and he doesn't want it any other way. He works for a construction company and the 'boss' men are horrid to him It gets him down...he is seriously considering freelancing again...he is much happier doing that Hope this is the year he is happier in his work To be honest I feel pretty scared about going out there and working for someone again...my confidence has waned since being a stay at home Mum.I definitely would not want to return to my previous line of work...would be very happy being a 'checkout' person I have become a bit of a hermit lately...not caring to socialise like before...thought it was since we got our yellow lab pup, Heidi and not wanting to leave her home alone...but maybe it is because I am at last becoming happy with my own company Sorry I can't offer any help with any work skills...but I am a good listener if that would help anyone Being a stay at home mum is one of the most important jobs - not many people on this earth are responsible for the precious cargo that a stay at home mum is. You may think you lack skills but what you learn 'on the job with no set working hours' is more than you may realise. You are giving your kids something very special - your time and presence. I do know how you are feeling though as i stayed home with the kids once they were born and have only ever worked very part time since (10hrs per week) - i used to feel that i looked after the kids, all the animals and went to work where being p/t meant that you had lost the ability to have any input. My daughters are 18y and 13y now and both say that they loved the fact that i collected them from school and was always there. I think its horses for courses, for some people being at home is best, for others working works best - sometimes its career decided, other times money determines what people can/cant do. My sister works f/t - she went back to work 6w after the boys were born, her career was too important to her to take more time off - it wouldnt be for me, but each to their own. Give yourself a huge pat on the back, one day your kids will thank you for having been there...dont sell yourself short, you are a multi-tasker with many skills! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Don't feel bad about being a stay at home mum, I was that for many years and still am most of the time. Your confidence will go back up once you decide to work again, mine did. I have a lovely balance of 3 days at home, 2 days at work as a receptionist in my OH's 4 partner small commercial law firm. I also do a lot of the credit control for the firm and will be getting accounts training soon too. I am basically going to be a relief receptionist and accounts person for the firm because we only live 2 miles away and I am very flexible when I can work. I sometimes work nearly full time but prefer 2 days a week who wouldn't Before we had children I was a pharmacy dispenser for Boots, I worked mainly on dispensing for the local nursing homes, it was an interesting, but stressful job that was underpaid and under staffed. I then started doing my OH's credit control when my YD was about a year old, but until about a year ago I only worked from home for about 5 hours a week. My children definately appreciate me more now that I am not there sometimes when they come home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Love this thread...given me a lump in my throat for some silly reason...probably because I so admire ladies/gents for working and having children too...feel bad just being a stay at home Mum I definitely don't feel bad about being a stay at home mum, and neither should you. I find it far more stressful and tiring than I ever did when I was working full time. As I said in my last post, I feel lucky that we're in a position to allow me to. I know quite a few mum's who would like to stay at home, but don't feel they can afford to. I think I've grown in confidence since having children. I'm quite happy to strike up a conversation with other parents when out, also I've had to deal with all sorts as I'm the one at home eg plumbers, electricians, gas man etc. I pretty much organised all the house moving and dealt with the estate agents, hubby helped out with the mortgage bits as he's the one earning the money and mortgages just confuse me. I don't know how much I would've done myself if I was still working full time or if I would've persuaded hubby to do at least some of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Your replies since I posted have made me have a re-think...feeling a tad more valuable The thought has crossed my mind that being a Mum is the most challenging job I have ever done...I feel like I am dreaming and someone will tap me on the shoulder one day and say...'hey did you know you have 4 children' It's kind of weird really because after Ellin came home hospital I felt like I could take on the World...my confidence was sky high...strange how something like your daughter being born at 26 weeks and 1 day gestation and suffering with meningitis can make you feel like that Thanks guys for helping me to realise I am not 'just' a stay at home Mum. What a fabulous bunch you are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Can't believe that some of you stay at home parents feel worthless . I may have to deal with very stressful situations at work, and bleeding patients and consultants screaming down the phone at me , but I still haven't had the guts to have any children, and will freak out if you pass me a baby . If people didn't stay at home at raise their kids properly, then I'm sure more of them would end up like the little oiks I always see hanging about on the street corners, so thanks for doing the job I can't . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Im a Power plate personal trainer..love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I work for the Environment Agency and have worked for them and predecessor the National Rivers Authority all my working life, first as an ecologist and more recently in advocacy and PR. I am now totally disillusioned, having a mid-life crisis and have applied for voluntary redundancy on a slightly more favourable package than normal redundancy as I think it likely I will be made redundant in the next 18 months anyway, following Cameron's 'Bonfire of the Quangos'. I am desperate for a life change, and even though it will be a huge financial gamble, but I am looking to develop a small business I have had for the last 15 years into something I can earn a living from. It may all backfire, but I have played safe all my life, so here's to a bit of excitement! Should find out if I have definitely not got the voluntary package this week, and go through to round 2 which will be confirmed for definite at the end of January. Congratulations to all the stay at home mums - I have 2 kids and always worked in a variety of arrangements, but it has left me feeling that I haven't done either job particularly well. I am sure you have been much better and more skilled parents than me through your commitment to your kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Good luck Chickenutter hope it all works out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I am a teacher and I have been for the last 19 years. Before that I was an animator. However, in July 2011, the lovely Suffolk CC (where is the sarcasm icon?) have decided for a variety of reasons that they are going to close middle schools. I am hoping not to be made redundant but can't find any jobs coming up. Fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Good luck Chicken Nutter and fingers crossed Janty x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I'm another teacher, originally of biology but these days I teach behaviour, anger management, self esteem groups and the like. I also teach a few groups of students with learning difficulties who follow a specialised curriculum. No 2 days are alike & it's an interesting way to spend them! When DS2 arrived I was lucky enough to get a part time contract and I only went back to full time this year. I was part time for 7 years & only changed because he restructuring of our department made it difficult not to do so - I miss the days at home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Hello. My first visit to the nesting box. I am a primary school teacher, teaching all the teeny tiny children 3-5 years. Thinking of getting some chickens for the school!! I teach teeny tinies too! I was a nursery nurse before training as a teacher and have not regretted it. We got school hens in October so if you'd like the paperwork just pm me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I'm also a teacher of sorts - I'm a university lecturer. Most of the time I love my job and right now I really love it - I'm about to go on sabbatical for a semester so will be heading off to Kenya for a couple of weeks of fieldwork in the Masaai Mara at the beginning of Feb - can't wait! It's a new project and a new site so it's all very exciting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
