Going Back to Work

I am in the process of completing my child care arrangments for my return to work. It’s exciting, I ‘ve been back to work but my mum, the great Grandma Ellie came to look after the kids helped by my in law the equally great Nannie. Work was challenging and I loved it, my brain firng again in a different way to being at home and I could actually forget about the boys knowing they not just happy but being doted on.

My mum’s take on this was it was fine for a couple of weeks but she could now see the absolute craziness of having children in your sixties and wished all the luck in the world to those unfortunate woman who chose that plan!

I tried to negotiate some flexibility in my working hours – I work 4 days and wanted to do 5 mornings and 3 afternoons, so I could still pick up from school twice a week but no dice! Bit of a cock and bull story from the powers that be but that’s what happens to both mother’s and part time workers alike. I’m not fighting this battle just now.

Now remember I work part time also remember my in laws do childcare for one day a week so I’m only looking at paying for 3 days a week, also remember my eldest son is at school, also remember that son will attend a non-profit making co-operative for out of hours school care, also remember I have only 2 children……..

Right you got all that ………

My monthly child care costs will be just short of seven hundred quid!

I guess a lot of you out there are paying a lot more you know cause of the remember this and remember that bit. Blimey. Actually Double Blimey!

It is in effect another mortgage, it’s nearly half my salary and I’m not sure how we will manage. That’s not being over dramatic and I’m not very good with money at all so my fibberdy-jibberdy ways of trying to cut back probably are n’t going to cut it in the slightest.

My partner says that fifteen quid a present for every birthday party the 3 year old goes to is four hundred and fifty quid a year. The fiver a week football session is probably going to have to go. We already use second hand toys and clothes mostly donated by my gorgeous nephew but some from ebay. I guess we could cut back on the cook. Oh hang on that’s me, so maybe the cleaner. Only kidding that’s me too – even the window cleaner is me!

The holidays are just gone I expect for the next few years.

I mean I know it’s worth it, and I love the time I get to spend with my family and I love, love, love my boys. I have a lot to be thankful for but I can’t help thinking this is going to be hard……….