Cold feet - help!

Ok, so I start work in 7 weeks!!!

A few months ago I was looking forward to it. I love DS to bits but I really think (or thought) that work would be great for me.   I spoke to work and they agreed I could work for 4 days for 3 months.

DS will only be in daycare part-time as DH has days off during the week.

I am freaking out as I have to sign my contract next week and I now am having second thoughts.

I have to work for financial reasons so I can't just stay home.   

DS is 9 mths old and it is such a great stage now. I am going to miss DS soooo much and I know DH will be looking after him during the week half of the time, but it's not me and I feel oh so guilty and like I will be missing out.   I don't want to regret it down the track.

I don't have parents to help with daycare so I thought maybe if I become a Porse educator or similar than I can stay home and look after DS, not have to pay childcare but still be earning. I am guessing it would be a huge pay drop but I make up for it as not paying for daycare/petrol.

DH told me I am scaring him as he said I am turning down an awesome job for an awesome company and we need a roof over our head and doesn't know how consistent/secure the money would be if I did home childcare.

Are there any Porse/Barnados educators out there?? What is the pay like? How do you find it?

Did other Mums have cold feet when they had to return back to work?? Did you go through with it or pull out last minute. Am I just freaking out at the last minute??

Help! I wish I had a crystal ball so I could look into the future for each option!


Edited by Star

Hi Heather,
$4.25 per hour! Is that legal?? I saw an ad and it said up to $20 per hour so I thought it was maybe depending on experience but maybe it depends on how many kids!

Thanks for your reply.

I am pretty sure it is $4.25 per child per hour. The "up to $20 per hour " would be for 4 children, but as you would have your DS, you would only get paid for up to 3 other children.
Good luck, it is scary thinking about work and leaving our precious children in the care of someone else!

Star I'm a Programme Tutor for PORSE here in Hastings. Here our educators earn usually around $6 per hour per child, I know it can be around $8 per hour per child in Wellington so likely to be the same in Auckland. You can have up to 4 preschoolers in your care, and only 2 of them can be under 2 year olds.

So if you had your son and 3 others at $6 each per hour (we'll say $6 to be on the safe side!) that's $18 per hour. The first $3 per child per hour is tax free, so you're only paying tax on half your income instead of the whole lot. You also get a tax rebate at the end of the year based on your house value or how much rent you pay.

Of course you wouldn't be paying for external childcare for your son then which is a big expense to save on, especially in Auckland!

I guess the biggest problem with it is that it is NOT guaranteed income, you're not necessarily going to fill up with children immediately and if one of them leaves there's not always going to be another to immediately take their place. My advice would be if you go this route to do the level three training (which is free if you're an educator) and get through the approved and certified stages - makes you more likely to get children (though of course still not guaranteed!)

Maybe give the North Shore PORSE office a call and have a chat to one of the consultants, they'll be able to give you an idea of how many families they have looking for childcare at the moment etc. Though having said that, end of the year is always a bit slower for things like that so might pick up a bit more in the new year.

Sorry this has turned into a total novel Hope it's helpful!

Ring up Porse and go along to one of their wee meetings. They let you know what the pay is like and how many kids they have needing carers.

I just wanted to say I don't think it gets any easier as they get older either, I'm going to study full time next year and I'm terrified of putting my 3 year old into daycare. I think its normal to be worried, if the porse thing doesn't work out you could always give it a trial run and if its just not working you can always leave your job.

Are you going back full or part time? What about approaching your work and asking them about doing Flexi Hours? It might be worth asking, so at least you get to spend some time with your son, and also get to have some income.

Flexi Hours

I had to go back to work with Z when she was 3 months old and I cried every night leading up to the day. But once I was at work I was fine! I missed her terribly but I had to go back home on each of my breaks to B/Feed her...so I got to see her.

With this bubby I feel crap but at 6 months I am coming back to work and tho at this time I said full time I might come back 4 days to start with....we will see!

Its hard ...always but once you are at work you get use to it!! Big Hugs!