I was recently offered a position in a good school district as a Paraprofessional. I've been a stay-at-home mom for almost two and a half years. While I like to spend time with my daughter, I really need adult interaction and more structure to my day. I've joined a few play groups here and there but cannot afford to join multiple groups a week.
I really need to make a change in my life and I thought this job offer was a "foot in the door." I was a tenured teacher in NYC but had resigned due to relocating a few years ago. It is a tough time to find a better paying job as a teacher (even if I wanted to go back into the classroom) and I am not qualified for other jobs due to lack of job/computer skills. But to be honest I wouldn't want to sit at a computer all day either.
This Para position only pays $19,431 and that is gross! I would have to put my daughter in day care and I thought if I did it p/t (three days only because my mom is willing to try the other two days) it wouldn't be so expensive. I have to cover day care as my husband cannot afford it with all our other bills. A few day cares want $90 a day and one wanted $975 a month, just for the three days!
I realize I will probably not bring much of anything home if I take this job but it would give me adult contact and job experience again. It would give my daughter more structured activities besides playing in the yard, park or Gymboree. My mom is unavailable to care for my daughter full-time as she takes care of my six month old niece.
Am I foolish for taking this job at $19,431 or should I not be so picky in this economy? P.S. One reason why my husband cannot cover day care is that we own three homes. The other two homes usually have tenants but they will both be vacant soon. We might have to come up with the mortgage somehow to cover both homes plus the one we live in!
Thank you very much!
Update: I've been working full-time since Sept.1st and so far, so good. I guess I got what I wanted for now: adult interaction, school hours and no work home. I just don't have the salary a teacher makes but I am not a teacher, I am a teacher assistant or Para. I wasn't prepared to work in a self-contained classroom but that is what I was assigned. Luckily my 1:1 student is a nice kid and not aggressive; he just gets frustrated.
Right now, Alyssa seems happy going to daycare three times a week and I have gotten over my fear of leaving her with strangers. She is safe and unless she is tired leaves daycare happy so that is what is important. It is too soon to say what I will want to do next year but I know one school year is enough for both my husband and mother to care for Alyssa on those other days. And full-time daycare would take nearly my whole check. For now, I can come home with some money. I am glad that I followed through on making a huge decision and proud of myself for facing my fears!
Not worth it...if you are looking for adult interaction you can join a gym, volunteer, do a mommies day where you and some friends meet for lunch kid free once a week...
As long as you make enough to cover the cost of daycare, gas, clothes, lunches, etc and you WANT the job, then take it. I have a really hard time being a stay at home mom at need to have the adult interactionoutsid eof the home. My therapist and I both agree that my whole family is better off if I go away a few days a week minimum. I think you will probably all be happier if its what you want to do. If its not, then don't!!
It's not just day care, it's gas, out to eat (when you are just too tired) etc. A job like that you woud probably be breaking even...but I hear you. as my kids near going to school full time I find it hard to resist that job that might get me in!! I fear the fact that once I finally do get back into work it will be 9 or more years since I have been out of the work field. Yikes
Depending on what your husband makes you may be losing money. Just after day care alone you will only have around $5,000 left. If your marginal tax rate is 25% or over you are at nothing or losing money. If you take into account gas, wear and tear on the car, packing lunches or eating out, clothes......you may find you are better off finding somewhere to volunteer at.
I would take it but I would also look around at the possiblity of getting a home daycare and or getting a college student who would sit for less than a thousand a month
I don't think it's worth it for that salary. I guess if income isn't your motivating factor and you would be happy to break even, then go for it.
You need to take into consideration tax bracket as well.......transportation, vehicle, clothing, gas.....many other things.
I think as long as you don't end up losing money after paying gas, daycare, etc you should do it. You sound like you want to take it and think you will be happier working. Thay may be the case. I know it was for me. It was more stressful coming home from work and having to do dinner, house work, etc but I was happier having that social interaction as well as sense of purpose that I needed. Some people can get that from their kids, and some can't. You have to do what works for you and your family and what makes you happy. Your daughter will get things out of daycare that she wouldn't get at home. And, like another poster said, you can quit if it ends up being not worth it. In home daycare might be a better solution for you.
I would take it. It could be a great foot in the door should you want another role in the district down the road. And keep in mind you're looking at starting pay, not your pay forever in that role if you decide to stay in it.
It sounds like a good move on both a personal and professional level.
2 points of view. If the new position will completely cover the daycare costs, and your commuting costs (gas, lunch, etc) then I would go for it. Its a foot in the door, your daughter would make friends without pressure on you. Plus, daycare costs are tax write offs, so you would end up getting some of that money back at tax time.
If you are taking the job to help pay some of the bills, then it would not be worth the cost.
Is the job FT? If it is, you might get benefits (if not health insurance etc., then maybe something that will boost your retirement income) so you may want to consider that. And with 10 weeks off in the summer, if you can get paid in 10 months and not pay for summer child care, your monthly gross income would be $1941, and even with taxes taken out that would be less than the cost of daycare so it's not literally like you're spending more in childcare than you make.
I say go for it - there are a lot of questions from moms here who are trying to get back into the workforce after complete absences of 5 years, 10 years or more who are having to really get creative with their resumes. This job will help you avoid that problem if and when you are ready to get a higher-paying position in the future.
Can you find a daycare that charges less because you don't work and 8-hour day and therefore don't need 10+ hours of care? I was paying about $65 per day for that age for an 8 hour day. Ask around at the school and see who the teachers use. In my neighborhood, there was a home daycare near the schools and many teachers sent their children there, so that provider was especially good at working with school schedules, which differ a lot from corporate schedules.
Yes, you are foolish and short-sighted not to take the job. It's a tough market and you have to think of yourself as looking to supplement your income AND get back into the job market full-time, not as a "teacher".
There are very few jobs in teaching right now. We are laying people off left-and-right. I will tell you this, though- we did hire two "new teachers" this year... well, not "new" because they were working as classroom paraprofessionals. We hired them because we knew them and trusted their skills- and we didn't have to spend money on "training" b/c they had already gone through the HR "stuff".
$975 per month is ridiculous, but you live on Long Island so it's tough to compare. My son is 5 full days (7 hour days) for $205 per week. Keep calling around and see what you can find!
Even if you aren't bringing in much right now, if you are offered a teaching position (even a long-term sub position), you will be able to contribute to those mortgage payments!
Not worth it for the money. Get another job that pays better and is a better fit for your take home pay since you will need daycare too. GL
M
Those numbers for care sound right to me.
As a mom that works full time because I'd go insane if I had to stay home with my kids everyday...I think it makes complete sense. If it's a foot in the door, I'd ask how soon could move up.
Consider the income you'd earn there a "throw away". You'd be working to pay for daycare, basically. So for your family, it'd be a null decision.
Which boils down to...what do YOU need to be happy?
I'd say try it. Nothing is permanent, and if it doesn't work, you can leave!
I wouldn't take it and it isn't about money. You only have such a short time with your little ones. You can not imagine how fast it goes. My oldest just turned 15 and I have no idea where the time went. I have never known any Mother to ever say I wish I would have spent less time with my children. If you need more adult interaction then go find some adults to interact with. Taking a low paying job that doesn't even cover the cost of a daycare just doesn't seem worth it to me. But then again I can't imagine any job being as important as my position as mother to my children.
You will be a teacher with the school calendar.. christmas break, summer off.. etc.. will you day care allow that much time off or do you have to pay year round wehter you use the day care or not.
figure out what you make per day you actually work (divide salary by number of days worked) then subtract day care costs..
After being home for 2 years.. I went back for a part time flexible hours job .. I have 2 kids but day care is not as expensive in michigan.. I figure I had to make $25 per hour to make it worth my time to work.. day care is about $10 an hour here for 2 kids.
But that is only the financial side.. will you enjoy the work? will you daughter benefti from the day care? at the end of a work day when the family is back together will everyone be happier that you were working that day.?
I love love my 2 day a week job.. enjoy my time with big people.. but I feel that my time at hoem is so so valuable. I felt 2 or 3 days a week in day care was OK.. but I would not want them there 5 full days..
I am going through this exact situation. However, I was told today I "got the job" (nanny) and will be putting my son in daycare. However, I am a fan of home daycares, as I was in one when I was younger and still LOVE the woman. I have been checking some out, most of them are "ugh" but I found a REALLY nice one I'll be checking out tomorrow, all in all i'll be bringing home about 300 after my pay and paying daycare. Figure it's not too bad to get out the house and "do something". I too feel drained from no adult interaction. I say take it, for sanity.
I think you have made some good points. You would enjoy the working. I think that you should take the job. I also think you should consider the point, it would not be for the money, it would be for the interaction and the structured time your daughter would have at the better facility. One thing you could consider is hiring someone to come to your home. IF you have a friend that could use some extra spending money each week it would benefit both of you.
$90 a day for daycare!!! Wow! I pay $26.50 a day. I'm glad I don't live in NY!
I say take the job anyway. Good luck mama.
I second the suggestion for a good in home provider.
What about the long term prospects? Right now I'm "daycare poor" because I work overnights and am single so I pay for child care while I work and while I sleep. But there are almost NEVER openings on night shift and once Isaac starts school overnights is really the only shift that will work for me. So I'm spending a year and a half poor and tired so I can hopefully spend the next 13 with things running smoothly....
Wow, and I thought daycare around here was crazy priced! What about a home day care? You can often find one that is more flexible with the hours and the rates than the daycare centers. i would shop around. I do remember that the price did go down when the child hit 3, I think because the state mandated child to caregiver ratio went up. I know a couple of teachers at my daughter's school found stay at home moms that wanted some extra cash that would watch their babies during the day. I am not sure if they were licenced but they didn't charge unbelievable prices either. Good luck on your decision.
It might not be that easy to find, but you'd probably come out ahead if you could work the 2 days a week that your mom can help- then when she's in school, you can get something full- time. Just a suggestion :)
Best wishes!!!!
You'll be spending just about your entire paycheck on daycare.
However, it gets you experience you need. Out of the house that you want. And much needed socialization for your little one.
I'm trying to wrap my head around owning 3 homes. (2 of which rentals) If your husband works full time while maintaining the 2 rentals... Does he sleep? EVER? I know someone that did that... He said he'll never do it again. It is easier to find new tenants right now than buyers in this market though.
Good luck! Do what you feel is right! Even if you tried it and decided it wasn't right... You can try something else.
And FYI - I pay $133/wk for 3 full days of daycare for my 3yr old.
Is there something about this job that makes it worth it? Are you looking at it as a stepping stone into something better? It is right in your town, so it will somehow mesh with your daughter's school schedule?
I say if it is just for the adult interaction, I'd probably try to do something else. I don't consider a "less than ideal" daycare covering daycare. I would look into something part-time that covered a pre-school instead, so that she got a great interaction and you got out of the house. It doesn't sound like you are going to be bringing in extra money, and locking yourself into a low paying position if you don't have to is silly. You are also setting your salary at previous job question VERY low.
You say "you were offered." Does that mean you applied? Are there other openings around? Can you structure the job another way? Do a salary negotiation that gives you enough to at least pay for the better daycare?
Sorry, I feel like there's not quite enough info here about why you are doing this, but I'd strongly consider other options before taking this job as-is. You are getting advice from a lot of places in the country where the cost of living, and the salaries, are much lower. In the NYC area, less than 20K is almost unheard of for full-time employment. You could make almost as much per hour (or as much per hour) working at the mall!
EDIT: Another thing to consider is "full day" preschool programs, rather than traditional daycare. When I was looking for options for my daughter there were a number of very good preschools that had "full day" options, which were really 9-3 or something like that, and during the normal school calendar. They were less expensive if I remember correctly, and if you are able to work within the hours might be a good option. Again, if you can negotiate even a slightly shortened day you might be able to make it work. If there's something about this job that seems like a winner.
When will your daughter be old enough for preschool? That should save some on daycare. Ask some of the other teachers about their daycare situations and see whats a better cost, near work.
And why cant you rent the other homes out as soon as possible and keep getting that rent each month? Just because someone moves out doesnt mean you cant re-rent does it?
