Hey Mamas! I haven't been on here in forever, but I'm back! I hope some of you remember me :-)
I'm not working for the summer outside of 1 little girl I nanny for. It's great b/c my son is home w/me. Here's my back story. I'm a single mom of a 7 year old. His dad takes him every other weekend, but he can't help out during the week b/c of his work schedule and the fact he lives over and hour away. All my other family such as my mom live too far away to help me out.
So... I'm trying to decide which career path to take when school starts. I know I will be good at both jobs, so it's not an ethics thing where I'd be horrible.
Option A. Continue to nanny (I have a job offer). I could make enough money, but one of the major cons is NO social interaction. You spend the whold day w/kids. Then I go home to my kid and I feel pooped and I don't feel very fun. The pros are that it's SO flexible and anytime my son isn't in school he can be with me rather than at daycare. Not to mention no nights, weekends, holidays etc. (My nanny position would be for a teacher)
Option B. Work as a CNA. Cons: nights, weekends, holidays. Having to find a good daycare provider to help as the shift I would shoot for would be 6am-2pm. Have to find a daycare provider for the things that come up like school gettting out early or a snow day. Pros: I'm going to get my LPN so working as a CNA would be really relevant to what I want to do. I really want to work somewhere that has co workers and some social interaction.
I would enjoy CNA more, but I worry that it would make the other component of my life awful.. What do you Mamas think? What would you do if you were in my shoes? Thanks for any advice!!! It's so hard balancing our Mama duties and the rest of the things we must juggle.
CNA. I know it is challenging and rough putting your kiddo in child care early in the AM, but I cannot tell you enough how in-demand qualified medical professionals are. I am sure you already know this, but some hospitals will pay for your nurse training if you are currently employed as a CNA. Just my 2 cents.
Good luck with your decision!!
I'd stay a nanny and go for the RN which has more work opportunities and better pay while the LPN has the same hours as the RN the pay isn't as great.
Putting your kid in daycare isn't the end of the world. Your kid gets to learn social skill stuff and gets to play with other children too. If you have a better daycare situation they will help prepared him for school, if not you will still need to begin to prepare him for school.
Either way you choose, its your choice. As for social interaction, that is something you would need to tend to on your own anyway. Perhaps on your weekends or other times you are off from work. When you are a mom, balancing life's needs is so important and helpful.
CNA. Personally I don't want to babysit other people's kids. I have 3 kids of my own. I love them to death but I don't want someone else's except for my kids friends and even those, I choose who I want over here for long periods like all day or a sleepover!
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Continue to nanny. CNA doesn't have that much more interaction and the pay is usualy not great. Also, CNA is pretty different than LPN usually and it is hard work. Where would the CNA job be...like at a nursing home? I would continue to nanny since you do have a young child. Try to work it out that you are not playing with kids all day long. Take them out places so you don't feel so drained. There will be plenty of time of him to be in childcare when you start your LPN career.
I'm a nanny, its been great having the flexibility with my own child.
I do understand needing social interactions. I schedule play dates with friends who have kids of similar ages, I've met other nannies to have play dates with, etc.
We go on outings to museums, the zoo, library, etc. There's alot of chances to talk with other grown-ups while watching the kids.
Personally, I would choose the nanny job because of the hours and flexibility. I would continue to work toward my LPN an then, when I was qualified for *that*, I'd switch careers.
the CNA sounds like a huge PITA and a lot of stress.
it also sounds like the better option to me.
i'm glad you have choices, though, and can make either one work.
good luck, mama! let us know what you decide.
khairete
S.
