What do you do for a job?

littlesocks

I really don't like my job. It's hard and stressful and it gives me tons of anxiety. I realize part of the reason I had such a hard time leaving my DD after maternity leave is because I'm so unhappy with my job. If I loved it (or even liked it) it wouldn't be so bad.
So I'm wondering, for those of you that like your job, what do you do?
I can't be a stay at home mom because we need the income so that's out.
Added bonus if any of you work from home. I do work from home (so we have a nanny/sitter) and that's pretty much the only reason I'm staying where I work.
Also, I realize some jobs people love I might not like, but I'm just searching for ideas. I've been so down in the dumps lately and it's wearing on me. When I am spending time with my DD I always have the pressure of my job weighing on me and its keeping me from fully enjoying my time with her.

RedDawnsRevenge

I am currently a SAHM. I was a former trauma ER nurse. It is not an occupation for people who have anxiety or nervousness. Also it requires 4+ years of nursing school plus prerequisites. Then once you graduate and pass your boards you need several years experience and or completion of a CCNI program.

fourthnlast

Currently a SAHM and personal trainer. Before becoming a SAHM, I was a legal asst and loved it!

WifeofaComposer

I teach violin lessons, sculpt, and crochet from home, and I love it!! Do you have any talents or hobbies that you can turn into profitable activities?

livin541

I work from home as well for a brand new biotechnology company that has developed an anti-aging product. I've never loved my job until now. The company's mission statement is "make people better" so I am really enjoying the personal development,
being surrounded by positive people and having the ability to earn a great deal of residual income for my family.

sking72

I milk cows and I'm a Mary Kay beauty consultant. Milking cows is ok, gets exhausting and can be frustrating but it's a little extra money. I love Mary Kay because it doubles as income and adult interaction haha.

ambarnett1

I'm a patient care tech while in nursing school. Health care isn't for people who are easily stressed or nervous as @RedDawnsRevenge‌ stated.

Eta- I'm also an EMT-B part time when I need money.

katy4128

I am a SAHM and a high school volleyball coach. Before that I was a 2s teacher at a daycare and before that I was a nanny.

janellemj928

I do payroll/HR for a multi-state car dealership based in Michigan. I have a BBA in Accounting, but it wasn't required for my job and I'm the only one in my office with that degree.

littlesocks

WifeofaComposer said:

I teach violin lessons, sculpt, and crochet from home, and I love it!! Do you have any talents or hobbies that you can turn into profitable activities?

I know how to sew. I started at a young age but haven't really been doing much lately. I've been playing with the idea of making bibs and nursing covers and trying to start an etsy shop but there are so many similar shops out there that I worry it wouldn't take off.

allyandmike24

I'm a Pre-K teacher at a small, coop school- I love it! It's super family-friendly, so I've been able to take an extended maternity leave. I'm going back very part-time, but will be able to take on extra hours as LO gets older. 

sking72

Amsull324 said:

WifeofaComposer said:

I teach violin lessons, sculpt, and crochet from home, and I love it!! Do you have any talents or hobbies that you can turn into profitable activities?

I know how to sew. I started at a young age but haven't really been doing much lately. I've been playing with the idea of making bibs and nursing covers and trying to start an etsy shop but there are so many similar shops out there that I worry it wouldn't take off.

Don't get discouraged too easily! You'll never know if you don't try. Plus you already know a ton of moms who love etsy stuff (cough us cough)

littlesocks

Katy0525 said:

I am a SAHM and a high school volleyball coach. Before that I was a 2s teacher at a daycare and before that I was a nanny.

@Katy0525 Did you like working for a daycare? Did you need qualifications?
I've even considered being a nanny so I could be with my baby girl while watching someone else's. Did you enjoy that?

WifeofaComposer

sking72 said:

I teach violin lessons, sculpt, and crochet from home, and I love it!! Do you have any talents or hobbies that you can turn into profitable activities?

I know how to sew. I started at a young age but haven't really been doing much lately. I've been playing with the idea of making bibs and nursing covers and trying to start an etsy shop but there are so many similar shops out there that I worry it wouldn't take off.

Don't get discouraged too easily! You'll never know if you don't try. Plus you already know a ton of moms who love etsy stuff (cough us cough)

Exactly what @sking72 said!! I started my business with the help of the June 2013 moms - they were all so supportive my DH and I lost Henrietta, so I crocheted hats for their babies, and then I started my Etsy shop. They continue to be my most frequent buyers, as well as a few A14ers, but I have had some random customers, too. Don't sell yourself short!!

littlesocks

macgrs said:

@lzeemin Do you mind if I ask what you do there or what your background is? I finished my Ph.D. in biochemistry last year and I'm currently working in an academic lab, but I would love to get into industry because the pay, hours, and respect for personal time are sooooo much better. Research/science doesn't tend to lend itself to working from home so I'm just curious!

I'm in corporate finance. The hours are very demanding. Before I had DD working 55+ hours a week stunk, but it wasn't the end of the world because I had no other responsibilities. Now with DD I don't want all of my time spent working/thinking about work and missing out on spending time with her.

Eta: whoops! I thought you were asking me what I do ">

littlesocks

Vinny424 said:

Amsull324 said:

WifeofaComposer said:

I teach violin lessons, sculpt, and crochet from home, and I love it!! Do you have any talents or hobbies that you can turn into profitable activities?

I know how to sew. I started at a young age but haven't really been doing much lately. I've been playing with the idea of making bibs and nursing covers and trying to start an etsy shop but there are so many similar shops out there that I worry it wouldn't take off.

Try it. Honestly while there are a lot of people that do it, you just have to find a niche. For example @aprilmay9 once said that she couldn't find any plain non printed nursing covers which can kinda scream "hey I nursing over here!!!" Or sometimes bibs are adorable but not too absorbent. You just have to think outside the box a bit

I actually remember reading that and have kept it in mind!!

Holljade

I work in talent Aquisition now and was doing regular recruiting for years- many companies let you work from home doing it- it requires a lot of phone time though.

PoppySeedWindsor

I'm a WAHM (work at home mom) as a journalist. I work from home about 85% of the time. Luckily hubster has a job that's close and really flexible so when I need to go out to inteview and the little one can't come with, he's able to come in. It's great for me because the midwest is really keen on babies so it's never awkward if i'm home and in the middle of an interview and need to change a diaper plus I can write on my 'own' time.

What might make you more excited in a job?

Xxlilies

I'm an admin assistant at a company that provides transportation for those that have been in auto accidents .a lot of dealing with insurance adjusters and accident victims themselves.

I studied law and am a licensed paralegal. Job market just sucks here

MamaFantastic

Before having T, I worked part time as a weight loss nutritionist. Loved the job! The atmosphere was super laid back and the people were generally nice.

My job now is my photo prop business and I do that work from home. It's tireless but satisfying work because I control everything about my schedule and the process, and I have a never-ending creative outlet.

bumpuser10354689

I'm a paralegal. Super good job market wherever I've moved so it's been a blessing. When I go back after my year is up my job is going to be really flexible and let me work part time from home and work around my husbands schedule to avoid a lot of day care. Plus the pay is good! It's something I just fell into when I was young but absolutely love it now.

PoppySeedWindsor

Where do you live? (Again, super sorry if you've mentioned this!)

ashcole28

I'm a STNA and I love it but it can get stressful as well.

GeorgiaWife12

@vinny424 do you have a machine? Which one? I have one that's I have only messed with a little bit because I just don't have any time! I am obsessed with monogramming and personalizing things and had big plans to make lots of things for LO but so far I haven't done a single thing! Ugh!

GeorgiaWife12

It won't let me edit my comment ugh.

I am a chemist for at a power plant. I do mostly water chemistry and manual labor.  More of the latter than the former. It's exhausting and I wish what I did had more to do with actual chemistry.

livin541

@macgrs I actually have my degree in Public Relations, but I worked as a Retail manager for 10 years. So I'm not exactly using my education or previous experience now

At my current company, I'm actually a brand partner, so it's marketing the products. I would love to be part of the Management team because that is my
comfort zone and I love the leaders, but this way allows me that time freedom with LO. Plus, I get to help others on my team reach their dreams and goals, so it's very fulfilling in a different way... if that makes sense.

Mustardseed2007

I'm an attorney, which I guess is not something you just jump into. I enjoy it but the job market is gawd aweful for lawyers in most places at the moment. My husband works for the federal court in a sort of administrative/paralegal type position. He kind of likes it...but mostly just likes the flexibility and predictability of his job...oh and I like his benefits.

littlesocks

PoppySeedWindsor said:

Where do you live? (Again, super sorry if you've mentioned this!)

I'm in the Boston area

edoliesmom

Before having baby girl, I worked in childcare for 4 years. I loved it because I love working with kids, but it doesn't pay much at all. I made minimum wage because it was a small non-profit daycare, but I've heard of people making $9-$10/hr elsewhere, which still isn't that much. But if you find a place you like that accepts young ages, you could work there and most likely get a good discount for your baby, so you could work and still be in the same place.

Qualifications are a background check, drug test and CPR certification. You also have to have certain hours of training, but that's usually provided by or set up by whoever you're working for. The last place I worked at, I just did the courses online; another place I worked had us go to seminars which was actually pretty interesting and fun.

I also think nannying would be great and might be easier with a baby, depending on the family.

RocksInTheWater

I'm a speech language pathologist in an elementary school.  Most of the time I really like my job! The school schedule is so great as it allows me more days off to be with DS.  

olenkapdx

I work for a state government agency as a technical writer/instructional designer/software trainer.  I have bitched about my job a few times on this board, but it has its good qualities.  I'm able to WFH once a week, I'm not expected to put in more than my 40 hours a week, and deadlines are basically a joke there, so it's very low stress.  I came from private sector and was used to a much faster pace (and more money....sigh).  After being all go-go career oriented in my 20s and early 30s, I have found that this works pretty well for me (for now, anyway).

I am also trying to start a business selling custom quilts and other home furnishings that I sew.

nursewinnie

I'm a registered nurse in the cardiac Cath lab. Like others have said, it does require quite a bit of schooling before you can start but it's been well worth it for me. I used to work Monday through Friday 10 hour days with one day off, one late night of being here until 730pm, and one night of being on call a week (where I have had to work until 9-10pm and then get called back as much as 3 times in one night for emergencies). We also took one weekend per every 6th weekend of call. Fortunately we had an opening to work the weekend shift. I will work two 12 hour days on Saturday and Sunday every week and get paid an extra $10/hr. This lets me be at home with dd all week and dh is able to keep her on the weekends. If it had not been for a weekend position, I would've had to transfer to another department with more stable hours. I hope you find something you love. Cardiac nursing is just something I really enjoy and it just so happens to have worked out to be flexible for me family's schedule.

pbandjmom

I'm a professional photographer. I shoot mostly weddings, so my husband watches DD on those days. Scheduling meetings and shorter photo shoots is a little tricky, as is having time to edit in my office. None the less, it allows me to stay at home, run a business, and be creative.

fourthnlast

KendraColeslaw said:

I was a paralegal but am unemployed now to be home with LO. I will start looking for WAHM jobs in the next few weeks. When she starts school, I'd like to get back into the legal field.

That was my plan too...almost 6.5 years ago. I never went back. I do miss it though.

RedDawnsRevenge

dani+california said:

Tobacco Inspector...weird and awesome job.

Like as someone would inspect fruit? Loose leaf? Pre or post rolling? Very interesting, never known anyone whose done this job before. I had no idea they had the climate to grow tobacco in Canada!

kseccomb17

Insurance agent... I hated it, because everyone hates insurance. I am a stay at home mom, going to school for an early education degree.

cwm11985

I am an elementary teacher (taught 3rd grade forever and am switching to K this fall), which I love.  I'm also an independent Advocare distributor- which I love even more as I am committed to a healthy lifestyle and enjoy helping people achieve that as well.

RedDawnsRevenge

dani+california said:

RedDawnsRevenge said:

dani+california said:

Tobacco Inspector...weird and awesome job.

Like as someone would inspect fruit? Loose leaf? Pre or post rolling? Very interesting, never known anyone whose done this job before. I had no idea they had the climate to grow tobacco in Canada!

We do surprisingly. Actually my job is more like your ATF-sans the firearms aspect. We investigate and inspect any retail premises that sells tobacco or any person/place that we believe may be selling tobacco to make sure it's not contraband-ie, smuggled into the country or counterfeit product. This includes cigarettes, gutkha, waterpipe tobacco (hookah/sheesha) and so on.

We seize and destroy whatever contraband we find, which is usually also accompanied by drugs or stolen merchandise. More than 50% of cigarettes in Ontario are illegal, it's a huge market here with a lot of money to be made! Penalties start at $500 and the largest fine I've personally laid was for over $500,000. Good times

I had no idea. Do we have this in the US? What a crazy job.

abbeylanecb

Vinny424 said:

I work from home as tech support for an embroidery design company. Because I'm a 1099 ic I can write off some embroidery supplies because I use it to test some designs.

What company. I use an embroidery machine daily for my boutique.

Elf2718

I work for Dean Foods...in their lab. I test raw and pasteurized milk products and verify that they are safe to go out into the marketplace.

macynsnoop

I steer horizontal oil wells remotely. I do work from home when I'm on a job but I'm not sure how that's going to work with LO. The job is 12 hour shifts from 6-6, either days or nights for normally a week long stint. I normally get days off after a well, so normally a good 4-5 days off that I will get to spend with LO. I think while I'm working he will need to be in day care as it can be pretty high stress with critical, important decisions that I need to make that impact a multi-million dollar well. I got a degree in engineering but don't use the degree for this job. I put my dues in for 10 years working on rigs, in mgmt & doing a lot of specific training. The money is worth all the sacrifices tho, hoping it works out with well with kiddo too.