Being a stay-at-home parent is not an easy task. Even though the position is not paid, you are constantly on your feet working, with hardly a moment to take a break. For children’s baby and toddler years, stay-at-home moms and dads need to devote a lot of their time and attention to take care of their children. It is certainly a challenging job, but most moms and dads become accustomed to their role tending to their kids’ needs at home, and they definitely get plenty of practice day after day.
Once the kids start school however, the whole dynamic of the situation changes. Suddenly, there’s a big chunk of the day where the kids don’t need to be looked after because they’re busy in school. Many stay at home parents find this jarring because they suddenly have more free time than they are used to. For those parents who need something to do to fill the time, here are a couple of things you can do while the kids are at school.
Do something for you
If you’ve spent a great deal of the past few years putting the majority of your focus on your children, it might be a good time to start doing things for you. Perhaps take up a new hobby or sport, or look for an interesting class to take. You could get a gym membership or learn how to do something you’ve always wanted to do.
Look for a job in your children’s school
One of the best things you can do is try to put in some hours at your kids’ school. This has the added benefit of you being able to be there for your kids if they ever need you. Your schedule will also likely sync with theirs, so you’ll still be able to spend time with them before and after school. You could consider taking on a role as a teacher’s assistant, a bus driver, cafeteria staff, or working in the school office. The possibilities are endless and could provide you with some valuable work experience as well as some extra cash.
Work as a freelance writer
If you have a flair for writing, look into freelance writing for a firm. Freelance writers have the benefit of being able to set their own hours, and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. You’ll also make some much needed extra income while polishing your writing skills. All you need is an internet connection and a word processor and you’re good to go.
Become a driver or work for a delivery company
Uber, Lyft, Amazon Flex and many more companies have made it very easy for people to earn some extra change on the side with their business models. If you have a car, you can become a driver and make money from the front seat. The best part of this type of work is the flexibility it offers. You only work when you’d like to. This means you can take days off with no consequences if one of your little ones is sick and needs you by their side.
