This is long, sorry!

Ok, so some of you may know right now I am a bartender at a nightclub. My younger sister is my boss. I work one or 2 nights (Thurs/Sat). I got in at 10 and am home in bed by 4:30 at the latest. WEll, it is hard to be up all day and be a good mom to the kiddies with no sleep. The building the bar is in may have been sold, we've heard rumors. So they will lose thier lease (supposed new owners own a bar and want to move into our space).

DH thinks I need to find a job to get me out of the house a bit. He says I don't need to be working for the money, it is more for me to have some skills and get to be around adults.

Yesterday I had an interview at a pool store. They sell pools, patio furniture, Halloween, Christmas, pool tables, etc. So the manager is one of DH's old employees/friends. I was offered a job, starting with patio furniture then in Sept. it switches over to trees. I'd get $7 something (he did not know how much, he hasn't hired anyone in awhile) plus commission. The commission was to start at 1% of my sales, then go to 2%, then 3. The sales manager who also was in the interview said he's bypass the 1 and 2% and put me straight at 3%.

I asked if I could start after school starts so I can get my kids back on schedule and be home to handle the after school stuff. He was fine with that, so I'd wind up starting and being right in time for trees and skip patio stuff.

I haven't bought a tree in awhile, but I know you can spend $150 or $700! They sell about $3000 in trees a day. There are a total of 7 sales people, but not all at once.

OK, so far so good. They want me one weekend day and one weekday. I can ask for more hours if I like. I did make it clear I am not out for a bunch of hours. The shift on a Sunday is 11-5. During the week, it is like 9:30-5:30 or 12-8. So now depending on DH' schedule I would need a sitter. DH's days are set, but right now he has some flexibility until Sept. 22nd. Then his days off are Mon/ Tues.

I have an 8 yr. old, 5 yr old will go to afternoon kindergarten and I want to put her in before school care with her best friend Tues and Thurs. But I also have a 9 mo. old. So if I can work say Thursday, drop girls at 2 different schools both by 8:50, then run baby to my mom's 20 min. away, and rush to work, 15 min from there! Practically impossible to be on time. And I DH says I can work while he is home but I have got so used to days off with him, I was a flight attendant until 2 years ago we always work opposite so we did not need sitters. I don't wanna give that up. He has it all 'planned' so someone watches them onthe weekend and he can work. so on the weekday he is the one to run to school, stay home with the baby and be available for the girls after school. But they will want a det 2 days and I know my husband can't ALWAYS have that, and with school events I can't either.

I have been checking into other jobs: work at school, be a test administrator for pre-employment testing, work for an elderly person doing meal prep and cleaning, and Babies R Us. These would be more flexible. And less than 8 hour shifts. Although the test administrator one has some 8 hour days it is only like 2 - 4 dyas per MONTH.


I feel bad if I call DH's friend and turn it down, but honestly the 8 hour shift will be tough if DH is not home with our children. And DH may leave where he is, his old job wants him back. If he goes back, he makes his own schedule pretty much, aside from meetings once a month, etc. If he does not go back, it is not so flexible. He works at a racetrack so when the horses race he is supposed to be there, he is a customer relations manager.

I am at a loss. I really don't think I'd stay after Christmas and sell patio stuff. I mean that is easier to sell than a pool or spa, but I have never worked in SALES, and I really do not think I am they type to be able to "close a deal" as they put it. IF I do go there I would commit to working thru Dec. then discuss how I fit in there and how it is doing with my homelife.

So if I begin in Sept, 2 xs a week thru the end of Dec, that is like going there 30 times. Do I do it? I know anything else will be hourly, the commission should be "extra" to help pay bills or Christmas. The 8 hour and set day thing is really bothering me. My mom will watch the baby if needed, but at her house. So after school she'd have to be here with him and wait for the girls to get off the bus. It's hard for her ot get him down her stairs and into the car, but she supposes she can. If I could do 9:30-3:30 it'd go so much better.

Any suggestions???? I am used to going to work at 10 pm and my kids are in bed, this is a big change for me to not be here. When I was flying I did 2 days a week and DH used those as his days off or my parents babysat. Now I have 3 kids, 2 in school, my dad passed away so there is no extra set of hands, and my mom is still active but she is 70.

Coffeegirl,

If I remember right, you are from my neck of the woods. I know what you are talking about. I looked about a year ago at getting a job but I didn't like the hours, how little I would see dh, who would watch the kids etc etc.

If it were me, I would keep looking. You have mentioned many more negatives than positives. You don't owe that guy anything - remember an interview is 2 sided - they interview you to see if you make a good fit with them and you interview them to see if it is a good fit for you. It doesn't sound like this is a good fit for you.

Keep looking. I have found that working with direct sales is perfect hours b/c I determine when I work and when I don't. I am not good at sales but with my company I teach about the product and it sells itself.

Check again at schools. Maybe at a mall.

Good luck.

I would keep on looking, especially if it isn't for the money. Something will come along that
will meet your and your families needs. It's sounds like it will be more of a hassle than it is worth. You don't want to be tired out with the logistics before you even go to work. BTW, I applied to Babies R Us as well they seem really flexible. Good Luck you will find something.

Chin up my dear!
It took me about three months to find the perfect second job. I am a single parent of two, one will be a sophmore in college next year, and the other will be a senior next year. Senior year of HS = $$$

I finally found a second job that works around my primary job and my HS sons schedule working at a Hospital. As suggested here on this very board. Pay is good and because I opted to work w/o benefits because my primary job has good benefits I got an additional 15% in pay. :happy dance: Check your local hosptial for openings. They are staffed 24 hours a day and hours are more flexible than retail.

__________________
Me Mom
DS Matthew
DS Patrick
Family Pugs Disney & Parker
Completed the Disneyland Half Marathon 09/03/07.

Thanks ladies!

Yes, it seems like the pool store will be more of a hassle than it is worth. I think my typing all that and reading it over kind of helped put it in my head! If DH goes back to his old company I used to do data entry and he'd bring it home for me. I got .25 for each application I entered. So if he goes back maybe the lady doing it now will be ready to give it up if she has not already! Something else to consider.

The (good?) news is that the bar I work in is probably sold (the building itself, so they will lose their lease). At least DH will be happy about that! So my days there are probably numbered.

I am going to apply with both DDs schools and see what happens.