Next chapter of life kindergarten coming and need advice on my next steps
Looking for advice on the next chapter of my life as my child starts full-day kindergarten this fall.
I’m currently a SAHM (with a very part-time job in an office 1–2 days a week). My child is in preschool two mornings a week right now, but starting in the fall they’ll be in kindergarten Monday–Friday, with drop-off at 8:45 AM and pickup at 3:00 PM.
I’m trying to figure out what my next career step should be, and I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed. I feel like I need to have a plan in place before August, so I’d really appreciate any experiences or advice from others who’ve been in a similar situation.
For background, I have a bachelor’s degree and over 10 years of experience in Human Resources. My current part-time job is in insurance, which I’ve been doing for about 4 years so I could have some supplemental income while staying home during the early years.
I will be the sole parent handling school drop-off/pick-up and staying home when my child is sick, as we don’t have family nearby for support during the week. My spouse works a very demanding job, so this setup has made me the primary parent for day-to-day needs.
I’m considering a few options:
Option 1: Increasing hours at my current job and staying part-time. The downside is it’s not in my field, requires in-office presence, and I’m worried about managing absences when my child is sick (this year has already felt like illness every few weeks).
Option 2: Finding a fully remote full-time role, ideally in HR. I’m curious if this is realistic and sustainable with my parenting responsibilities, and what others’ experiences have been like.
Option 3: Open to any other suggestions or paths I might not be considering as I transition into this next stage.
Ultimately, I would love to get back into Human Resources, but I need something that realistically supports my family’s needs.
Thank you so much for reading and for any advice or insight.