As a single mother, my journey back to the workforce began when my son was just six months old. However, it wasn't until he reached the age of five that I felt ready to take on a full-time position. The intervening years were spent managing a patchwork of part-time jobs, which included cleaning homes and offices, teaching yoga classes, providing childcare at a pre-kindergarten center, and working at the local library. At one point, I even ventured into pet-sitting to supplement my income. By juggling these various roles, I was able to effectively work around 40 hours a week while still dedicating valuable time to my son.

During this period, I was also pursuing my degree through online classes, with the ultimate goal of securing a teaching position once my son started kindergarten and would be in school for the majority of the day. I was determined to maximize my time with him while he was still very young, and the flexibility of multiple part-time roles allowed me to create a schedule that aligned with his needs. I often organized my work commitments around his fathers custody schedule, ensuring I was available for him during important moments.

On days when I had to work while my son was with me, I made it a point to schedule my work only during his morning pre-kindergarten classes. Being able to design my own schedule and feel like my own boss brought me a sense of satisfaction. I enjoyed teaching yoga a few times each week, relished my time spent at the library, and found cleaning to be surprisingly therapeutic, as it felt rewarding to assist others in maintaining a tidy space.

Financially, things were manageable, but I occasionally found myself wishing for a little more income. The most significant drawback of my part-time arrangements was the absence of health benefits typically associated with full-time employment. At that point, I earned too much to qualify for Medicaid, yet my income was low enough that my son still qualified for assistance. I worried about the impending loss of his coverage when he turned five and felt a growing pressure to secure a teaching job that would provide not just a better paycheck, but also health insurance for both of us.

When I was offered a full-time teaching position, my son was halfway through Florida's voluntary pre-kindergarten program and was set to start kindergarten that fall. Initially, I felt a wave of relief at the prospect of only having to manage one job. However, it quickly became apparent that this transition was not as fulfilling as I had hoped. Even with my son in kindergarten for most of the day, I still needed to enroll him in aftercare, as his school day concluded at 2 PM while mine extended until 4 PM. I found it difficult to adapt to not being able to pick him up at the end of his school day, a privilege I had previously enjoyed.

Despite working the same number of hours as before, I started to experience the emotional challenges of being a working mother. While I was proud to acquire health benefits for both myself and my son, the reality was that once the health insurance premiums were deducted from my paycheck and I accounted for the costs of aftercare, my take-home pay was nearly identical to what I had earned while juggling part-time jobs. This revelation was a bitter pill to swallow; I felt as though I had traded precious time with my son for no financial gain, which negatively impacted my overall happiness and mood.

After spending six years in my full-time teaching role, I came to the realization that this path was not the right one for me as a mother. Though I enjoyed certain aspects of teaching, I felt far less fulfilled compared to when I had a diverse array of roles. The structure of being in one place for an extended period proved challenging, and I occasionally found myself daydreaming about the freedom I had given up. The sacrifice of those after-school afternoons with my son felt particularly poignant, especially since I wasnt seeing any financial benefit from the change.

Ultimately, I recognized that working several part-time jobs fit my lifestyle and personal satisfaction better than a traditional full-time job ever could. It was a lesson learned through experienceone that I might not have understood without trying the full-time route first.

Finding part-time jobs with health insurance benefits, however, is a significant challenge. Fortunately, since remarrying a few years ago, my son and I now have health coverage through my husbands job, allowing me the freedom to return to part-time work. While my overall income may be lower on paper, the energy and happiness I regain to invest back into my motherhood feel immeasurable and truly worthwhile.