What careers allow taking summers and school holidays off?

[DT4K]

My wife has been a stay at home mom for our kids for the past 9 years. We just had our 4th and last child so she's been trying to figure out what she wants to do once all the kids are in school.

Years ago, she had wanted to teach elementary school, but having 4 kids of our own, she's thinking she might want a job where she can actually be around adults. She was also interested in some medical tech type careers. Things like Ultrasound technician, Respiratory therapist, etc. But she really wants to be able to be home with the kids during summer and other school holidays.

Anyone have a job that is this flexible or know someone that does?
Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[maziwanka]

work for a university or college (my mother is the lab coordinator for princeton org chem undergrad).

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
work for a university or college (my mother is the lab coordinator for princeton org chem undergrad).

I mentioned that idea to her. I guess it depends on what kind of job you have there. I wasn't sure which kind of jobs there would need to stay and work summers and which wouldn't.

 

[Maverick]

its gotta be academic related...that should narrow the search down to colleges.

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Maverick
its gotta be academic related...that should narrow the search down to colleges.

I guess I'll start looking at some college sites and see what kind of positions they have.

But I was also thinking that there are some fields where it may be common for people to work as contractors and basically decide when they will work and when they won't. Those kind of jobs might work for her too.

Obviously it depends a lot on what she wants to do. I'm just hoping for some ideas to at least think about.

 

[ggavinmoss]

A lot of university jobs don't stop during the summer... just because there aren't students there doesn't mean there isn't work to do.

-geoff

 

[acemcmac]

My university's whole IT deparment has to stay on through the summer....

 

[badmouse]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
work for a university or college (my mother is the lab coordinator for princeton org chem undergrad).

Another perk is that kids of university employees often get good discounts.

Start looking at the hiring lists of schools & colleges and you'll get a good idea of how many jobs there are that can be adapted to the school calendar.

 

[badmouse]

Also, my son gets a lot of physical therapy. Many physical therapists I've met are moms who are able to work on an as-available basis, and the pay's pretty good.

 

[DT4K]

any other ideas from the evening crowd?

 

[fredtam]

Dental Hygeinist (sp?). Around here a lot of them are temps and make $30 an hour and make their own schedule.

 

[mugs]

School administrator

 

[Carbo]

Unemployment.