Balancing multiple part-time jobs instead of pursuing a single full-time position can offer significant flexibility, a strategy that some find more suitable for their lifestyle and family commitments. For a single mother, returning to work when her child was just six months old posed a challenge, but she chose not to commit to a full-time role until her son reached the age of five. During the early years, she juggled several part-time roles, including cleaning, teaching yoga, providing childcare, and working at a library, which allowed her to manage around 40 hours a week while still prioritizing time with her son.
Throughout this period, she was also pursuing online classes to complete her degree, aiming to secure a teaching position once her child began kindergarten. Her primary goal was to maximize her time with her son while he was young, avoiding the constraints of a traditional 9-to-5 job. The ability to create her own schedule and work when her son was with his father or attending morning pre-kindergarten classes was invaluable. This arrangement also allowed her to indulge various interests, from yoga teaching to library work, adding a sense of fulfillment to her professional life.
Despite these advantages, the absence of full-time employment benefits, particularly health insurance, was a significant drawback. Her income disqualified her from Medicaid, yet her son’s coverage persisted until he turned five, prompting her to consider a teaching position for financial and benefit security. However, the transition to a full-time teaching role did not meet her expectations.
Initially, she appreciated the simplicity of managing just one job, but soon realized the drawbacks. Her teaching schedule required her son to attend aftercare, limiting her ability to pick him up from school, a responsibility she had previously managed. Furthermore, the financial gains she anticipated were offset by deductions for health insurance and aftercare costs, leaving her earnings unchanged compared to her part-time work setup.
The emotional toll of reduced personal time and the pressure of a full-time role impacted her well-being and satisfaction. Despite achieving benefits for her family, she found herself yearning for the variety and autonomy of part-time work. After six years in a full-time position, she returned to the multiple part-time job model, recognizing it as a better fit for her lifestyle and parenting goals.
Although finding part-time positions with health benefits remains challenging, her circumstances improved upon remarrying, as her husband’s job provided coverage. Despite a lower official income, the regained energy and increased quality time with her son proved invaluable, affirming the decision to prioritize part-time work as the most suitable option for her family’s needs.