I now have two children in school full time. Mikey is in first grade, and Nathan is in kindergarten. So, I am home all day with the two little ones. I do the mommy thing all day but I am wanting to branch out a little and do something for myself.

I received my A.A.S degree in Human Services back in May of this year. My husband and I both decided that in order to get a full time job, and work around annoying schedule issues, I would wait until I have all four children in school full time. Which will not be happening for another 3 years.

Well, that is fine with me, but I want to make some extra money. My question here is what do I do with myself? I am a certified respite care provider through the state of NY so I am legally able to work with developmentally disabled people. However, in order to do a lot of that kind of work one needs their license and a vehicle. One of those two things I do not have. A license. Why you ask? Well because of my ongoing struggle with anxiety (but that can be addressed at another time.) I could do it in my home, which is what I am thinking about. I just need to have one room certified for proper usage by the client. If I wanted a full time-live in client I would need to go through the whole process of getting my entire house certified and though that would be doable, I am just not sure if I want that type of commitment.

Then there is the idea of babysitting in my home part time. I don't want to go through the process that it takes to be certified to be a daycare provider. I am sure I could find local people who would allow me to watch their kids but let's be honest here-I don't really "like" other people's children very much. I can tolerate them at best. I am sure once I get my stress and anxiety under control I would feel differently about other people's spawn.

I have also toyed with the idea of going back to a department store. Do I want to do that? I just don't know.

So, what are your thoughts?