Job Discussion Forums

NinaNina · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Oaxaca

At the recommendation of the lovely posters at the General Discussion forum, I am posting this question here:

I've been offered a job in Mexico with a split shift: 8am-10am and 4-9pm. I have two children, one in elementary school, and I'm trying to figure out how I'll spend enough time with them during the week, which is important to me. I could volunteer in my son's classroom or visit at lunchtime, I suppose.

Anyone else contending with this issue? How did you resolve it?

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

Split shifts are the norm in Mexico. I have been doing them for 8 years. I also have two kids. Even if I were working a straight shift, I would still want more time with them. That is just natural. You will adapt, believe me.

It is hard to be away from the kids but supporting them financially is important, as well. One option may be to just work one of the shifts, if you can pull it off financially.

Good luck.

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

Mexicans usually study English in private schools in the morning or the evenings, before or after their work or other school. My recommendation would be to change your eating schedule to match the culture here. Mexicans have the afternoon meal ("comida") around three. This is usually also quality family time as most of the children are finished with school by then. The other opportunity is from 8-10 PM when the people here eat dinner. I gained weight when I ate gringo breakfast at 7AM, Mexican desauyno at 9AM, gringo lunch at 12 noon,"comida" at three and then dinner or "cena" at night. Now, I've adapted to the Mexican meal schedule and dropped a few kilos. Good Luck!

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I have several co-workers with young children. They get around this scheduling hassle as best they can: another partner, day care, relatives who babysit, etc.

I am under the impression that IMSS often provides daycare facilities in many centers, though the quality may be lacking. You should probably talk to your co-workers and see what options they use locally with their children.

NinaNina · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Oaxaca

Thanks for the responses. I have some follow up questions and comments:

Playa--I could afford to work only one shift per day, but are most schools willing to hire a part-time worker?

El Gallo--Hilarious dining schedule! I could see myself falling into the same routine. I'm all for the immersion cultural experience, but my young kids would drop from exhaustion if I kept them up until 10pm and then got them up for school/daycare in the morning. These are some of the hardest, longest sleepers I've had the great fortune to know!

ls--I actually am a huge fan of daycare/preschool because I think children thrive around other children. I just also want to make sure I actually see my children during the week.

MELEE · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

Nina, like I said over on the general forum, I think its pretty sure that your son will get out of school at 1 pm and be expected to eat his main meal after school at home. If you are thinking of staying indefinately the quicker you get the family shifted to Mexican eating times the easier your lives will be.

NinaNina · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Oaxaca

Hey, Melee, thanks for posting. I should clarify that I did not think that Mexican dining times are hilarious, just that compounding them with North of Border dining times and having 6 meals a day would be a dangerous proposition!

I am a great fan of comida corrida and look forward to that shift in schedule!

Has anyone here managed to negotiate a full time offer into a part-time arrangement, either immediately or after working awhile?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

It would help to know what kind of job you have. At a language school, I think you have room to negotiate hours and availability. Might not be the case with primary or secondary schools. If the language school cannot be flexible, well, that's usually a red flag for me.

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

Language schools may or may not be flexible depending on their specific situation with supply and demand of foreign teachers. For example, my school will not negotiate on hours and availability if they are sponsoring you for an FM3. They will not sponsor anyone who is not willing to teach up to 35 hours a week, which includes split shifts and Saturdays. They do pay more for Saturdays.