If You Knew You Wouldn't Fail...

[Sheherezade]

Wow. Cheap properties in your side though.

I know! It's killing me. Big job, big maintenance, big taxes. BUT....I could own a castle. Lol. Hard to say no, but I think by waiting I am saying no.

The hubby and I are thinking maybe we get the kids through college first and make restoring one of these old properties an empty nester project together. That is, if the kids move back to the area and we have a reason to own 8 bedrooms...


Angie

[spotty_dog]

I thought of one today. For a long time I thought that if I wouldn't fail, I'd start tutoring. The problem is we don't have the wealthy test-prep parent population that usually drives the demand for tutoring. We have struggling remedial kids from families who can't really afford either the time or the money. Also, the idea of trying something new and possibly letting the kids down if I don't say things right or clue in to their learning style, is terrifying. But every week when I work with the third graders at math, I find myself just desperate for a little more time, especially one-on-one time with some of them.

[poky]

I thought of one today. For a long time I thought that if I wouldn't fail, I'd start tutoring. The problem is we don't have the wealthy test-prep parent population that usually drives the demand for tutoring. We have struggling remedial kids from families who can't really afford either the time or the money. Also, the idea of trying something new and possibly letting the kids down if I don't say things right or clue in to their learning style, is terrifying. But every week when I work with the third graders at math, I find myself just desperate for a little more time, especially one-on-one time with some of them.

ANY one-on-one time is beneficial, no matter whether you "clue in to their learning style" or not. If there's one thing SMART reading has taught me, that's it. Even if you don't actually get them to love math, they've taught them that they're worthwhile, and that there's at least one adult out there who cares about them and will listen to them and encourage them and thinks they CAN do it. If "fear of failure" really is the only thing holding you back, just do it. There is no failure when it comes to spending one-on-one time with kids who need the attention. Just showing up and listening is enough.
Is charging for it important? If not, then the lack of "wealthy test-prep population" isn't an issue, either. Can you work through the school, maybe?

[spotty_dog]

No, it doesn't have be be a paid gig, but that is at the back of my mind as a flexible way to justify continuing to stay home. At the very least I'd want to start with unpaid, to get my feet under me. I've considered helping with the Boys & Girls Club, their afterschool program serves about 40-50 kids and among them are the most needful. And we're already members so I could bring my kids to participate in afterschool while I volunteered. But their homework-focused afternoon is Mondays and that's when my family is most busy. The elementary school volunteer intake asks if you'd be willing to tutor and I always check yes, but I should probably approach the secretary directly, I think there has been some noise about re-starting a volunteer tutoring program. I've given this a lot of thought, it's just a little overwhelming to figure out how to balance my family's needs when my husband's schedule isn't consistent. It's not like I can say "Honey watch the kids on Tuesdays, I've got afterschool appointments." He will never be home on all Tuesdays, yannow? But I actually asked a kiddo earlier this week if I should call his mom and see if he could hang out with me some time and just kind of talk math, so we could focus. He seemed into it.

I know someone who had a tutoring business here for several years but she went back to employed work recently. I could ask her for insight. I think she worked a lot with the private school kids, but she had at least one student that she met at the public elementary during lunch time.

[poky]

No, it doesn't have be be a paid gig, but that is at the back of my mind as a flexible way to justify continuing to stay home. At the very least I'd want to start with unpaid, to get my feet under me. I've considered helping with the Boys & Girls Club, their afterschool program serves about 40-50 kids and among them are the most needful. And we're already members so I could bring my kids to participate in afterschool while I volunteered. But their homework-focused afternoon is Mondays and that's when my family is most busy. The elementary school volunteer intake asks if you'd be willing to tutor and I always check yes, but I should probably approach the secretary directly, I think there has been some noise about re-starting a volunteer tutoring program. I've given this a lot of thought, it's just a little overwhelming to figure out how to balance my family's needs when my husband's schedule isn't consistent. It's not like I can say "Honey watch the kids on Tuesdays, I've got afterschool appointments." He will never be home on all Tuesdays, yannow? But I actually asked a kiddo earlier this week if I should call his mom and see if he could hang out with me some time and just kind of talk math, so we could focus. He seemed into it.

I know someone who had a tutoring business here for several years but she went back to employed work recently. I could ask her for insight. I think she worked a lot with the private school kids, but she had at least one student that she met at the public elementary during lunch time.

There you go! Those all sound like great places to start! Keep working at it, and definitely don't worry about "failing" the kids; you won't.

[rufflesanddots]

Maybe you could pursue the volunteer tutor program at school instead of the PTA? Seems more up your alley and you could organize it, be present when possible, but have a whole team so it's not all on you.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[spotty_dog]

Heh, you're thinking similarly to me! I had some breakthroughs with the kids this week and thought, "I really need to do the tutoring thing. Thank goodness I never committed to the PTA!"

[niener]

Be either a National Geographic photographer or a tour photographer for some huge rock band. Or become a librarian. #introvertfantasies

And I'd totally be on board for renovating some old historic properties.

I totally agree. It's fun to shoot my family and occasional friends, but I couldn't stomach the hours and business aspects for so little cha-ching

Yes, and

Plus, I feel like there's this perception that "any mom with a camera" thinks they can set up a photography business.

Yes yes yes. MWACs are slaughtering the small scale business -- correction, HAVE slaughtered it. I don't see any way back at this point. As someone who *did* actually try to have a legit business in photography, it's rough. Even if I knew I wouldn't fail at it, the misperceptions people have of what it takes to be a good photographer are SO grossly distorted that it's just too f'ing exhausting to have to explain to every damn potential client why you're worth what you're asking for. Just last week I got a message from someone through my website asking for a session and she said -- I shit you not -- "He's really cooperative and we only need one or two photos of us together, it won't take more than 20 min. Since we'll be super easy, will $50 cover it?" ....... Sorry for the small hijack, this is clearly one of my soapbox issues [/rant]

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

^i know. And it sucks because I look at some of these portfolios online and if I (am completely self trained amateur) can tell that the photos are bad, I don't think people are getting their money's worth. But everyone wants pictures for cheaper and cheaper and yet they want a very high end look which is not cheap to achieve with equipment and editing time. On local moms groups people are constantly posting wanting holiday mini sessions for $50 or less with multiple kids and an edited gallery of photos!