Okay...so...many of you know that I have my own business...a hair salon that is disguised as a barber shop. During the winter months, my little town slows to an absolute crawl and I spend many of my days watching Tyra and maniacally crocheting baby hats in various sports team colors (mostly NHL ) to keep my hands out of the snacks and leave the shop having done NO customers at all. Then summer comes, along with the snowbirds, and I'm here to tell you that his weekend on Friday, I had a $300 day and most days I'm there from 10-3 and walk out with at least $100. If it were like this all year, I wouldn't even post this question.
But...
Posted on my kids' school website is a posting for a job as a Middle School Study Hall monitor, with light office work doing projects for teachers, such as overheads and typing, etc. Well, I went to college in 1995 and graduated with a Secretarial degree and worked at Kodak and other corporate offices for about five years and also love the office work. Not to mention, I LOVE kids, especially Middle Schoolers, and this would be a steady full-time income including benefits. INCLUDING all days off that my kids have off, such as SUMMER!!
So, I'm in a quagmire. Do I stick to my own business or do I try for the Study Hall monitor job? Pros and Cons to both:
My own business:
Pros:
I LOVE DOING HAIR!
I have been getting to know my customers, many of them are repeats, many of them are cute little old ladies with rollers...and I love them all!
I make my own hours
I have no boss
I have always wanted my own salon and now I have that! And love it!!
My daughter says she wants me to keep the shop because she likes watching me cut hair and says I'm really good at it and I think she's proud of me! (you have no idea how much this means to me!!)
Cons:
I have a bad chemical rash on my hands that is literally making one of my finger nails fall off and I have sores and open wounds on my hands almost all the time
I don't have time off when my kids have time off and they have to sit in my dinky back room and have a totally boring summer waiting for me to finish doing customers
I don't know what this winter will bring again, but I think I may end up making enough to buy pizza again every week after paying bills.
Summers stink because I don't get to hang out with my kids at the beach or go on little trips around town to water parks, etc...
Study Hall Monitor Job:
Pros:
I love kids!
I'd be working in the same school as my daughter
I'd be working in the school my son will be going to some day
My daughter can drive with me to and from work/school
I'd have every single day off that my kids have off (except sick days)
The insurance ROCKS
Steady pay
I like office work
SUMMERS OFF!!
I'd get to spend more time with my kids!!
Cons:
I'd have a boss again and (gasp!) co-workers
I'd have to give up my shop
I'd miss my customers
I'd miss doing hair
I'd have to dress up for work
These are my short lists of pros and cons. What are your opinions?