Hey everyone,

This message is for everyone ... ages 19 and above who are looking for a part-time job.

I recently took up substitute teaching. The cool thing is that I can pick and choose which schools I'll teach, which subjects, which grades (in case you're not like me and like high school kids!) which days, and how often. They honestly don't care if I teach one day a year, or every day of the week. It's amazing how many retirees there are. I'm also paid at least decent wages ... $70.00 a day and that's in the midwest (Houston, TX) which is considerably cheaper to live than the east or west coasts.

Our system is actually computerized. I can log on any time of the day and see if there's an assignment that I want to take. If you don't have access to a computer, a computerized phone system calls, starting at 5:30 a.m. But, even then, I can block them from calling by giving dates and times not to call. You can block out weeks or even months.

I realize that this job is not for everyone. It doesn't offer benefits (health, sick leave, etc.) but it does help get me out of the house, talk to my husband about something other than our own kids!!, and brings home a little money as well.

Off topic but I think Wrigley Field (Chicago) employs the most retirees ... they may even top WalMart (LOL)

Just thought I'd throw it out there!

Terri-
I am glad to hear substitute teaching is going well for you. I remember when you were first applying to substitute teach. It can be a great part time job and I am glad it is working out for you.

For the others, before you get your hopes up, many states require you to be a certified teacher. I worked as a substitute teacher for 8 years in NYS where I was certified, and then when I moved to Pennsylvania, they would not let me substitute teach until I completed the paperwork to be a certified teacher in Pennsylvania.

However, I know that there are other states that do not require you to be certified. Florida has such a need for substitutes that they recruit the college students to work as subsitutes before they have finished their degrees.

Chicory

How about part time jobs in general? Has anyone found others that suit the PD lifestyle?

My job fits the PD lifestyle real well. I give guitar lessons and have a studio in my home. I have my mornings to do household chores and run errands. I usually prepare a casserole or something similar for dinner after lunch. After checking my e-mail, I lay down every day and take a nap for about an hour. I start teaching at 3:00 or 4:00 each day and schedule lessons till 8:30 pm, leaving time for a dinner break. Mondays and Friday I only teach till 6:00 pm. I use the Suzuki guitar books and there is a teacher accompaniment for all the songs in book 1, so I am playing along with my students. Even when they are in the higher books, I still play most songs with them. I am convinced that playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and the other easy songs as much as I do is keeping me able to play guitar. I definitely notice a difference in the stiffness in my hands when I go away for a weekend and don't play as much (even though I do take a travel guitar).

Chicory

Chicory,

The old adage ... use it or lose it has a lot of validity to it.

And, please, keep those posts coming for ideas on part time jobs. That is equally important in regards to the use it or lose it mentality.

I'm sure that it's easier said than done for those who have had PD for a long time. If you've had PD for awhile (in the vicinity of 10 years???), do any of you have tricks of the trade that help keep you going? We'd love to hear them.

I can only speak for myself (I seem to be saying that in all of my posts lately!), but I remember when our children were little. I gave very little thought to what was around the corner. In other words, when they were 3, I wasn't even contemplating what would happen when they were in 1st grade.

But, let me tell you, the older you become, the more you start looking ahead. And, in my case, not just "looking" ... but seeking.

Please don't feel like you have to sugar coat this awful disease. If you can help, or even warn us of what's around the corner, there might be another Parkie who can offer advice as to how to combat it and/or live with it.

Sometimes I feel as if this site tends to exclude the older PD people. Please don't hide ... we NEED YOU!

Terri
PS I believe in the above statement so much that I'm going to start a thread just for that.

I think that if I were to go back to substitute teaching, I could still do that...BUT...to reinforce the "use it or lose it" adage...I once played the pipe organ (actually, gave my college requisite recital playing the pipe organ)...was also a church soloist for many churches for many years...but, if I were asked either to play or sing these days, I would definitely have to refuse because I have NOT used my music, now, for many years; therefore, I have LOST the ability. Of course, if someone were to offer me $1,000 to sing/play for his/her wedding, I certainly would try!!!! I merely wanted to stress, here, the importance of "using or losing"...I should have practiced what I've preached here, I guess!!!!