Leaving work force for a few years: opinions?

[whereintheworld]

We are currently TTC#3 and once we have 3 kids, I will leave my FT job as an administrator at a University and be a SAHM for a few years.

For my own sanity, and to be mindful of the gap in my resume, I would like to volunteer somewhere for ~10 hours a week. I know that I will crave the adult interaction, and I am worried about leaving the work force for a few years. Is volunteering 'enough'?

I have tried to think of a way to make PT work a feasible option, but I just don't think I'd be able to juggle finding PT childcare for 3 kids, school drop-off and pick-up when my oldest is in kindergarden, and if/when 1 out of 3 is inevitably sick or has to go to an appointment.

Opinions on volunteering while being a SAHM, in terms of the perspective from a potential employer in 5 years? I'd be getting back in to general administrative work, probably for another University, when I do re-enter the work force, so it's not exactly a 'skill' I'd need to keep up like other professions.

[hannamarin]

Can you volunteer at the school? Or if you have an early years centre (place where families can go to drop in. Ours are run byt he government. Then you can take your kids with you.

[partiallysunny]

I would try to volunteer at the school or work PT there. I would think either of those would be enough, but I don't know much about what you do.

[Deleted]

Are there any co-op nursery schools in your area? They usually offer great volunteering opportunities because it's the parents who run the school and not paid administrators.

At our school, a few of the board positions and the operating manager position are practically full time jobs. I'm assuming they'd look pretty good on a resume and could help you fill that gap.

[Deleted]

Ditto everyone, volunteer at a place that is almost directly in line with your current career.

With that said, you will still have to figure out childcare during your volunteer hours. A lot of the volunteer work will probably need to be done during the work day, especially if you want it to be at your current school.