Advice - Jobs Working With Kids

Hi.

In April of last year, I lost my corporate job due to position eliminations. I spent months trying to find a job to no avail. I had a part-time job teaching kids to swim and I enjoyed working with kids, so I got a job as a teacher aide. Between my part-time job and the full-time job, I work about 60 hours in total a week, 7 days a week, both pay slightly over minimum wage. I essentially took about a 75% pay cut. I do enjoy working with kids, but I need a higher income. Granted, I know I will not be able to make what I used to, but now I am living paycheck to paycheck and can't save anything. At my age, I will be 59 in a few weeks, it is not feasible, nor financially possible, to go back to school.

Unfortunately, I did not gain any new skills working, I did try, but my job didn't require new skills. I also did not like what I was doing as far as it relates to my MA/PhD (which was in geography and mapping). My BS was in business, and I was in IT until 2020, guess I should have stayed in IT, but hindsight is 20/20. I do love math and have done some basic data analysis.

I want to work with kids, but I am not exactly sure what direction I should take, or what jobs I can do. I am still a teacher aide as well as a swim instructor. I just need to be able to support myself.  I was also able to work from home with my last job, something I miss, and would love to be able to do at least something hybrid.

And no, I am not able to retire.

Thank you.