I got into a bit of a pickle today when I challenged the fact that Babble.com does not appear to have working parents on their blog, Strollerderby. Jason Avant kindly responded and said that indeed “Babble has several ‘working parent’ bloggers,” and that he is “an HR specialist for a company in San Diego.” (We have something in common!)
This is good to know, as every time I read the bios of other bloggers, I always think they blog for a living. Guess I’m a little naive. Â
Anyway, he turned the conversation away from my naivete, and asked me what my definition of “work” is. My first thought was, who am I to define “work”? My answer: “Work is the curse of the middle class.” (If YOU were a billionaire would YOU work? I didn’t think so.)
Upon further reflection, I think I was a little glib. I’m no authority on this subject. But, since he asked, here’s my answer:
I think “work” is when you have to leave your house in the morning to go to an office because people count on you for some sort of face time and interaction. Â It doesn’t mean that being a parent isn’t “work,” (I’ve said it before, I think being an SAHM or SAHD is harder than working) but I think it’s a whole different dynamic when you have to hurry up and get ready in the morning and go away on trips and rely on someone else to care for your child when you’re out of the house. If I didnt work where I do now and was an SAHM, I wouldn’t say I “worked.”
There it is, long in its explanation. If you care. I’m curious how you other “working” mamas and dadas define it. Care to share?
Technorati Tags: working mom, working dad, workÂ
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey – missed that conversation on the post. But yeah, many of us work day jobs. Pierre Kim is away on business right now. And, on top of managing Nerve Media’s blogs, I work a full-time job and blog at two other places. So, we’re busy beavers.
Interesting question, re: what constitutes “work”. I think my kids would answer that by defining work as “anything that takes mom and dad’s attention away from US.”
That is a good definition.
I don’t know where you guys all find the time
to update more than one blog!! and work!!
I don’t consider “work” to have to take place outside the home. For a few months I “worked” from home for one of my previous employers while we had a nanny watch my youngest. But I do agree with you that being a full-time SAHM (or SAHD) is the hardest job out there.
I agree with The Zero Boss’s kids – work is anything that requires me to sacrifice time with my kids (& husband)!
I would say “work” means “job,” or something you’re getting paid to do. So that’s from home or an office outside the home. Of course, caring for your child is hard work, as is caring for an elderly relative. Heck, cleaning the house and taking care of your backyard are work, too. But when I call myself a “working mom,” I’m not referring to all the non-paid things I do (cooking, cleaning, caring for my daughter). I mean I work at an office, and if I don’t do a good job, I might not being a working mom anymore (i.e., not receiving that all-important biweekly check!)
Yeah, I agree with you. I don’t REALLY Work. Taking care of 5 kids, doing laundry, dishes, keeping a house that’s not real work except those those people that get dressed and get PAID to go OUT and clean someone else’s house. Oh yeah and the programming, web design and training I do, that’s not really work either because I’m doing it in my basement till the wee hours of the morning. Yeah hon, you got iyt hard you have to get dressed. Oh wait, I am up and dressed to drive my 5 kids to school by 7:30am, does that count?
What about this definition… work is a demand, outside of your duties at home that isn’t related to you.
Any thoughts on that?
That would include those who don’t have to get out of the house to get paid for what they do…
There’s an emotional component to it too. I had an editing job in a glamorous city, working for some very strange people. Although I was away from my kids and husband most of the time, I loved the “work.” That said, I used to tell people I loved editing and would do that job for free, but I got paid to deal with the bullpoop.
I’m not sure, but, whatever it is, it makes it awfully hard to put in writing, sometimes.
I don’t know exactly what it is, but, the awkwardness of the definition sure does make it hard to write about sometimes.
Well, being Jason’s wife and newly through a recent “career transition/crises” of my own, we have talked a lot about the concept of “work” at our house, and I don’t think there is one definition.
There is “job” which is where you get paid to provide a service to someone else. There is a “career” where you have carved a niche for your self by growing and staying in one type of job category or practice. There is “work” which I classify as something that you HAVE to do, when you probably would rather be doing something else. Other things like laundry and cooking, those are responsibilities of life..you would have to do them if you were working or not working, a parent or not a parent..
But let’s be honest, parenting IS hard work, but those moments of pure joy when you are pushing your giggling child on the swing at the park is so very far from what anyone would consider “work”.
I have to disagree. I think that to say that work is only when you leave the house and go to the office is wrong. Work I believe is the act of doing something. It doesn’t matter if you are working at an office, working from home, working to take care of your children, working on a craft project,etc. You get the picture. You definition alienates those that work from home and doesn’t give SAHM and STAD’s the credit they deserve.
Hi Sara,
I really like your writing… and for the record, I am a working mom who also writes at Stroller Derby (I work in public finance).
Rachale
Thanks!! Public finance – wow, now that’s heavy…