Comments on: Part-time lover

By: Part-time work is the devil — Self-Made Mom

Part-time work is the devil — Self-Made Mom — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:12:00 +0000

[...] perspective on the matter. I know at one time I said I loved working part-time, and so if you use this post against me I will come find and kill you (remember I am channeling the devil), but that was like a [...]

By: Marcie

Marcie — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:12:16 +0000

I agree with Shannon in re: thinking I’m a bit of a slacker. When I burned out, it was while I was working part-time in a woman-dominated field… BUT, “since I’m only working part-time” that obviously meant I had lots of time for school and alumni volunteering and dental/medical appointments and oh by the way, downtime for myself. Didn’t work that way. I have the medical bills and copays to prove it.

Sara, to your list I would add #5: a college degree or at least some coursework. I couldn’t have gotten the job I had without one, and with one, you’re in a little bit more of a position to CHOOSE to workfulltime/workparttime/stayhome. I was completely freaked out by reading “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenrich and never ever want to see my daughters in those situations.

By: bianca

bianca — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:40:15 +0000

I am feeling jealous of your sitch BUT so much more than that I am happy for you and that it exists at all. It is extremely cool that you give so much credit to the people in your workplace, but let me toot your horn for you, too: it would never work without their respect for your abilities and your commitment to the team. I have no idea where you work or who you work with, but I know this must be true for it to be working out. Yay for parent-friendly teams and workplaces!!!

By: Shannon

Shannon — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:25:48 +0000

I say part-time is the only way I could stay sane! Three days a week is enough to get my sleep-deprived self and my 4-month-old out the door. On the other hand, I think I’d go crazy if I were home full-time. Also, I see it as a good way to stay in my field, rather than quitting altogether.

One thing I have realized, though, is that I have to adjust the way I view myself. I have always subscribed to the “every mother is a working mother” theory, and I believe that being a parent is hard no matter what your work arrangement. However, I recently realized that I was viewing myself as a bit of a slacker because I only worked outside the home part-time. Part of this is because I’m just hard on myself. But I also wonder if part of it is that I have been a little more affected than I care to admit by the narrow concept of work that is held by society. And yes, this says something about how undervalued mothers are in our society, and about the struggles of women as a whole, but all of that is too much to get into in this already-too-long blog comment.

By: Adventures In Babywearing

Adventures In Babywearing — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 21:54:15 +0000

This is a really great post- wonderful analogy. And YES I’ve went to Target specifically for laundry detergent and a swimsuit cover up.

Steph

By: Molly

Molly — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 21:52:59 +0000

You really are lucky and I envy you slightly! I actually said to my son today as we pulled up outside day care (which he refers to as school) “come on, let’s go because I have to go to stinkin’ work!” To which he replied “don’t say that mommy, don’t say that word”, “but I want to be at home with you” I said. He looked at me and shook his head and said, “no mommy, you have to go to work and I have to go to school”. He is sweet! And you are blessed!