Comments on: Half of what I do every week http://www.selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/ Off-Ramped and Unbalanced Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tara http://www.selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1177 Tara Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:01:30 +0000 http://selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/#comment-1177 I like the quote... "When will women stop being their own worst enemies?" I have a start-up renewable energy manufacturing plant in NYS. I also acquired a husband and now have a baby-zilla. We have an advantage, we are both self employed. When picking out my husband I knew I wanted a partner that could be a team-player and had to be selfemployed (and a good sense of humor.) The result...rather good. We all have our issues but we work together. I work mornings and he works afternoons. I know other people who moved their shifts around (technicins, nurses, doctors...etc) so they could do the "handing off of the kids" for two years before pre-preschool. As far as working part time goes you could do what my grand mother always tells us to say after weIt feels like forever...but "This too will end." Well, unless you don't want it to. I like the quote…

“When will women stop being their own worst
enemies?”

I have a start-up renewable energy manufacturing plant in NYS. I also acquired a husband and now have a baby-zilla. We have an advantage, we are both self employed.

When picking out my husband I knew I wanted a partner that could be a team-player and had to be selfemployed (and a good sense of humor.) The result…rather good. We all have our issues but we work together.

I work mornings and he works afternoons.

I know other people who moved their shifts around (technicins, nurses, doctors…etc) so they could do the “handing off of the kids” for two years before pre-preschool.

As far as working part time goes you could do what my grand mother always tells us to say after weIt feels like forever…but “This too will end.” Well, unless you don’t want it to.

]]> By: DMG http://www.selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1176 DMG Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:17:56 +0000 http://selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/#comment-1176 This is a great discussion. When will women stop being their own worst enemies? I'd rather have half a good, solid experienced staff person than a whole loosey goosey unfocussed full timer. Yes, it is hard finding the right path for each and everyone of us as we negotiate motherhood. Yes, it calls for trade offs in every respect. But saying you are leaving because you are only half present and not so important is such a cop out. Many women make that trade because they simply need the money. Who needs to be superwoman all the time? Have some self esteem and pride in what you have accomplished in a full time working life and accept that life will be different now. The richness of being a mother may not be all consuming or replace the need to work for some of us - but it does require some sacrifice whether it be of our own ambitions, of our sleep or our ability to compete as the top dog at the office. The more of us who choose a different path to find a balance even thought that is difficult - the more the "norm" it will become. The last comment is right - it will take time, but business will change. This is a great discussion. When will women stop being their own worst
enemies? I’d rather have half a good, solid experienced staff person
than a whole loosey goosey unfocussed full timer. Yes, it is hard finding
the right path for each and everyone of us as we negotiate motherhood. Yes,
it calls for trade offs in every respect. But saying you are leaving because
you are only half present and not so important is such a cop out. Many women
make that trade because they simply need the money. Who needs to be
superwoman all the time? Have some self esteem and pride in what you have
accomplished in a full time working life and accept that life will be
different now. The richness of being a mother may not be all consuming or
replace the need to work for some of us – but it does require some sacrifice
whether it be of our own ambitions, of our sleep or our ability to compete
as the top dog at the office. The more of us who choose a different path to
find a balance even thought that is difficult – the more the “norm” it will
become. The last comment is right – it will take time, but business will
change.

]]> By: cordelia525 http://www.selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1178 cordelia525 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:23:19 +0000 http://selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/#comment-1178 I think it's an evolution. Step one is to get businesses to buy into the idea of flex, in principle. Step two is to show businesses that it works, and that "part-time" isn't some sort of code for slacker. Big picture - I think most companies are still at step one. That's not to say part-time doesn't work. It's just going to take a while before businesses and colleagues alike adopt a truly progressive outlook. But I believe that will come in time. It's just not going to happen overnight. I think it’s an evolution.

Step one is to get businesses to buy into the idea of flex, in principle.

Step two is to show businesses that it works, and that “part-time” isn’t some sort of code for slacker.

Big picture – I think most companies are still at step one. That’s not to say part-time doesn’t work. It’s just going to take a while before businesses and colleagues alike adopt a truly progressive outlook.
But I believe that will come in time. It’s just not going to happen overnight.

]]> By: Molly B. http://www.selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1174 Molly B. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:17:45 +0000 http://selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/#comment-1174 Thank you so much for exploring this topic so openly. Adjustment to non-standard work arrangements still seems to be taboo - whatever the lifestyle in process is. Thank you so much for exploring this topic so openly. Adjustment to non-standard work arrangements still seems to be taboo – whatever the lifestyle in process is.

]]> By: Nicole http://www.selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1175 Nicole Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:48:10 +0000 http://selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/#comment-1175 I wouldn't say your work is half-assed, I would say it's not a very valuable use of a company's time - hah!!! Can you plese come to my company? I wouldn’t say your work is half-assed, I would say it’s not a very
valuable use of a company’s time – hah!!!
Can you plese come to my company?

]]> By: Shannon http://www.selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1179 Shannon Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:19:18 +0000 http://selfmademom.net/2007/10/28/half-of-what-i-do-every-week/#comment-1179 One of the things that makes part-time so hard for me is that it's hard for me not to see work as my free time. I get to work, and suddenly I'm not forced to attend to the every need of an infant, and I'm not beholden to a nap schedule, and all I want to do is socialize with other adults, surf the Internet, and go shopping at lunchtime. I used to be able to work all these things into my day when I was working full-time, but the reality is that now all my unofficial work downtime needs to be used pumping my breasts. I'd like to say that I've learned to totally buckle down and get down to business at work, but I'd be lying. One of the things that makes part-time so hard for me is that it’s hard for me not to see work as my free time. I get to work, and suddenly I’m not forced to attend to the every need of an infant, and I’m not beholden to a nap schedule, and all I want to do is socialize with other adults, surf the Internet, and go shopping at lunchtime. I used to be able to work all these things into my day when I was working full-time, but the reality is that now all my unofficial work downtime needs to be used pumping my breasts. I’d like to say that I’ve learned to totally buckle down and get down to business at work, but I’d be lying.

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