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    Returning to work after 10 years

    By Michelle Hasker | July 31, 2008

    Returning to work after being a stay at home mother for 10 years sucks LOL.

    For 10 long (or short now that I look back at the time) years I was able to come and go as I pleased (around the school schedule.) Learning that a nap in the middle of the afternoon is no longer acceptible is hard. Even harder when your child wakes during the night. Even harder still when your youngest is three. I find it more upsetting to see my son having fun with his babysitter (going to the pool and playground) than I imagined. It’s not that she takes him places, it’s that she is the one spending time with him. She’s become the fun one. She’s the one he talks about now. *sighs*

    Jealous? Not a little bit. A lot! But he’s being well taken care of so I should rest easy knowing he’s fine while I’m at work, right?

    But then I get home from working and it’s time to start dinner (Working 8-4:30 seemed like a nice time frame at the time. Til I realized that is when you actually get to leave work on time!) and spend time with kids and then it’s off to bed. Yep. Miss Night Owl who slept 2 hours a night last summer now is in bed by 10 even if she’s not asleep. I feel like I’ve aged in the past month. I don’t like it. What I do like? The steady paychecks. Writing out a payment for my mortgage and knowing I still have money leftover for food. Health care, dental care, vision care.

    BUt wait! Wasn’t I a writer too? Somewhere in there I know I used to write. Didn’t I? *scratches head* Finding time to write when you work full time and have kids is really hard. When I was a SAHM I worried I neglected my kids too much to spend time writing. Now I neglect my writing to cook, clean, and spend time with the kids.

    Is there a balance? I’m looking for it. If I find it I’ll give a hollar!

    Michelle

    Topics: Uncategorized |

    5 Responses to “Returning to work after 10 years”

    1. Kim Knox/Rees Says:
      July 31st, 2008 at 12:39 pm

      I vote on cutting back on the cleaning :D

      And let me know if you find that balance…I’ll be hunting for an Evil Day Job probably quite soon *blech * lol

    2. Michelle Hasker Says:
      July 31st, 2008 at 1:02 pm

      *hugs
      I totally sympathize. I thought I’d be a SAHM for another 2.5 years. I’m disheartened to say the least.

    3. Emma Ray Garrett Says:
      July 31st, 2008 at 8:31 pm

      I’m facing the same dilemma, with the added *bonus* of trying to find a job that will allow me to work around my husband’s schedule. Which, in the small town I live in, is proving to be *way* more difficult than I expected.

      And ditto the less cleaning. Who wants to do dishes anyway, LOL!

    4. Michelle Hasker Says:
      August 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm

      *hugs
      I wish you luck, Emma. Hopefully you will find something that will benefit you.

    5. Thursday Thirteen: LB&LI « Impulsive Hearts Says:
      October 6th, 2008 at 1:36 pm

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