Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

I just took a big paycut to have Fridays off. I also changed my hours from 9-5 to 7-3. (I have a 1.5 hour commute, so I leave my house at 5:20 and get home at 4:45.)

It's definitely not fun leaving my house that early in the morning, but it's completely worth it----if I still had my old schedule, the boys would be ready for bed when I got home. Now, I get to spend some time w/ them each day.

Having Fridays off is the best thing ever.
Every week, my sis texts me, "T.G.I.Th."


Today is the end of my work week.

I don't do laundry on Fridays.
I don't go to the post office.
I don't cook or clean (well, maybe a little).
I don't do my food shopping.

I just spend the day w/ the kids.

It is heaven.

We are horribly broke and are barely paying our bills. Guess what----I could care less bc I am able to spend this precious time w/ the boys.

If you are able to change your hours or reduce your work week, go for it! You will not regret it at all!

Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

Posted by Linda1003

I here ya!! i feel like I live for Friday but waste the rest of the week waiting for it. KWIM?
Then after work it's cooking laundry cleaning up..making bottles.. then maybe play with DS for about an hour before bed.. Just isn't satisfying!!

Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

I think with all the layoffs and the economy it's happening. There were a lot of layoffs in my company so I'm happy to have a job. Actually, the cutting back helped me b/c they won't pay for overtime and they stopped sending me to trade shows. I put in 200% at work (ok... with some LIF breaks ) then come home to DS. I actually requested to come in earlier so I can leave earlier, which helps.

I don't mind working, but would love less hours. Mason has so much fun at daycare now that he's a toddler so it is fun to hear about his day. Wish I was a fly on the wall to watch him interact.

Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

I had a near-nervous breakdown when I went back to work at a law firm after I had Alex. I can't even count the number of times I cried, and cried, and cried in my office. It also happened to be when a new, larger firm took over and increased my billable hours, but refused to increase my pay to parity with other associates, because I was "a new mom."

After I was told that, I went home and had a long talk with DH. I knew I still wanted to work, because I do love my career, and I just don't have it in me to be a SAHM. But I realized that I could not work at a large firm and maintain my work/family balance, and that some compromises were in order.

I applied for a job with the federal government, and it was the best decision I ever made. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the substantive work that I do (civil rights/education law) - in many ways, it connects me to my children and the intricacies of their education. At the same time, while the work is more engaging and challenging, it is simply the most family-friendly environment I've ever encountered.

I was allowed a 6 month maternity leave with Yael, I can work from home 2 days a week, even as a supervisor, I can work as many comp/credit hours as I want when the girls are asleep so I can take more days off with them, I get time off for preventive medical appointments, parent-teacher conferences, and to chaperone school trips. Because they trust me, they allow me to work from home whenever one of the girls are sick, so I don't have to take time off. And, to boot, I even make more money than I ever did at the firm.

The difference is amazing - simply AMAZING. Whereas, when I came back to the firm after having Alex and experienced the worst of discrimination and a near-nervous breakdown, when I came back to work after having Yael, I was welcomed back with flowers, cookies and open arms from the 5 other attorneys in my office who also recently had babies. ONE MONTH after I came back, I was PROMOTED to a supervisor position!! And even as a supervisor, I still find it fairly easy to balance my work/family life.

So, yes, I had to find a new career path, one that I thought initially was a compromise, but I now see was the best decision of my life. My girls see me happy and Alex asks all the time to come to work with me, and asks about what I do. I am at work most days by 7:30am, so I can leave by 4pm, and it is very, VERY rare that I work 5 full days a week.

It's hard to be a working mommy, no doubt, especially with two, but if you find the right niche, it makes it easier

Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

I think it's incredibly hard being a working mom. Even with good hours (which I have) I feel like the evening is soo rushed!
My DH just got laid off and he is home with DD and I'm super jealous. Last weekend I made 3 big meals for the week so that I could just microwave my dinner - which definitely helps.
That makes no sense if your job senses that you're being pulled in different directions to put you on more demanding projects! I would definitely look for another job and sit with your hub and decide what cut backs you're willing to make in case your salary goes down.

Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

To me its the hardest balance to maintain

At work I have a demanding job which I really should come early and leave late....but i dont

Even when I work minimal hrs I still only get 1-3 hrs with my boys

Its the worst
The absolute worst

I feel like I am not a good worker and I am missing their childhood....win/win? I think not

Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

I am lucky in the fact that my boss is a friend and he makes it very easy for me to balance both.
He allows me to work from home when necessary, come in late, leave early when needed etc.
That was the main reason I took this job- and left my old job at 7 months pregnant.

However, even having said that, it's still very hard.
I feel like I have no control over my life sometimes.
And like I'm doing a half azzed job at work and a half azzed job at home because I can't seem to balance or focus on both.
I do love my career and the way it makes me feel to come to work, dress up, and get away from bottles,diapers and spit up for a while. I cherish my adult time.
I don't think I could ever be a SAHM, but at the same time, I feel like doing both full time is just crazy hard!

Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

that's the $1m question

Some days I think I can balance everything, others I feel like I total basketcase. I try to take each day at a time. I'm lucky - because my boss is a mother of 2 and understands the work/life balance and doesn't expect us to stay late or come in early. Let's us come in late/leave early for family issues (Dr appts, daycare issues)

If you are really having a hard time, I suggest you really think long and hard about your situation (financial, etc) and then research family friendly companies.
The NYT puts a list out every year of the top 10 or 20 companies to work for if you are a working mom.

Good luck and try to take one day at a time!!!

Re: work/ life balance as a mom..

I went back to work when DS was 3 months. DH hated it. I loved my job and was okay with working FT, plus he was so little he didnt know I wasnt there really.

But DH and I decided it was best for our family if I worked PT. That wasnt an option in my current position so I found a job share situation where I worked W-F made decent money and was able to work from home when necessary. It was a great balance.

Unfortuantely I was laid off due to the economy. So I became a SAHM but I am still looking something PT because I miss working alot!

Its hard because on on hand I feel like I should love being home and not want to return to work....but the truth is I enjoy working too so PT is a great balance!

GL!