Son #3, age 7, has been attending Cub Scout Day Camp all week. It means waking an hour plus earlier and driving into the country. I'm not a morning person, but he had a blast! Archery, BB guns, arts, crafts, swimming, hiking - he loved it all.
As for me, I planned to volunteer at camp this year but because I made two trips to the Washington, DC area in the past month to visit my mother, I didn't feel right taking off yet another week of work. Especially since the person I share my job with is leaving (see last post).
This week I managed to put in extra hours, which worked out well because it's a more direct route from my office to the location of the camp, rather than from my house. My problem is that although I managed to make Son #3 lunch and slather him in sunscreen each morning, I more or less forgot to make my own lunch. I completely raided my Boss/Friend's candy stash (I owe him a bag of Hershey's minis). Bite-sized chocolate bars and Diet Coke will only carry one so far. When I crash in the late afternoon, it isn't pretty.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Friday, June 05, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
I Was Supposed to Be Part of the Solution....
I mentioned back in March (click here for previous blog post) that I returned to work part-time at a friend's legal practice. A old college friend called one morning, waking me from my mid-morning nap, and offered me a job at his law firm answering phones, light clerical work, etc.
The hours were great (9 am to noon), the atomosphere relaxed so I said yes. The entire reason he called me was because he had an admin person working for him 2+ years that he really liked, but that she had issues and couldn't make it to work on time. The idea was that if she couldn't make it to work for 9 a.m., then I'd work 9 to noon and she'd come in for the afternoon shift. A win-win situation, right?
Except....she had trouble coming in by noon. It seems that no matter what time she's expected in, she arrives at least two hours later. This isn't a lazy person, mind you. Far from it. Very nice, very detail oriented. She just has some personal issues that need to be addressed.
My friend/boss made the tough decision to let her go yesterday. So instead of being the 'backup to answer phones in the morning,' I'm now the 'replacement.' And I'm not sure how I feel.
I like the work, but I'm not immune to the fact that this other woman was only a phone call away to answer my questions. Plus, while I don't mind increasing my hours a bit come autumn when the kids return to school, I don't really want to put in extra hours during the summer when the kids are at home. He's looking to see if any college-age students might be interested in summer afternoon work. (Can party at night, sleep late, work noon to five - occasionally later --- sounds pretty good.)
As for me, I don't want to be a full time admin assistant. Been there, done that. I lack the proper attitude for it. Besides, I'm a full time mom, part time jewelry designer/entrepreneur (humor me). I don't want secretarial work to become that big a portion of my life and crowd out any of the other parts.
And so it goes...
The hours were great (9 am to noon), the atomosphere relaxed so I said yes. The entire reason he called me was because he had an admin person working for him 2+ years that he really liked, but that she had issues and couldn't make it to work on time. The idea was that if she couldn't make it to work for 9 a.m., then I'd work 9 to noon and she'd come in for the afternoon shift. A win-win situation, right?
Except....she had trouble coming in by noon. It seems that no matter what time she's expected in, she arrives at least two hours later. This isn't a lazy person, mind you. Far from it. Very nice, very detail oriented. She just has some personal issues that need to be addressed.
My friend/boss made the tough decision to let her go yesterday. So instead of being the 'backup to answer phones in the morning,' I'm now the 'replacement.' And I'm not sure how I feel.
I like the work, but I'm not immune to the fact that this other woman was only a phone call away to answer my questions. Plus, while I don't mind increasing my hours a bit come autumn when the kids return to school, I don't really want to put in extra hours during the summer when the kids are at home. He's looking to see if any college-age students might be interested in summer afternoon work. (Can party at night, sleep late, work noon to five - occasionally later --- sounds pretty good.)
As for me, I don't want to be a full time admin assistant. Been there, done that. I lack the proper attitude for it. Besides, I'm a full time mom, part time jewelry designer/entrepreneur (humor me). I don't want secretarial work to become that big a portion of my life and crowd out any of the other parts.
And so it goes...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
I've Been a Bad, Bad Blogger....
(hangs head in shame)
All's well here. I'm just adapting to my new schedule. I work 9 to noon Monday - Friday. You wouldn't think three measly hours a day would disrupt my routine (or lack thereof) but I'm having a tough time getting other things (mostly minor stuff) done.
Perhaps I'm still adjusting to my new sleep and wake cycle. Before taking the job, I'd go to bed around 12:30 - 1:30 a.m. At 6:30 in the morning, I'd roll out of bed, get dressed and bring Son #2 to his bus stop. (Dear Hubby, who has to wake earlier for work, would get Son #2 up and feed him breakfast.) Then I'd wake and feed Sons #1 and #3.
But now ... it's not enough to be merely awake. Apparently being showered, dressed and coherent is considered a "plus" in the workforce. Go figure.
Seriously, though, I'm enjoying the job. The work is fairly interesting, the people are nice, the atmosphere is relaxed -- not 'bunny slippers relaxed' but still... Not a bad gig to come out of 'retirement' for.
All's well here. I'm just adapting to my new schedule. I work 9 to noon Monday - Friday. You wouldn't think three measly hours a day would disrupt my routine (or lack thereof) but I'm having a tough time getting other things (mostly minor stuff) done.
Perhaps I'm still adjusting to my new sleep and wake cycle. Before taking the job, I'd go to bed around 12:30 - 1:30 a.m. At 6:30 in the morning, I'd roll out of bed, get dressed and bring Son #2 to his bus stop. (Dear Hubby, who has to wake earlier for work, would get Son #2 up and feed him breakfast.) Then I'd wake and feed Sons #1 and #3.
But now ... it's not enough to be merely awake. Apparently being showered, dressed and coherent is considered a "plus" in the workforce. Go figure.
Seriously, though, I'm enjoying the job. The work is fairly interesting, the people are nice, the atmosphere is relaxed -- not 'bunny slippers relaxed' but still... Not a bad gig to come out of 'retirement' for.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
"BETRAYAL!!!!!"
Betrayal! That's what my brain *screamed* to me on my drive into my first day into work. I've been a stay-home mom for just over seven years now. But now I'm going back to work, part time. Yet, I feel like I'm betraying my children. Never mind that I'm only working three hours a day or so - hours that the kids are in school. I get off of work a full three hours earlier than my first child arrives home from school.
I worked Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (with a minimum 35 minute commute both ways) when Son #1 and Son #2 were very young. This is no where near as intensive as that. So why do I feel like pooh? And yet, I feel an odd sense of accomplishment (as in, I spent three hours in a law firm and didn't screw anything up).
I worked Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (with a minimum 35 minute commute both ways) when Son #1 and Son #2 were very young. This is no where near as intensive as that. So why do I feel like pooh? And yet, I feel an odd sense of accomplishment (as in, I spent three hours in a law firm and didn't screw anything up).
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Re-entering the Workforce
I love being a stay-home mom, but since Son #3 started school last year, I find I have a little too much free time on my hands. It seems the more time I have, the less focus I have. It's so easy to nap my day away. (cue violins)
This morning, I was lounging around - okay, napping - when I received a call from an old college buddy who now has a small law practice. He's looking for part-time admin help. He already has someone for the afternoon, but she cannot seem to work in the morning, so we'll do a job-sharing.
So, I'll work from 9 am to noon on Monday through Friday. That will leave my afternoons free and I'll still be home to greet my boys after school. On days when the kids are out of school and I don't have alternate care, my oldest son is old enought to keep an eye on his younger brothers. Not a perfect situation, but for 3 hours in the morning, they'll be fine.
The pay would be about the same as if I substituted at the schools, but the work is steadier. I plan to save for the photo-refractive eye surgery (assuming I work up the courage). Beyond that, I'll put the money in our savings account and forget about it.
I start tomorrow. It's a pretty casual office, very relaxed atmosphere. Plus it will be nice to have recent work experience on my resume, rather than the 7+ year unemployment gap. I'm feeling a bit melancholy, but I keep reminding myself it's only 3 hours, it's only 3 hours.
This morning, I was lounging around - okay, napping - when I received a call from an old college buddy who now has a small law practice. He's looking for part-time admin help. He already has someone for the afternoon, but she cannot seem to work in the morning, so we'll do a job-sharing.
So, I'll work from 9 am to noon on Monday through Friday. That will leave my afternoons free and I'll still be home to greet my boys after school. On days when the kids are out of school and I don't have alternate care, my oldest son is old enought to keep an eye on his younger brothers. Not a perfect situation, but for 3 hours in the morning, they'll be fine.
The pay would be about the same as if I substituted at the schools, but the work is steadier. I plan to save for the photo-refractive eye surgery (assuming I work up the courage). Beyond that, I'll put the money in our savings account and forget about it.
I start tomorrow. It's a pretty casual office, very relaxed atmosphere. Plus it will be nice to have recent work experience on my resume, rather than the 7+ year unemployment gap. I'm feeling a bit melancholy, but I keep reminding myself it's only 3 hours, it's only 3 hours.
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