Part time work

LorMor · August 2013

There was talk recently (UO? FFC?) about working part time, so I thought I'd tell you about my situation.

For most of my career, I've worked freelance, from home. It just suits me well.
Now I'm essentially a SAHM, but I do about 5 hours a week of freelance work (on one project). The amount of work is tiny, but it means I can get it done while LO is napping. On a good week I get it done by the end of Wednesday, on a bad week I just finish by the end of Friday. We have a nanny who comes for a morning once a fortnight. The plan is that I will use this time for errands, but for now we're all getting used to each other, so I haven't left home while she's here yet.

My income is enough to contribute to the household/give me some spending money.

I find I can't fully relate to SAHM, because I do work and I can't relate to working moms, because I am at home with LO.

I have no free time, but I have great fun with my daughter and I am enjoying her so much. I also enjoy the mental stimulation that I get from my work, and I like making my brain work hard.

The major downside at the moment, is that LO goes to bed very late (around 10pm) so it makes for a very long day - but it would be a very long day no matter what my work situation was.

I'm not sure what the future holds - DH and I are talking about me working mornings when LO is a year, and either increasing the nanny's hours, or finding her daycare for the morning, but who knows?

The end. Sorry for TL;DR!

lady dixneuf · August 2013

I am jealous that sounds so ideal.

ChrisG83 · August 2013

I wish I could work from home. Good for you for making it work.

AOBtahoe · August 2013

I'm kinda in the same boat- I freelance write and edit, and occasionally send D1 to daycare a day or two a week if I need extra time. I like to SAH but I think I'd lose my sanity if I didn't have adult projects to work on now and then. Know what you mean though, I don't feel like I totally relate to SAH or working moms!

Mrs_Lady · August 2013

hugs im right there with you as I've been wfh as a consultant since LO was born it is hard and I empathize about the whole fit in thing

KraneRN · August 2013

mbm1983 said:

my cousin is a graphic designer and she works full-time at home, while trying to wrangle her 1 and 1/2 year old. even between baby sitters and her mom helping she always says she's struggling. I always tell her she has the best AND worst of both worlds.

I think the bold statement sort of describes it for me. When I'm at work, I feel very rusty and unsure in my practice. II feel like I haven't done anything to advance my career in the last 2 1/2 years.

When I'm home, I love it, but I know that I still need and want to keep my foot in the door for so many reasons.

What I was not prepared for was for SAHM and working moms to make snide comments about me working part time. Oh well, can't win them all!

JoNi2010 · August 2013

I don't work from home, but I am also part time at this time. I've worked as much as 80-100hour weeks in my field - do not want to ever go back. I am now only working 3 days in office and the other 2 days I need 1-2hours to finish up (or I have to do it on the weekends). The 2 days I am at home I stay with LO.
I personally feel like this gives me a taste of both worlds. I cannot imagine at this time working full time - by the time I get home from the office, it's about 6-6:30, still have to worry about dinner, preparing stuff for DC next day, preparing my pump stuff, and of course spending time w LO and DH. But those 2 days with just him is tough at this stage. When he was non-mobile, I could at least fit in a bit cleaning or cooking after I finished working. Now with him being mobile and only napping once, the best I can hope for it to finish work. Everything else waits until he is asleep for the night or on the weekends if I have time.

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