Well I'll tell you - shoes.
For any family managing on one salary (or even two), there isn't usually any budgetary leeway for frivolous purchases like shoes. Which I can now afford to buy. But seriously, what has going back to work been like?
I was at home for about 2 1/2 years, so now the entire family has to make the adjustment back to work with me. Sticking to the schedule, mapping out school holidays weeks in advance, planning the rotation of parent duty, ensuring I have remote access so I can work from home, transition to full-time daycare and after-school care, etc. Here is my experience.
Exhaustion
Yes. No doubt about it. The share pace of having a full morning (getting kids out of the house) and then having to focus on work and then come back to the kids and get ready for the next day. Exhausting. Mentally and physically. No energy or reserves for friends, books or blogs. Just put the TV on please.
Insomnia
Surprised? Maybe not so much? Well, when my head hits the pillow, then my brain kicks into gear about all the things I didn't understand, needed to do or figure out, or plain messed up at work. This in turn leads to more of the above (exhaustion, insomnia).
Sickness
I actually felt physically ill my second day of work and I seriously doubted whether it was the right choice to go back to work. Nevermind it was food-related and not job-related as I was convinced it was. At least in my case. Another new colleague also had a turn with illness. I'm just saying.
Doubt
Well, if you ever doubted yourself in a prior working life (and who hasn't?), get ready for a tidal wave of every day wondering if you've made the right choice, if you are living up to expectations, if you've done your best at work and home and...how do you compare with colleagues who are younger, unencumbered by spouse and children and who are driven to succeed. Not that I'm not driven, it's just that I'm driven between 8:00am and 5:00 pm, because outside of that it's family time, and I have no capacity for driving anything work-related.
All I know is that I hope my brain wakes up soon, because I am having a hell of a time adjusting right now.
So has it been worth it? Well, since I started back working, we've been able to replace an ailing car, computer, dishwasher and plan a family vacation to see in-laws who have never met Liam, going on 4 this year.
On the less tangible scale, I've gotten back some of my self-esteem, balance, light-heartedness and found a great company, a great bunch of people to work with and to be friends with.
So for now, the answer is a resounding "yes". (And that's not even taking into account those shoes.)
For any family managing on one salary (or even two), there isn't usually any budgetary leeway for frivolous purchases like shoes. Which I can now afford to buy. But seriously, what has going back to work been like?
I was at home for about 2 1/2 years, so now the entire family has to make the adjustment back to work with me. Sticking to the schedule, mapping out school holidays weeks in advance, planning the rotation of parent duty, ensuring I have remote access so I can work from home, transition to full-time daycare and after-school care, etc. Here is my experience.
Exhaustion
Yes. No doubt about it. The share pace of having a full morning (getting kids out of the house) and then having to focus on work and then come back to the kids and get ready for the next day. Exhausting. Mentally and physically. No energy or reserves for friends, books or blogs. Just put the TV on please.
Insomnia
Surprised? Maybe not so much? Well, when my head hits the pillow, then my brain kicks into gear about all the things I didn't understand, needed to do or figure out, or plain messed up at work. This in turn leads to more of the above (exhaustion, insomnia).
Sickness
I actually felt physically ill my second day of work and I seriously doubted whether it was the right choice to go back to work. Nevermind it was food-related and not job-related as I was convinced it was. At least in my case. Another new colleague also had a turn with illness. I'm just saying.
Doubt
Well, if you ever doubted yourself in a prior working life (and who hasn't?), get ready for a tidal wave of every day wondering if you've made the right choice, if you are living up to expectations, if you've done your best at work and home and...how do you compare with colleagues who are younger, unencumbered by spouse and children and who are driven to succeed. Not that I'm not driven, it's just that I'm driven between 8:00am and 5:00 pm, because outside of that it's family time, and I have no capacity for driving anything work-related.
All I know is that I hope my brain wakes up soon, because I am having a hell of a time adjusting right now.
So has it been worth it? Well, since I started back working, we've been able to replace an ailing car, computer, dishwasher and plan a family vacation to see in-laws who have never met Liam, going on 4 this year.
On the less tangible scale, I've gotten back some of my self-esteem, balance, light-heartedness and found a great company, a great bunch of people to work with and to be friends with.
So for now, the answer is a resounding "yes". (And that's not even taking into account those shoes.)
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Salina