A change is coming- November 7, 2011
Have you ever come to a point in life where you don’t know exactly what you want to do, but you know it isn’t this? Yeah, that’s where I’m at.
A coworker said to me last week, “You know Amy, you seem really miserable on the job except when you talk about Charlotte. You light up when you talk about her.”
Hmmm.
Could I incorporate being a mother and my love for writing into a career? Other people do it, right?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful to have a job. I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished professionally and I like having Charlotte in her school.
But, I’m tired. I’m run down. I’m over it.
I feel change coming. Maybe it’s change where I’m at. Maybe it’s change somewhere else. I just feel change. You know?
I’m open to any and all ideas.
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| Enjoy this completely unrelated, but totally adorable picture of my daughter on her birthday in her Birthday Girl dress. (She’s riding the rocking frog we got her .) |
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I'm in the same place. been here for a while. but sadly i have no escape. i carry our family's health insurance and we need my income to pay for this house we bought when we were told we couldn't have kids. two kids later… and here I am. trying to make the best of it. i don't love what I do but I don't hate it. and i can't make what i make doing anything else. if i have to do *something* and be away from my kids, i want to get paid as much as possible for it. best of luck figuring out your next move!
Exciting time! I love your thought of somehow incorporating mothering and writing. I don't know what it would take to get some sort of column in a parenting magazine but maybe that could be a long-term goal?
I think this is a part of life that is just tricky. Becoming a mother changes you, and you have to navigate new priorities in your old world.
I don't know what you are wanting to do, or what your goals are exactly, but I do think it is important to overcome cultural stereotypes and do what you think is best for you and your family. I'm home with my (3!) kids full time now, but while I've been home I've also taught piano lessons part time and gotten a book published.
I know some people think I'm crazy by "throwing away" my brain to stay home. But I don't really care. I've been here with my kids in their growinig up years, and it's an opportunity I'll never have again. I've also gotten to do some really cool things professionally too…and my brain is still intact.
All that to say, there are ways to work it if you're driven. Maybe freelance writing? Cutting back to part time at work and devoting some of that time to pumping out some articles? Who knows, but you can make it work for you.
All the best in finding the balance that works for you and your sweet family, Amy!
Yep… got the same revelation you're getting smack dead in the middle of law school. Tough, tough situation to be in. When at first my family thought I was taking on too much as a wife and mother and with a full time job, now that I realize where my heart truly is (at home w/my kids), everyone wants me to press through and become the successful attorney. But I can't change where my heart is.
Good luck in deciding what to do!
I think sometimes in long-term careers, you hit a place where you aren't going anywhere, you're more interested in what's going on elsewhere and so you get that feeling of wanting to go where it's newer and more interesting.
I got that about five years into my job. I ended up interviewing for a high ranking administrative position in the county, getting word that I was in the top two and then realizing that I still had things that I wanted to do where I was.
Sometimes just looking elsewhere at other things that interest you can re-focus you where you are (or take you in a new direction).
Something else that helped me was exploring some secret interests that I had never really been confident enough to explore before. I got involved in community theatre and got a few lead roles in some musical productions which added a little newness to my life, which I needed. It made the day-to-day more fun and brought an added dimension to it.
I have another suggestion, but I'll Facebook message it because I know you like to keep your job underwraps.
Oh man… last summer I was right there. In that moment of a crossroad – but not knowing what the heck I was going to do about it or where I was headed. There is so much possibility out there.