The Mom Chronicles

[przed]

Talked to my mom last night. Here's an excerpt of that conversation.

Mom: I did my own dishes today.
Me: What?!
Mom: I was talking to Ida. She had her knee done last year, and she said she did her own dishes. I figured if she could do it, so could I.
Me: Oh dear god...

At least she seems not to have done any damage. And I suppose more activity isn't a bad thing. As long as she doesn't do anything too, um, dumb.

In other news, I've just completed my first phone interview this morning. The job sounds interesting, but they're pretty adamant that I be willing to fully commit to the 75% to 100% travel thing. And when I asked if that meant I wouldn't be home on weekends, the best the HR person could come up with was "Let's assume you'll be home weekends." Not comforting.

I have to get back to the interviewer tomorrow with my decision on whether I want to go forward with the interview process. I'm trying to weigh the "I want a job!" panic against the desire to actually see my daughter grow up. ::sigh::

Comments

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

That's moms for you. [just a flesh wound :) ] Someday, you'll be the same way and Roz will be telling you to stop washing your dishes.

As to the job, do you really need the money badly right now or soon? If you do, take the job and see how it works out. Also: does the job seem just too too good an opportunity to pass up? Would you seriously regret not taking it? You can always quit if it gets too much.

On the other hand, if you don't need the money right now, if you think you can hold out, or if the position isn't anything special, then pass. You have good skills and experience; something better will come along. It also may get a bit much for Sweetie to be the full time parent and that may strain your marriage on top of it [unless there would be enough money for more child care].

Speaking from my own experience, I know I sacrificed a part of my career by delaying my diss work and staying on part-time through most of my son's childhood, but I don't regret it. The work of parenting really gets done before age 12. After that, if you haven't given them a good sense of reposnbility and moral structure, it's hard to recoup.

I made a conscious decision to have my son and I didn't want anyone else raising him [except, of course, his father and my mom for back up]. I don't think one needs to sacrifice one's career entirely, and shouldn't because then it puts you in a bad place later on.

I was lucky: I ended up in the place I wanted to be, albeit, after a considerable delay but if I'd not done it, my son would not be who he is.

Of course, you realize, as with all mother things, it's always a damned if you do/damned if you don't.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I'll be driving Ros nuts some day.

And as for the job, I think I'm going to turn it down. My package was big enough that I can take some time to find the right job, but man, it's hard turning down something.

I think I'm going to do the same with the other job, on account of the writing of financial docs looks like it would be as exciting as making paint dry and would make me miserable. I don't do boredom well. I need variety, and human interaction, and fun things to learn.