Friday, July 27, 2012 Friday 5: Things I Miss About Work
Choosing to be a stay-at-home mom (at least during traditional stay-at-home hours) doesn't mean that I don't miss parts of my former life. I love being able to be here and to see Liam grow and develop each day, but over the course of the last few months I have felt the pull of my old job and the elements of my old life.
I imagine that we won't make any major changes in the next year before Liam heads to school full-time, but I have to be careful that my internal struggle with staying home for this next year doesn't get transferred to him. I also don't know that I'll ever be able to return to my old life in DC and that will take some greiveing. Choosing to work there would mean that I'd leave before he wakes and return after he is asleep for the day.
I feel incredibly guilty having these feelings, confessing them out loud. And, yet just 4 years ago I felt ashamed to want to stay-at-home with him (during the days).
This motherhood thing is more complex than I ever imagined.
For now, here are 5 things I miss about work.
SUITS
No really, I'm serious. I really miss getting up and walking out the door in a suit and heels most days. In fact I intentionally avoid Panera with Liam because we often see career women stopping off for a coffee or a mid-day bagel and it tugs at my professional heart strings.
COMMUTING
Who knew, right? I miss riding the train, catching up on the news (reading newspapers specifically), having some time all to myself to think about whatever.
AFFIRMATION
I miss working hard and earning a raise, a bonus, a company award or just the well-deserved praise of doing a great job. Motherhood is a lot of AWESOME, but it's also a lot of thankless and unnoticed work.
SCHEDULING
I miss the giant jigsaw puzzle that is the work of a freelance interpreter. Can I get from here to there in this amount of time? Could I get there quicker if I took the bus, train, drove? The list goes on and on to try and fit as many billable hours into a day.
KNOWLEDGE
I miss the vast learning curve that is interpreting in the Nation's Capital. The sheer amount of information one must absorb and integrate is astounding. From interpreting for the President and policy makers on The Hill to upwardly mobile clients and navigating the city like the back of your hand meanwhile keeping a solid rolodex of the best places to take a potty break, grab a Diet Coke, take in a few moments of silence...
I love being a mom, but I think there is room in this life to love both.
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Reader Comments (2)
this is awesome! im not sure why suits are on your list since i find them miserable, but i can understand the appeal of being a working woman even if it is just a moment's thought. i definitely want to jump in on the Friday 5 this week!
I totally know what you mean. Organized chaos pretty much makes my life. Also - I absolutely love my commute time - even though it's ridiculous flying back and forth between states, I absolutely love that time to sleep and decompress. The suit thing I'm not sure I can get into though...