Sunday, October 21, 2007

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes…

by Sarah from In the Trenches of Mommyhood


I am contemplating a major life change. No, I’m not having another child,

or an affair,

or a sex-change operation…

I am thinking about a career choice that will thrust me back into full-time employment for the first time in 6 years (I currently work part-time).

Except now, unlike 6 years ago, I have 3 children.

You see, my husband and I have been fiscally irresponsible and immature. We have no savings, no retirement, no emergency fund. We live paycheck-to-paycheck.

Except now, we have 3 children.

We bought into society’s mania of instant gratification. Wholeheartedly. We have 4 televisions in our house, we drive 2 nice cars, our children are fed and nattily attired and we’ve wanted for nothing.

Neither have our 3 children.

But, it’s gotta stop.

Our financial situation right now is equivalent to a speeding train about to derail. We’re broke.

And we have 3 children.

So who will be affected when I start a new full-time job? Everyone in the family, of course.

Especially our 3 children.

****************************

(I confess, I am being a bit melodramatic. Though I am sad and angered, the timing of this is such that I will be able to accept a full-time offer knowing that my children are being very well cared for.)

***************************

Sarah had a mind once. Now she has children. She’s a Central Massachusetts mommy to three adorable, loving, loud, impatient, only angelic when sleeping, little boyz, ages 6, 3 and 2. And she’s a part-time (for now) corporate paralegal. Although life is hectic, demanding and downright crazy In the Trenches of Mommyhood, Sarah thinks that life is still good…especially after she’s had a few glasses of pinot grigio. http://sarahviz.blogspot.com/

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've decided part time is really full time anyway, at least in my situation. You might as well go for the big bucks!

Deb said...

This sounds very familiar as I also have 3 kids and work full-time... And we're still living paycheck to paycheck with no extra in the bank even... Sigh. Good luck! :)

Anonymous said...

Sounds familiar to me, too. This is an ongoing fear I have, and it seems like just when we start to get somewhere, something happens to drain us.

Patois42 said...

Fear is a powerful thing, to be sure. Good luck.

Amanda said...

Perhaps you can ramp up for a year or two and then go back to part time. At least the timing is working with child care. Good luck!

Stacey said...

Welcome to my world. It is stressful, but it's doable and if you find the right job you will ideally have a lot of flexibility to take time off as needed to be with the kids.
I enjoy my job but of course would rather be with my kids full time. The way I keep myself from going crazy is to constantly remind myself that I'm doing this for my children and that in the end it will benefit us all.

Chaotic Joy said...

I think it's admirable that you admitted that you are financially where so many of us are. I know this decision is hard for you, but it's really not the worst thing ever. And I am not saying this to say you are being melodramatic (I would be the same way) but saying that everyone will be okay.

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