The Other Side of the Fence
It's funny how I dream of life without having a day job. Of spending endless hours with my children and having one less schedule to schedule. Of writing when the baby naps instead of squeezing in conference calls and work projects. And being able to volunteer at my son's school in the middle of the day. Or take a child or pet to the vet without adjusting my schedule in more than 300 ways. Or taking a mid-afternoon nap WITH the baby instead of, well, work.
Even the thought of having a morning where I am not rushing from school drop off, to sitter drop off, to the drive to work, to one of many meetings I have throughout the day. And then getting everyone home and fed to only turn on my computer to file a few more emails away for the night. Work ones.
Only, just this past week, I saw a once co-worker who DID quit her job to stay home with her 4 kids. And you know what she said to me? "Don't quit." Then she squeezed one of her twin daughter's hands, grinned at me and added, "Ever." I wanted to think she was kidding. But as she smiled wide in something a bit crazed, she motioned for me to call her. Soon. As if that would explain everything. Including her brazen appeal for me to never quit my job.
I'm no idiot. Being home all the time... no income, no distractions, it would be anything but easy. At least after the first few months. But I dream of a day when I don't have that corporate job for those other reasons. The writing reasons. And I can't help but keep dreaming of them. Because it's what keeps me writing right now. Or at least dreaming of a more balanced work/life balance. And I can't give up that dream when I am in the midst of chaos, can I?
Even the thought of having a morning where I am not rushing from school drop off, to sitter drop off, to the drive to work, to one of many meetings I have throughout the day. And then getting everyone home and fed to only turn on my computer to file a few more emails away for the night. Work ones.
Only, just this past week, I saw a once co-worker who DID quit her job to stay home with her 4 kids. And you know what she said to me? "Don't quit." Then she squeezed one of her twin daughter's hands, grinned at me and added, "Ever." I wanted to think she was kidding. But as she smiled wide in something a bit crazed, she motioned for me to call her. Soon. As if that would explain everything. Including her brazen appeal for me to never quit my job.
I'm no idiot. Being home all the time... no income, no distractions, it would be anything but easy. At least after the first few months. But I dream of a day when I don't have that corporate job for those other reasons. The writing reasons. And I can't help but keep dreaming of them. Because it's what keeps me writing right now. Or at least dreaming of a more balanced work/life balance. And I can't give up that dream when I am in the midst of chaos, can I?
