Last week I made a big move. Well, I haven't made the move yet, just the decision. Next year I will join the full-time faculty at the college I teach at now. I've taught there part-time for several years, but the move to full-time is going to be a big change.
In the long-run, I know it is a good. However, making a full-time commitment to an employer is big move. While I pretty much work full-time right now, it is on my own terms. I can cancel appointments or not take on a project if I need to. As a full-time employee, I won't quite have that flexiblity.
But when it comes to full-time work, a position as a college professor is about as flexible as you can get. With the exception of your scheduled class meeting times, you can pretty much work whenever and wherever you want. And, I can take the summers off!
So while I am a little hesitant, I think my life won't change too much. Except for the better pay, benfefits and job security. There is also the exciting fact that I will only have one job.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Update
It seems that my daughter is fine. All her tests came back fine, and of course at the doctor's office she did not exhibit the same problems she had at home. They determined her illness yesterday was most likely related to the ear infections, and that the fluids and antibiotics they gave her at the hospital took care of it. So it looks like we can get back to normal here!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Planning for the Unplanned
From a snowstorm to the emergency room...we've had an exciting weekend. However, our stress was minimized with some planning and flexibility.
This morning my daughter was sick, and also just seemed a little off balance. She has had a recurring ear infection and so we decided that she should see a doctor. Of course it is Sunday, so we headed to the emergency room. What I thought would be a quick check-up turned into seven hours of various tests and a lot of waiting. She is ok, but they aren't really sure what is wrong with her. We have to take her in to see her doctor for some additional tests tomorrow.
Work was obviously not my priority today. But the reality is that I will need to take (at least) a day off tomorrow and I know that I have things that I need to get done. Knowing that adds a little more stress to an already stressful situation. Fortunately, I did a little planning. As I headed out the door to take her to the hospital, I grabbed a bag that I had some exams in that needed graded. So today while we were waiting and she was resting or coloring, I was able to get some work done. It may not seem important, but knowing I am a little ahead right now makes it less stressful to be off tomorrow.
But before our emergency room visit, we had a snow emergency to deal with. We live in Ohio and we were hit with a huge snowstorm (I think it was classified as a blizzard) this weekend. My husband was supposed to work on Saturday, but was not able to get to his office. He is an accountant in the depth of tax season and they day off would have really put him behind. Fortunately, as he heard the weekend forecast (which was for some snow- but not quite a blizzard), he thought to grab a few files as he was heading out on Friday. And now as he returns to work tomorrow, he feels a little less stressed.
So while the weekend was bumpy, the start of the week isn't looking quite so bad.
This morning my daughter was sick, and also just seemed a little off balance. She has had a recurring ear infection and so we decided that she should see a doctor. Of course it is Sunday, so we headed to the emergency room. What I thought would be a quick check-up turned into seven hours of various tests and a lot of waiting. She is ok, but they aren't really sure what is wrong with her. We have to take her in to see her doctor for some additional tests tomorrow.
Work was obviously not my priority today. But the reality is that I will need to take (at least) a day off tomorrow and I know that I have things that I need to get done. Knowing that adds a little more stress to an already stressful situation. Fortunately, I did a little planning. As I headed out the door to take her to the hospital, I grabbed a bag that I had some exams in that needed graded. So today while we were waiting and she was resting or coloring, I was able to get some work done. It may not seem important, but knowing I am a little ahead right now makes it less stressful to be off tomorrow.
But before our emergency room visit, we had a snow emergency to deal with. We live in Ohio and we were hit with a huge snowstorm (I think it was classified as a blizzard) this weekend. My husband was supposed to work on Saturday, but was not able to get to his office. He is an accountant in the depth of tax season and they day off would have really put him behind. Fortunately, as he heard the weekend forecast (which was for some snow- but not quite a blizzard), he thought to grab a few files as he was heading out on Friday. And now as he returns to work tomorrow, he feels a little less stressed.
So while the weekend was bumpy, the start of the week isn't looking quite so bad.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Saving Money on Gas
The other day I was talking to my aunt who has a fairly long commute for her job as a cashier. She mentioned that it almost isn't worth it to go to work. I'm sure there are many parents out there with the same dilemma.
Here's an interesting site that compiles a list of resources on saving money on gas:
http://www.gasolinecreditcards.com/ecotrekker/2008/03/05/33-tools-to-get-the-cheapest-gas-available-2/
With a little research and effort, you might be able to save at least a little.
Here's an interesting site that compiles a list of resources on saving money on gas:
http://www.gasolinecreditcards.com/ecotrekker/2008/03/05/33-tools-to-get-the-cheapest-gas-available-2/
With a little research and effort, you might be able to save at least a little.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Secret Life of a Soccer Mom
So I caught the new show, The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom on The Learning Channel this evening (check it out here). It was interesting, but a lot of it seemed staged.
What I didn’t like about the show was the type of work situation that they dropped this mom into. After being at home for nearly 10 years, she was returned to the world of fashion design by being asked to design three dresses in three days that were shown to extremely important buyers. She was under a lot of pressure and stress, and seemed to be given very little support or direction. However, the outcome was ultimately good, with a positive effect on her self-confidence once one of her designs was successful.
At the end, they offered her a full-time job that started in just a few days. Based on the glimpse of the work world they showed, my guess is that she would be expected to work long hours under a lot of stress.
While debating her options, she said, “I don’t want to have to choose.” And she shouldn’t have to. Why can’t they offer her something in the middle? Many stay-at-home moms successfully return to work in a job with flexible or even reduced work hours. They seek out and find a work opportunity that allows them to re-enter their profession while still feeling positive about the care they are providing for their children.
She did accept the position in the end. They don’t tell us what happened a few weeks later after her world was turned upside down. And beyond getting her a job, they don’t talk about providing her any other help to return to work such a childcare or other domestic support.
Obviously this was a TV show looking to generate some conflict and interest. If they dropped her into a family friendly work opportunity, the decision would have been too easy for her. But this show could provide a great opportunity to publically examine the struggles of working mothers.
What I didn’t like about the show was the type of work situation that they dropped this mom into. After being at home for nearly 10 years, she was returned to the world of fashion design by being asked to design three dresses in three days that were shown to extremely important buyers. She was under a lot of pressure and stress, and seemed to be given very little support or direction. However, the outcome was ultimately good, with a positive effect on her self-confidence once one of her designs was successful.
At the end, they offered her a full-time job that started in just a few days. Based on the glimpse of the work world they showed, my guess is that she would be expected to work long hours under a lot of stress.
While debating her options, she said, “I don’t want to have to choose.” And she shouldn’t have to. Why can’t they offer her something in the middle? Many stay-at-home moms successfully return to work in a job with flexible or even reduced work hours. They seek out and find a work opportunity that allows them to re-enter their profession while still feeling positive about the care they are providing for their children.
She did accept the position in the end. They don’t tell us what happened a few weeks later after her world was turned upside down. And beyond getting her a job, they don’t talk about providing her any other help to return to work such a childcare or other domestic support.
Obviously this was a TV show looking to generate some conflict and interest. If they dropped her into a family friendly work opportunity, the decision would have been too easy for her. But this show could provide a great opportunity to publically examine the struggles of working mothers.
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