Flexibility

Yesterday morning my son's day just didn't start off well. It was just one of those mornings that he was still a little tired, and very grumpy. I decided that his whole day would go better if we just didn't rush out of the house. I had a class at 10am, but other than that, had some flexibility on my work start time for the day. As a result, we were out the door without any stress, just a little later than usual.

For me, this is what flexibility means. I have the flexibility to work when I need to, and change my schedule when I have to. I don't know how I would manage if I had to rush my kids out the door each morning just to make sure I am seated at a desk at an arbritary time.

There are consequences to my decisions on when to work. If I have a client with a need, I need to deliver to them on time. I am accountable to my students to get their work graded and returned in a timely manner. But how and when I accomplish these things is up to me to determine.

Obviously not all work can provide total flexibility. If you work in a retail store, for example, you can't just show up when you want. But, there is still an opportunity for some flexibility. Can you pick your schedule in advance? Or have the option to trade a shift with someone else if needed?

But if you work somewhere that doesn't have a customer element, or some other reason to be seated at a desk at 8am, it is time to look for some flexibility. Most companies have attendance policies in place because they don't do a good job of measuring performance. That is, they don't know how to determine if you are working hard, so they focus on making sure you are there on time. Seat time is measured instead of productivity.

And so a proposal for more flexibilty should include your ideas on how to measure your performance. What will you be accountable for? How will it be measured? While doing so won't guarentee that your request will be granted, determining how you will be evaluated is a key step in the process.

Career Re-entry

I've been talking with some folks at the college I teach about creating a career re-entry program. A career re-entry program helps professionals who have been out of the workforce for an extended period of time build both the skills and confidence they need to return to work.

There is a Boston-based consulting firm, iRelaunch, that specializes in assisting individuals and corporations with career re-entry. They list several such programs on their website (here).

When returning to work after being at home for an extended period, you must also overcome the barrier of the gap on your resume. This burden is lessoned if you have made efforts to keep your skills sharp while at home. But, as pointed out in a recent Wall Street Journal article (here), you may need to take a different approach in your search.

If you are dealing with a significant gap in your resume, simply responding to online job postings will probably get you nowhere. You need the opportunity to talk with decision-makers and tell your story in order to convince them that you are worth the risk. The best approach to get you to the decision-makers is through networking. Here is some advice on networking from the Riley Guide, click here.

I would love to hear from parents who have successful re-entered the workforce after some time at home, drop me a comment or an e-mail (contact info at www.familyfriendlywork.net).

Spring!

We live in the Midwest and are fully exposed to all four seasons. While in the depths of winter I often think I'd enjoy a warmer climate, I actually do enjoy the chance to experience the cold and snow. It is fun to get bundled up occasionally and play in the snow. And looking out over a snow covered lawn while sitting by a warm fire inside has to be one of the most "comfy" moments you can have.

But the best part of winter is that it makes you truly appreciate the coming of Spring. While an April snowstorm is not unusual in Ohio, for the most part the weather has made a turn for the better. It is warm and sunny today and the kids have enjoyed an entire day outside. It is almost as if Spring comes just as we can hardly stand to be inside any longer.

Spring brings out a lot of excitement as the leaves return to the trees, flowers bloom, outdoor sports activities start and for me, a slow down in work! As I approach the summer, my new career plan to pursue full-time college teaching means I will pretty much have the summer off. I will be teaching a summer class, and will continue some research and writing. But, for the most part I am free to do as I please. And this summer I plan to relax and enjoy myself and the kids as much as I can!

Girl's Night Out

I've done something I swore I would never do, I've joined a Bunco group. My opposition to Bunco was based on my perception that it was a ritual of suburban housewives. Joining a Bunco group to me meant that you were officially un-hip, and just another joiner of a group with no purpose.

For those of you who don't know, Bunco is a a rather simple dice game that is played with a dozen or more players. It involves rolling dice to earn tally's, kind of like Yahtzee, but with more simplicity. You move around to different tables, occasionally yell out "Bunco" and otherwise just eat, drink and chat.

But after a couple of invitations from some friends, I decided to go check it out. My impression of the game was confirmed, it is really pointless. It involves no skill, strategy or even much thought. But the night out that accompanies it makes it a great girl's night out, and I now have my calendar marked for the first Friday of every month, "Bunco."

Part of the fun for me is that the group I've joined is a great mix of women. They are all married, but they are young to old, childless to moms of teens. Some work, some stay-at-home. The workers range from school teachers to financial managers. But they all have one thing in common, they are women looking to connect with other women.

I've only been twice, but have found myself enjoying the conversations. Giggling like teenagers at some points, at other times discussing serious child-rearing concerns. The main objective of the night is to just get out of our own world and spend a few hours just having a good old fashioned girl's night out.

More on housework...

Housework is one of my least favorite things, yet I keep feeling the need to talk about it. The fact is, you just can't get away from it. And the less time you have to do housework, the more you notice it isn't getting done.

Yesterday the cleaning ladies came, which is both stressful and joyful. It is stressful because we have to get the place picked up enough to be cleaned. You may think that isn't a big deal, but you would cringe if you had to see my house before we picked up. It is overwhelming.

But now it is clean! I am reminded once again that having clean surroundings really does make you feel better. It is worth the effort, and perhaps we should have the cleaning ladies come more often. It is a potentially a very worthwhile investment.

The good news is the kids are getting big enough to help out more, so maybe we won't let it get so out of control. They are now responsible for picking up their rooms and the playroom and will get an allowance at the end of the week if they do a good job. We probably should have started this earlier, but at 5 and 3, I think now is a good time to learn responsibility. My 3-year old doesn't quite get it. But, my son is setting a good example for her, and she is at least trying.

Maybe next month when the cleaning ladies come it will only be joy, without the stress.