The change really happened when I started working where I work now. I was honest with my qualifications (as you always should be), desires for schedule, etc. I pretty much have been very up front and brutally honest from the get-go on what I wanted and what I would give. This has actually paid off for me.
Before I went on maternity leave, I had everything squared away with directions, etc to make my absence easier on everyone. Then I told my employer that I didn't want to come back to work as a salaried employee. I told him that I wanted to to the majority of my work from home. I also explained the benefits of this to him. Ten months later and it is working pretty well.
To get to this point in my life, I think I had to be really honest with myself, my skills/abilities and also be ok with losing my job and having to start over. For some reason, when I put it all out there it worked.
I now work in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and work from home the rest of the time. My hours at home are not set. I work as needed to get my job done. Some days at home are harrier than others. Some days work needs me more and other days kiddo needs me more. I feel like I have a good balance, most of the time.
Working just two days of the week in the office has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- it is just 2 days
- I get to spend most of my work week with my kiddo!
- kiddo in daycare for just two days-gets her socialization
- interaction with adults without everything being about kiddo
- little bit of money
- out of the house (some days this is just what I need)
- use of equipment I just don't have at home
- the biggest is is the pumping!!! I am still nursing and I HATE pumping
- being away from my girl, I do miss her
- the in office days tend to cause me stress
- some of my work from home days end up being a little overwhelming when there is a "crisis" at work, or if my girl is especially needy and I am needed at work
- no benefits, so if I want to take time off I don't just don't get paid
I could keep listing and listing, but I will stop. I love this change to my life and really my being. There are more important things in life than your work, and this is for people with or without kids. I wish I had been less conservative with work since I started after college. I wish that I was naturally more laid back about work. I know that being so intense about it may have gotten me something at the time, but I feel so much more relaxed about it that I don't know how I operated before.
Such good insight!
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