I’ve been at home with my kids for 3.5 years. Of that time there has only been one month were I didn’t have any work and that was January 2012. I’ve been quite fortunate.
Over this time, I have pulled together blogger outreach programs, managed social media accounts, written press releases, marketing plans, and many, many blog posts. I am grateful that I’ve been able to keep my toes in the water of the marketing world. I miss it.
Em is about to be four. Next year we’ll be registering for kindergarten and I’ll be contemplating my return to the full-time working world. I’ve been asked if I’ll try to find a job outside the home or if I’ll try to find more work that allows me to be home.
It’s a tricky question.
I like the idea of being home when my kids get home from school. I feel like we have such a short window of where they’ll pour their hearts out and I don’t want to miss that. Before I blink, they’ll both be grown and telling me to mind my own business and to leave them alone.
But I’ve also learned something about myself, working at my kitchen table all these years.
I need people.
Sure for deep, personal writing, it’s good to have the quiet. But for brainstorming and campaigns, I need co-workers. I need chaos and background noise and people I can pop in to and ask a question. I need to be able to call a quick meeting or brainstorm session. I need to be able to bounce ideas off of people.
It’s not that I’m lonely. I chat with moms at school pick-up. I talk with people at the gym. And I’m lucky to be in some Facebook groups with some pretty savvy folks. But it’s not the same.
It’s why I like going to conferences and helping with events. It gets me in front of people.
I have no idea what I’ll do. I’ve got time, but it’s on my mind – it never really leaves. I love the work I do. I just wish I had more people around to do it with.
I have been home for ten years. Going to work full time just never seemed worth it. I want to the one to get the kids on the bus and off of the bus and I definitely wanted to spend the summer with my kids.
I think blogging has saved a lot of mommy’s sanity. It made me feel connected, useful and relevant.
My kids are now 10, 8 and 7 and I just took a job as a marketing manager for the local downtown ice rink/event center. I am so excited that its in school hours and that I only have to at the rink physically for 2 hours in the summer. As much as I have to learn and
start over the hours work.
The peacefulness of your home is your first priority. Good luck with finding something that works for you.
I hear ya, girl! And we should do more weekday collaboration whether it’s at a coffee shop or Skype. I agree with needing the interaction– the two days I go in the office definitely helps with that. I’m hoping to continue to be part-time when Ethan goes to school next year. Between sports, the gym, and so on, I plan to work part-time as long as I’m able! And find my people fix too.