Posted on 01/24/2010 7:42:49 PM PST by Lorianne
Last summer, my friend Vanessa handed in her notice at work. She did not have another job to go to, and unlike thousands of people around the country, she wasn't made redundant.
In fact, the online marketing company she worked for was thriving. And that was the problem. She was too busy and, at the grand old age of 34, she decided she could no longer be bothered to be busy.
Vanessa is not alone. I can think of five close friends who have either quit their jobs or gone part-time in the past two years - and only one of them has children. For years, the only reason women would take a step back from their career was to raise a family, but my friends are getting off the treadmill before then.
A new book called 30-Something And Over It - What Happens When You Wake Up One Morning And Don't Want To Go To Work. . . Ever Again sums up the mood.
Its author, Kasey Edwards, was a high-flying management consultant earning a huge salary and living in a penthouse apartment with her successful boyfriend - until one day she realised her life had lost its 'zing'. 'Have you ever woken up and realised that you didn't want to go to work?' she asks.
'I don't mean you had a big night and you'd prefer to sleep in, or it's a nice day and you'd rather take your dog to the park instead. I'm talking about being over it.
'Completely and utterly over it. Sure, you might have a gold card, but you've maxed it out buying things you can't afford and that you don't even need, trying to fill a void that just can't be filled. You numb your discontentment every night with gin and tonics.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Reading the article, I had to laugh about the woman quitting her high-stress management job for supposedly lower-stress waitress work. BWA-HA-HAA! Low stress,in your dreams.
It took her to 34 to realize that working sucks? I knew that before I ever had a job. They pay you to do it for a reason.
I'm a 53 year old male. Been with no income for a couple years now since my last consulting gig ran out. Funny how much longer the money lasts now where I'm not writing checks to the government for quarterly tax payments. Not sure what I'll do for an income in the future, but I'm going to try to avoid going back to financing an out-of-control government.
Glad to hear that all worked out well for your daughter-in-law. Everything for a time and a season.
for years I didn’t work a job outside the house. But...I cleaned the house, took care of the children , grocery shopped, cooked every meal, did loads of laundry a day, paid the bills, managed everyones social schedule, etc...etc...never ending.
I worked my ass off! My husband worked hard outside the house and i worked hard inside it.(well, i did the yard work too)
its a wonderful partnership and just because i didn’t get paid for it doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth just as much to our lives.
Ever woke up and realized I didn’t want to go to work? Only every day of my working life that is now approaching forty years of work. But I do like to eat.
You don't have children...that's obvious. Apparently you're an adult and need to earn a salary in order to eat and keep a roof over your head, or to pay board to your parents if you live and eat under their roof.
In situations like that, you're right; you have an obligation to hold a job and earn your keep.
Mothers who stay in the home and care for the couple's children don't have much time to paint their nails; they DO work at a full-time, 24 hrs. a day job. IOW, they are always on call, day and night. For the many who are dedicated to doing the very best job they can, they contribute a great deal to the future society of our country, sometimes more than some of the jobs (out there).
I remember during the early days of the feminist movement the man-haters made it seem like men were having all this fun going to work. Now as I approach retirement in less than two years, I can't recall too many fun moments. But as I've stated before, I do like to eat.
She’s pregnant anyway! (two of them, one boy, one girl)
The fact that that the eggs came from another woman doesn’t destroy the joy so far.
There’s a reason it’s called work.
“Having been a full time and part time stay at home mom, I learned that I was a much better mom if I had a little outside occupation as long as I had say over my schedule. Of course, that involved having a supportive spouse who appreciated his “alone” time with the kids. It truly is the best of both worlds.”
My situation is the same, and I agree it is the best! Friends who try to have it all by working full time while raising a family don’t seem very happy.
Boy, I wish I had the option to quit working! I hate this like poison. I know I should be grateful that I have a job for probably another month or six weeks, but every day is a torture and it’s been like that for years and years. Imagine, if you will, being lorded over and ordered around by Muslim women in burkhas! That’s what I have to put up with.
I was a stay-at-home mom and corporate wife for many years. Sole responsibility for all cooking, cleaning, chores, errands, yardwork, major home-improvement projects, childcare, finances, everything. Zero help from the husband; he didn’t understand that he got to knock off at 5, but when you have a big house and two kids with health problems, you’re on duty 24 hours a day 365 days a year, even on Christmas and vacations. Getting up at 3 a.m. to clean up vomit is no joy.
But that was a hundred times better than my present gig, which is doing all that and working full time and trying to get a home business started while simultaneously looking for a new job and dealing with health issues. I’d go back to the old way in a heartbeat. Motherhood and homemaking really can be so fulfilling as you watch young lives bloom and help them along their path, and I loathe leaving my kids, animals, and house to slave away for an unappreciative corporation.
While you're still on your game, stash it away. I explained the 40% pay cut I took to do my current job to the curious, and there were a lot of those, with "Because I can." It was the truth.
“...they will drain the happiness from all those around them...”
I’ve known people of whom I’ve said: They drain the joy from everything.
Obamanomics is teaching a brand new generation of women that tidying up the cave while hubby wrestles a mastadon for dinner isn’t such a bad life afterall.
Sell them on e-bay or donate them.
I’ve never regretted staying home with the kids. Good luck to you and your wife.
You probably don’t have to clean toilets, take out the trash, mop the floors, etc.
Her husband of course.
And woe betide him if he suggests that they will have to throttle back on their "lifestyle".
I do my share of chores.
Yes. I've frequently had to hear the lament that I "get to go to work and be with other people all day long" while she's at home 'stuck' with the kids.
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