Parental Job Sharing
Let’s face it. Some things are just easier to get done without children in tow (i.e. errands, working out, doctor appointments, bra shopping, home organization projects, grocery shopping, etc.). Households with two adults typically figure out a system that works for them (a la you go to the gym in the morning while I drive the kids to daycare; I’ll go to the gym in the evening while you pick the kids up). Single adult households, however, are missing out on the swap-op.
…but we don’t have to be!
Put on your business hat for a minute. When companies have to cut cost, one option to consider is job sharing. Essentially, two people accomplish the same amount of work that one would, but exhaust less resources. If you think about it, running your home is much like running a business. Money comes in, money goes out, you aim for profit (savings), you manage your staff (spouse and children), you maintain your facility (home), you service your clients (family, friends, pets) — and in tough times you downsize (get divorced). And when that happens, much like with business, the help and the cash flow decrease, but the workload does not – so you absorb it. Well, it’s time we stop thinking about running our home like a business, and actually start running our home like a business!
Parental Job Sharing – Get on Board!
It doesn’t take a revolution for women friends to help each other out. I’m not claiming that I have a novel idea here. But I am proposing that we look at it from a new perspective. Now, I’m sure if you really needed a sitter, you could call your sister or best friend and they would help you out. Right? But I would venture a guess that you spend your babysitting favors wisely. Just as you wouldn’t buy an ugly pair of pants because they’re there and you need pants, you’re not calling in a sitter so you can go to the grocery store. That baby’s in your back pocket for a night out on the town!
So why don’t we take a cue from corporate America and start job sharing? Why are we duplicating efforts? Why are we missing out on yoga class? Why are we chasing our little dressing room escapees through the department store in our bra? Because we’re not job sharing!
Why not form your own Parental Job Sharing Circuit? Find other moms in similar situations as you and collaborate to improve efficiency in your homes. Here are some ideas how:
- One of you watch and feed the kids while the other goes to Tuesday evening yoga class, and then reverse roles on Thursday evenings.
- Call your job sharing partner before running to the drug store, with or without kids, so that you can grab whatever she may need.
- Perhaps you both like cosmetics from Sephora and books from the library. Put one of you in charge of restocking the makeup bags and the other, the book shelves.
- Form a large circuit and swap Saturday afternoons “off”. Half the moms host a playdate together with all of the kids while the other half go to the mall to get some shopping done, and switch roles next Saturday.
- If you’re making lasagna on Sunday night, make two trays rather than one, and bring one to you job sharing partner. Next Sunday, switch.
You get the idea. If you form a group and create a system, you all benefit, and no one feels like their need is too petty to call a sitter.
When it comes down to it, I just don’t want to bundle up and strap in my four-year-old just to go get a bottle of cough medicine. Five minute errand? POOF! Thirty minute ordeal.
Won’t you job share with me?
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Thankful This Thursday: My Life
Every day that passes, I become more grateful for the blessings in my life. I haven’t always had such an appreciative spirit. When I was a kid and into my early twenties, honestly, I think I was a bit of a brat. And even once I had matured beyond that point, I still spent more time and energy wishing I had more than being grateful for what I had. But over the past few years, I’ve learned to count my blessings.
What I didn’t expect, as I began to give thanks and praise, was that my blessings would multiply! I have a very full life. I am constantly trying to accomplish more than one person should in a given day/week/month/year. And when I fall short, I know it’s because I have so many good things going on.
I have an awesome little kid, an amazing boyfriend, a family who I (usually) can’t get enough of and some really fantastic friendships. I have a great job, beautiful home and food on the table. I have hobbies and talents and passions. I couldn’t possibly list all of the things that I’m grateful for — mostly because I’d accidentally leave things out.
So after closing on another holiday season and while opening a new year, I am feeling particularly grateful for my wonderful life. I’ve therefore decided to share my appreciation on MLI in a weekly post called Thankful This Thursday.
This Thursday, I’m thankful for my life. Next Thursday, I’ll be more specific.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 13 so far )Mars vs. Venus: The Friend Zone – What Are We Doing Here?
“I respect you too much to fool around with you.”
“I feel like I can talk to you about anything!”
“I don’t want to spoil what we have by sleeping together.”
Face it – you’re in “The Friend Zone.” Good luck correcting course now, buddy.
You know The Friend Zone, right? Ross was there. “BUT HE GOT OUT!” you say? Well, that’s NBC for ya. Do you really think Rachel Green would date paleontologist, Ross Geller, in real life. C’MON!
According to Wikipedia, “The Friend Zone” is a popular psychology concept referring to the situation where a female has begun to view a male as a friend only, and not a potential suitor — a psychological classification supposedly exceptionally difficult to undo.
And I agree. Seriously, guys – don’t get in this zone if what you really want is to a. be in a romantic relationship with the woman in question or b. get in her pants. Newsflash: we are wired soooo differently than you. Woman want to believe that we can have a platonic relationship with a man. We like to think that not every man who shows an interest in what we have to say is trying to score. We pretend we don’t see you staring at our boobs. It’s just how we are. So if you are looking for the aforementioned “a” or “b,” don’t feed our friendship fantasy.
I’d bet that some men end up in this zone thinking that getting to know each other before starting the romance (or seduction) is a great way to get us interested. Wrong! If a woman is attracted to a man, or interested in “a” or “b,” she might want to get to know you first, but over a nice dinner date or snuggled up on the sofa in front of the fire with a glass of red wine. She does not want to bang her best friend.
So if you find yourself in The Friend Zone and you want out, what do you do? Pray. I really don’t know of many real-life Ross and Rachels. Women have men they consider platonic friends and men they date. The mere definition of platonic renders you out of the sexual picture.
My advice to you: get it out there. If you are interested in a woman, ask her out. If she’s interested in you, she’ll go and you’ll both be on the same page as far as intentions are concerned. If she’s not interested, she’ll decline and you can spare yourself the agony of The Friend Zone.
I should make the disclaimer here (before I get the comments calling me out on it) that I realize a “date” means something different for every woman. Please allow me some literary flexibility…
Disclaimer #2: I’m well aware that the gender roles could be reversed in “The Friend Zone.” However, I’ve been witness and party to Friend Zone situations in which the man is the one who is seeking more than friendship.
What are your thoughts and experiences relating to “The Friend Zone?”
Now that you’ve read my take on “The Friend Zone,” click over to Jamey’s blog and see what Mars has to say about it…
Other Mars vs. Venus post on MLI:
Mars Meets Venus: When Worlds Collide
Mars vs. Venus: What Women Want… Rather, What I Want
Mars vs. Venus: What Does Tiger Woods Owe the Public?
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 20 so far )A Week of 2009: New Relationships
The days are numbered, indeed. 2009 is on its way out and I thought it a good time to pay it some respect and due credit. So this week on MLI will be a week of 2009.
When I first typed the title of today’s post into my WordPress post editor, I typed “A Week of 2009: Outstanding People in My Life.” And then I decided that I might offend the fabulous people I know and love who may not have made mention. So rather, I’d like to share some of the new, rewarding relationships that have blossomed for me this year.
1. Doug’s Family – I met Doug in 2008 because I knew his brother and his sister-in-law. I did not, however, have the pleasure of getting to know the rest of his family until this year. I have never known a group of people as warm and inviting as the Xxxxxxs. The first time I stepped foot in his parents’ house, I was greeted with a hug, a smile, and a face lick (from his mom, his dad and their dog – in that order). I bonded with his mom and other sister-in-law instantly, and Braden with the children. I am so blessed to have all three of these women, their husbands and their children in my life. They are such a fun (and loud) bunch – and I look forward to any time I get to spend with them. My son and I have been treated like members of the family and we could not be more thrilled to play the part.
2. My Work Girls – I started my job at the end of 2008, and over this past year have had the pleasure of making friends with five fabulous women. I think to make one real friend at work would be noteable, but five!? My good fortune is evident in this truth. These are not just eat-lunch-together friends. These are girls who I laugh and cry with. We share stories, meals, life events and funny graphics. These are my friends — and I am so grateful to have them in my life!
3. My Online Community – This sounds very cheesy to those of you who know me in the flesh, rather than digitally. But this is where the old cliche “don’t knock it ’til you try it” comes in handy. When I decided to start this blog in October, I had no idea what to expect. I thought I would write some stuff in hopes that “the right person” would read it and I’d land some freelance work or something. What I got instead was this online community of friends: writers, moms, single parents, divorcees, entrepreneurs. These are not the people I’d go to if I want to get out of the house and have a good time. They are not the people I call when I need a shoulder to cry on. But they are people with similar interests as mine, and a supportive nature that helps make chasing my dream seem a little less ridiculous. I am grateful for the online relationships I’ve formed. This goes for all of you, but a few in particular who stand out are: Los Angeles Single Mama, Jamey Stegmaier and Tiffany Noth.
4. Ex-Husband – True, I’ve known him for almost 13 years. So how does he fall on my list of new relationships formed in 2009? I have had the pleasure of forming a new relationship with a known entity over the past year. In the first 10 years, we dated, we married, we became parents, we divorced. All of those stages were very difinitive. After the divorce, however, our lives and our relationship took the symbolic form of a big question mark. 2008 was a mess for me, which rendered me unable to, and uninterested in, dealing with defining my relationship with my ex. Though the road to the present was rocky, the 2009 journey is ending in a good place. Our relationship, in my opinion, has been redefined. We are now co-parents, in the truest form. We are friends by circumstance, who support and respect each other and have vowed to work together as a team to provide the best possible upbringing for our son.
5. Ex-Husband’s Girlfriend – There is another woman in my son’s life. This was hard to absorb and accept at first. I never doubted my ex’s judgment in who he chose to bring into Braden’s life – that wasn’t the problem. I just had a hard time accepting that when he wasn’t with me, he was with another woman. But over time, as I began to repair my relationship with my ex, something interesting happened; I began to develop a relationship with his girlfriend. Now, I have a new friend and Braden has an ideal child-of-divorce situation. We are truly an odd, but fortunate group!
6. Courtney – There is nothing more exciting that reconnecting with old friends. If you’re like me, you probably duck your head in the neighborhood bar when people from your younger days walk in. Often, it’s just easier to pretend you don’t see each other than to have to put on the niceties. But sometimes, there is a gem out there — someone who got lost along the way for no reason other than your paths leading in different directions. And when they cross again, you couldn’t be happier. Courtney was one of my best friends in high school. We lost touch after graduation until Facebook brought us back together 13 years later in April 2009. We have been friends again ever since. It’s like we never skipped a beat (well, barring the death of her father, our college education, both of our marriages, my son, her two sons, my divorce, her mother’s marriage, two job losses and her at-home daycare – but who’s keeping track?). The reunion was meant to be; we get together as often as we can, our kids are the same age and enjoy playing together, her husband is awesome and we both love to write. I’m so happy to have her back in my life!
2009 has been a great year for relationship building and connecting with others for me. I can’t wait to see what happens in 2010!
Finally, I ought to add the disclaimer that if I met you this year and I didn’t mention you here, it’s not because you aren’t important to me, it’s just because I forgot you. (I shouldn’t have to explain my humor here.)
What new relationships have you formed this year? Who has come into your life and made an impact?
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my life, incomplete. 