With the start of 2012, I've been thinking a lot about the fact that my sweet girl will be going to school full time in the fall. She'll be in first grade. I'll have to pack her a lunch. And I'll no longer need to pick her up in the middle of the day and bring her home to spend the afternoon with me.
It's still a long way off. But, in all honesty, I'm sentimental about these sort of things and the thought of afternoons alone has my stomach feeling a bit wonky. It will be the first time in nine and a half years that I'll been without a child at my side for a majority of the day. The prospect is all at once magical, surreal, and daunting.
I mean, what am I suppose to do with myself?
Sure, there will still be laundry and groceries. There will still be packing lunches and cooking dinner. But, what about the moments when those chores are done? Logically, I could look for a part-time job. But, what job will accommodate a 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. schedule? What job would understand that I couldn't come into work if one of my kids is sick? What part-time job would allow me to not work on weekends? What job would allow for me to still be a full-time mom when I'm needed? Does this magical job exist?
I haven't found it yet.
My solution? Volunteering. It's a great way to use my spare time in meaningful ways and I'll get to choose what times work best for me.
It's still a long way off. But, in all honesty, I'm sentimental about these sort of things and the thought of afternoons alone has my stomach feeling a bit wonky. It will be the first time in nine and a half years that I'll been without a child at my side for a majority of the day. The prospect is all at once magical, surreal, and daunting.
I mean, what am I suppose to do with myself?
Sure, there will still be laundry and groceries. There will still be packing lunches and cooking dinner. But, what about the moments when those chores are done? Logically, I could look for a part-time job. But, what job will accommodate a 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. schedule? What job would understand that I couldn't come into work if one of my kids is sick? What part-time job would allow me to not work on weekends? What job would allow for me to still be a full-time mom when I'm needed? Does this magical job exist?
I haven't found it yet.
My solution? Volunteering. It's a great way to use my spare time in meaningful ways and I'll get to choose what times work best for me.
I've decided to start in Clay's lab. Yep, you heard me right. I'm going to start spending a couple hours a week helping out in the lab. It's a great place to start because I know the people and they understand my situation (so it will be no surprise if I can't come in one day because of sick children). I'll learn some good skills to add to my bag of tricks (like transferring Daphnia!) and, in the end, I'll have people to stand as a recommendation for me if I ever do find that magical job.
What do you think? Can you picture me in a lab coat?
What about the rest of you? Many of you academic spouses will eventually move into a time where the kids are gone to school full-time, if you're not there already. What will you do with your time then? Enjoy the peace? Get a job? Sleep more?
What do you think? Can you picture me in a lab coat?
What about the rest of you? Many of you academic spouses will eventually move into a time where the kids are gone to school full-time, if you're not there already. What will you do with your time then? Enjoy the peace? Get a job? Sleep more?
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