September 2008 Weddings
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
**Heather**
Are you still working a flex-schedule? I was thinking about doing four 10 hour days, and wondered how you like(d) it. Do you feel like you get more quality time with M even though you are giving up some time M-Th?
Re: **Heather**
The ten hour days were rough as you're pretty tired after such a long day (especially if LO still wakes in the night), but having that extra day at home with Mariela made it more than worth it. The key is that you are missing out on a couple hours a week on four days, but on that one extra day you're home with LO you get good quality awake time with them that you wouldn't get working a full 5-day work week.
It also helped to have a daycare provider that was willing to stay with her the extra time. I think that is really key as I know a lot of providers wouldn't be able to watch your LO that long of a day. My boss didn't feel like I was working four 10-hour days with the pumping I was doing (I could go off on a long vent tangent here, but I won't- my boss is anal retentive), so she didn't let me keep that schedule for longer than a month. I was an emotional wreck when I thought she was going to take the option away altogether, but she suggested I just work a reduced schedule.
Now, I work a reduced work week or an 80% schedule now. I just work four 8-hour days and while the pay cut and loss of PTO days kind of sucks (they prorate everything at 80% where I work), I wouldn't change this schedule for the world. I LOVE it! I plan on keeping it for the long haul through baby #2 and if we have a third, I would hope to cut back even more then and just work a 3-day work week. I feel like I have the best of both worlds b/c I'm not busting my arse to work a long 10-hour day, but I do get extra time home with Mariela.
I can tell you, though, that the extra day home flies by and I find that many weeks I use that day to catch up on chores or run errands or what not and it ends up not really being a day off. I have to force myself at least twice a month to just stop and not take the extra time I have with M for granted. I take her out on a play date or to the park and I have to really make an effort to put the mop/vacuum/grocery list/duster down to get down on the floor with her and just play and live in the moment.
2012 Reading Challenge
NP, I hope you find that happy median that works for you, your family, and your employer. I'm very fortunate that I have the opportunity here and it's one thing I worry about losing (my schedule) if I were to get laid off with the outsourcing review going on. I can't fathom working the schedule my mom did when my older brother and I were little. She rarely saw us awake during the week as she had a 40minute commute each way by train and worked long hours as a legal secretary. She regrets it to this day and I didn't want to make the same mistake she did. I'm ok putting my career on hold or even just a minor delay now as I feel it will still be there someday when my kids are grown and don't need me anymore. It does suck seeing others get projects my boss would normally give me, but all I have to do is here a happy, "Mami!" and see that little grin and I know I'm making the right choice for me.