Comments on: Moms, part-time work is overrated

By: Week 28: Is Working Less the Answer to Better Life Balance? - Women, Work, and Life

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 14:59:34 +0000

[…] I’d have more time to spend with my children.” Vanderkam says not necessarily and cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use survey, sharing that “married moms who work part-time spend just 41 more minutes per day on child care […]

By: Jhon

Jhon — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:10:05 +0000

I would suggest for a few mohtns write down (I put it in excel) every single thing you spend even 50 cents on. Look at it and take out every single thing that you don’t have to have and things you can make less. Take out the random cup of coffee, the ice cream and cookies, the convience foods like individual pre bagged snack foods, candy bars, inpulse buys. Can you lower your cell bill by getting on a family plan with your or your hubby’s parents, or do you actually need two phones for your family, can you live w/o a smart phone. Could you cancel you trash service and drive your trash for free to a landfill? See what your actual expesnses are of things that you can’t survive without and can’t change. Then make your decision from there. It might take sacrifice and it might mean that you never eat out and that when asked what you want for Christmas you tell them things you need instead of want, but you might just be able to work it out. I’m not saying everyone can, sometimes you just have to work. When we surprisingly found out we were pregnant w/ our first I didn’t really make enough to cover day care, work expenses and gas for my commute so I pretty much had to stay home and I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to pay rent. But once we looked at our budget we ended up actually buying a house that nexr year. God really provided! I cook (or we eat leftovers) every single night. And I don’t get frappacinos anymore, but I get to spend all day w/ my kids. Hope that helps! 0Was this answer helpful?

By: KariO

KariO — Thu, 27 May 2010 02:04:02 +0000

I just found this website through Lenore Skenazy’s Free Range Kids, so please forgive the tardy posts.

First, I think it’s great to hear a balanced view about how busy we all are — or think we are . I plan to wade through lots of these posts– especially the home economics ones! — to find some helpful tips.

Although many of your points about part-time work are well taken, and backed up by scary data, I would like to present a voice from a slightly different front.

I work in healthcare and have two children, 9 and 14. I went back to school after my children were born and chose a profession that’s challenging, that allows flexibility, and which would allow me to support my children on my own if I worked at least 30 hours/week.

During the last several years I’ve worked anywhere from 20 to 50 or 60 hours/week — with no coffee or Facebook breaks, since emergency rooms are busy. The flexibility of working long shifts, then having entire days off has been perfect for our family: When I’m at work, I’m at work. Period. However, when I’m off, I’m off. If my kids are in school, I can exercise, do housework, garden, meet friends for lunch, do professional reading, or do nothing.

I don’t think my career has been hampered by my flexibility, and I’ve really been surprised at the logistical challenges faced as children get older. Once they’re beyond daycare and into school, sports, and the desire for a social life of their own, the challenges shift. Which is not to say they’re unduly burdensome, just different.

Not all careers are so scalable, but shutting the door to the opportunity for flexibility as children get a little older by committing to the full-time track would have been a mistake for me.

Thanks for the blog — I’ll follow it, and learn!