She had. To vent.

I'm responding to C's post http://bokumbop.blogspot.com/2007/08/i-have-to-vent.html about her SAHM friend who's really just doing the SAH part. It's hard to understand.

I'm with you C, I feel the heat of my envy when I encounter situations like this. I typically feel that way on bad days at the office - and less so on good days. If I don't have to work late and can pick up Garcon on time, I feel capable, successful at both, much better about working. If I'm stressed or late to pick up, everything about working is bad, evil, unfair. But that's just me - I'm pretty love-hate about work. I typically feel that way after a day with inconsiderate clients, impossible deadlines, snippy comments, whatever, but always on the days where I've done it to myself - I've given more to work and less to me/mine, and am picking up Garcon at 5:59 (last possible minute) instead of 5:14 (my preference). I'm trying really hard to manage my own tension about work/life imbalance by setting those limits of just saying no. And just leaving at 5pm.

On any day, I worry about child development or attachment to me...but sometimes, secretly, I feel good about going to the office. Like it's a little bit easier being away. And I do enjoy earning money because I am good at my job and take satisfaction about my income contribution and not having to pinch pennies.

This comment, I'm realizing, is more about my own rationalization of working - that it's ok if a, b, or c happen. If the worst-case day (d) happens, then the evening goes south in a big way. I pick a fight with B, about money, happiness, child development, etc.

But back to your post, C. I know people like her, and they chose that lifestyle for a reason. And I chose mine, and I gravitate more and more to women who work great jobs and get the working lifestyle. They're more like me, and frankly, easier to relate to. I have no idea what to say to someone like that, honestly. FULL TIME care? I'm surprised the husband went for that.

Who knows - maybe she'll be less relevant to her husband the longer she stays home alone. It all sounds very boring. Even as I daydream about being home with Garcon, going to the pool, whatever, I wonder if I could do it full time. I think I just need people around me too much. Garcon is great company, and I can't love on him and squeeze him enough. But until he starts talking, hanging with Garcon + another mom/kid pair sounds like much more fun.

As far as I'm concerned, you can vent here however you damn well please. :D

This is the momosphere. I have to be diplomatic all day to clients. If we couldn't vent and be judgmental here, where would we?

Intern-al pains

This article http://blogs.businessweek.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/7154.1259414387 details some of the idiosyncrasies of unleashing 20-22 year olds on a workplace each summer. Love the story of the intern "putting out there what he wants" in a role. Hilarious! And true.

Back here at the marketing ranch, I'm working on helping our intern get up to speed, and I'm still not seeing the fruits of my labor. I can't be sure if I'm just moving too quickly for her (and perhaps eliminating a couple of the details a veteran takes for granted?) or if she's just kind of missing the point.

There have been a few instances today already (and yes, it's only Monday) where I realized she didn't review my directions. That were emailed. In bullet point form. Concisely.

The goal is to reach a point when she'll start to really make a difference in alleviating my workload. And we'd planned to hire her, should it all work out. But for now, I'm having second thoughts and wondering if she's the right one for this entry-level role.

She's also from my alma mater (same discipline, major and specialty), and came highly recommended, so I recognize I have  ridiculous expectations for her. It's just taking a long time to explain details to her and I need relief now.

Another baby?

I find that lately I'm thinking about having another baby. Is that lunacy?
Things just got (almost) settled, and why would I want to disrupt it all again?

I just think that if I wait too long, I won't want to have another at all...I'll be enjoying the freedom of an older child too much.

Hubby is all about the idea of another, sooner rather than later, so the timing decision is mine.