I have worked from home off and on for 10 years now. Ever since Havoc was born.
That wasn’t the original plan. Originally I was going to go back to work after 4 months maternity leave. But then the childcare I had planned fell through. When I called to confirm my son’s place a month before I was due to go back I found that there was new management at the care place and said they had no record of me requesting a spot for Havoc. Even though I had done so 3 months before he was born.
They said they might have a spot open in another 3-4 months. My job said “ok most of your stuff can be done from home anyway but we need you back by May.” By then I was 3 months pregnant with Mayhem & was not getting paid enough to cover two kids in child care & gas, so we decided to suck it up, cut back & I’d stay home until they started school.
But here’s the thing about school.
It’s not always in session. And you can’t send sick kids to it.
They boys legally cannot stay home alone until they are 12 & 13 and even then… just one, I’d trust alone. Together, unsupervised, probably they won’t be left home alone when they are in college.
Finding a job, even part time, that will accommodate the hours I need (8-3) & allow me random time off as needed is almost impossible. Especially since DH cannot promise to be home by a certain time on a regular basis. Sure as anything if I find a job from 7pm until 3am, since he is usually home by 6:30, suddenly he will have a series of nights where he doesn’t get home until 8pm, or has to go overnight on a job.
So I found off and on work from home jobs, or found things to do that would offset the costs of various things.
But, at the start of the year I was offered a part time 9-3 job by a former boss. They had a situation & needed some contract worker customer service people quickly & because he knew me & knew my abilities & work ethic he could hire me immediately without the whole advertising/sorting through resumes/interviewing thing.
Last Thursday he asked if I wanted to train on some other types of calls & be a regular part time person. I said I’d like it but mentioned the lack of childcare & he was ok with it. There would be some stuff I could do from home on those days.
So I was supposed to start as a regular employee on Monday.
But.
Saturday night Mayhem developed a stomach bug and was still recovering Monday. He couldn’t go to school so I couldn’t go to work. Monday night Havoc caught the bug. He couldn’t go to school Tuesday so I couldn’t go to work. Tuesday afternoon DH came home from work sick with bug. Wednesday I went to work. Thursday the school had a half day, so I had a half day. Today school is closed, so I am at home. Monday will be the same.
Granted I’d told my boss last week about the two and a half days & he was ok with it but still…
I’ve worked 8.5 hours this week instead of 25.
Not an auspicious start.
Nowhere to go but up right?
Onwards and upwards! Oh, the best laid plans..
Small comfort, I know at the moment, but they do grow up eventually and then they tend not to notice whether you are there or not..
Hopefully your kids are normally healthy and this is just a fluke! Jam ‘em full of vitamin C and spray the house down with Lysol!
Just testing you (and your boss) at the start
Great thing is he knows the value of you as an employee. Here’s to the boys having a healthy 2013. Congrats about the quick move from a temporary position!
I had an almost identical experience when I went back to work, out of the home, last year. I felt helpless and hopeless and off to a terrible start. Twelve months on, all is well. You’ll find your groove and laugh about your first week back in a few months!
Hope everyone feels better soon.
I have a flexible job – except when it isn’t flexible! If I have a class, I don’t have much hope for being able to stay home; otherwise, I get a pretty good chance to set my own “in office” hours.
Rinda
Typical timing … Murphy’s Law!
Things can only get better – and what a wonderful compliment from your boss that he wanted YOU over anyone else in the world!