What do (did) you do? [Archive] - Baby Bargains & Baby 411 Community

mamahill

03-19-2003, 05:39 PM

I was an Online Content Manager. But then there was the high-tech downturn and was laid off. It was a good thing though, since they had totally slashed my budget. So for about 3 months, I was WAITING to be laid off (yay severance package!). After that I became pg so I volunteered at the local library, spent time with my Grandpa at his retirement community, volunteered with high school aged kids, and generally focused on DH and myself. It makes me glad to look back on those months now that my time is consumed by one small person to know I did what *I* wanted to then. Now I am a full-time SAHM. Someday I'd like to go to chef school.

nitaghei

03-19-2003, 05:49 PM

Should I even admit it? :) I'm a lawyer.

I trained (and worked) as an economist for several years, and then went to law school.

Will be looking for a job as a law prof later this year. I do NOT want to practice!

Nita
mom to Neel 01/05/03
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

August Mom

03-19-2003, 06:13 PM

Well, because Nita admitted it, I will too. :) I'm a lawyer. I practiced civil litigation in a large regional firm until a few weeks before DS was born. I decided beforehand that I was going to be a SAHM. I'm not planning to go back to work at least until DS (and any future children should there be any) are in school. Then, I'll play it by ear.

caroliner

03-19-2003, 06:22 PM

I will proudly admit to being a lawyer. I used to be in private practice with a mid-size firm doing civil litigation, now I work for the government. I really enjoy what I do and really enjoy having normal hours, great benefits, vacation, etc. etc. etc. I worked very hard to get a lawyer job that is family friendly.

egoldber

03-19-2003, 06:41 PM

I was a Statistician for several years in the Biotech field before making the dreaded leap to management. :) I was a Product Manager for a major product line and then an Engineering Project Manager in R&D.

Don't miss it a bit.

danielleh

03-19-2003, 06:42 PM

Hi,

I have a Ph.D. in Physics and pre-baby I worked as a process engineer for a company that sells manufacturing equipment to hard drive head and chip manufacturers. I wanted to be a SAHM, so I was not upset when I got laid off at the end of my maternity leave.

Danielle
mom to Jimmy born 8/29/02

sweetbasil

03-19-2003, 06:53 PM

My degree is in Applied Gerontology, so while in school, I was an activities director, then marketer, at a retirement community. The first job was tons of fun- planning activities, trips, etc. for the residents, taking them to doctors appointments, shopping, etc. was a blast.

Upon graduation, I marketed another retirement community for a while, and then went into Human Resources for a Pharmaceutical Software company in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

We moved to Houston in Feb. of 2000, and I found out (the day before the movers arrived!) that I was pregnant, so when morningsickness hampered my job search, I became a stay-at-home soon-to-be mommy and just never went back to work (outside the home) after DS was born.

I plan to be a SAHM at least until we're done having kids and they're all in school.

lisams

03-19-2003, 07:04 PM

I was a teacher (it sounds so wierd saying "was", since it's only been 4 months - I taught right up to her delivery!) I've taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. I miss the kiddos, but not the political "yuck" that is taking over teaching these days. I'm hoping to tutor when she's a little older, just to keep my mind busy!

Lisa

Shirale

03-19-2003, 07:14 PM

I have a degree in Fine Arts/Interior Design, and worked briefly as a designer but I am now a SAHM!!!

Thatchermom

03-19-2003, 07:22 PM

I was a paralegal when we lived in Portland, then I worked as my husband's secretary after we moved to the Seattle area, which we both loved. Now I am a SAHM and don't plan to head back to work.

Susan
mom to Thatcher Bennett 9/10/01

August Mom

03-19-2003, 07:54 PM

Good for you. Family-friendly attorney jobs are hard to find. I actually am proud to be a lawyer too - it took a lot of hard work to get there. However, I can't imagine maintaining my previous job and being the mom that I want to be with the hours I would have to work and the time I would have to spend out of town or in trial. And, frankly at this point in DS's life, I don't miss the practice of law. I'm glad that you have a job that works for you.

KathyO

03-19-2003, 09:17 PM

Lately, I was mostly a technical writer and researcher. But at various times since graduation I've been a librarian, fire lookout, temp secretary, firefighter, English teacher, cashier, timber cruiser, waitress, journalist and literacy tutor. Hmmm... maybe Mom was right about my attention span...

KathyO

Dcclerk

03-19-2003, 09:48 PM

Wow-- who knew how many lawyers are on this board?! Count me in. I'm dying to learn about family-friendly government jobs because I definitely aspire to that or an in-house legal position. Currently, however, I'm working at a big, national firm doing civil litigation and wondering how in the world I will be a happy mom working the hours that I currently keep. (And, believe it or not, I work at a firm that consistently gets placed on the Working Mothers top list!)

Regardless of what careers everyone has or has had, I will say that I feel a great affinity for this group, even though I don't post all that often. Everyone is clearly very intelligent and supportive and I really appreciate it!

Kerry
Due June 4, 2003 with #1

mharling

03-19-2003, 10:02 PM

I am a computer software consultant. That meant that up until 3 weeks a go, I traveled every week (luckily to the same place and I had an apartment). Thankfully, I have felt great my entire pregnancy and never had an issue with the travel.

I am lucky enough that my current client is letting me work from home, as needed, until the baby is born. Once the baby arrives, dh and I are going to play it by ear in terms of me working. I could very well be a SAHM for a while.

Mary
EDD 4/5/03

ddmarsh

03-19-2003, 10:07 PM

I'm a lawyer that has never practiced and at the rate I'm going, may never at all :). I was a counselor part-time, stayed at home, decided to go to law school, took the bar and realized that if I couldn't find something part-time it just wasn't doable for our family (DH is self-employed and I knew that we would have #4). Anyway, I'm hoping in the future that something may happen, but I also know that I'll never regret the choices I've made.

Debbie

jubilee

03-20-2003, 12:03 AM

I am (for the next week anyway!) a surgery scheduler for complex shoulder and knee surgeries and the front office supervisor in my medical office. Next Thursday is my last day though, and will be thrilled to have my dream job as a stay at home mom!

twins r fun

03-20-2003, 12:21 AM

I was a public school teacher- 2nd grade and kindergarten. When I go back (hopefully after all my kids are in school), I will try to teach K,1 or 2. Like someone else said, I miss the kids and I actually miss planning lessons but DO NOT miss all the hours I has to work outside of the "work day."

Nicole

parkersmama

03-20-2003, 12:27 AM

I am a corporate controller and have a masters degree in accounting. I have been working part-time since my oldest was 6mos old BUT I'm on the verge of being laid-off (company may be closing) and becoming a SAHM. Something I both fear and look forward to! I also accounting part-time at a local jr. college.

Momof3Labs

03-20-2003, 12:38 AM

I'm an actuary and work for a consulting firm, primarily with the life insurance industry. Down to 3 days a week, two at home and one in the office (due to the ridiculous commute since our office moved last October) and loving the part-time schedule!

hbangthompson

03-20-2003, 12:59 AM

I'm also an attorney and work for the federal government doing labor litigation. For me, it's so important that I have a predictable schedule that allows me to put what I want as a priority. I took 6 months off for maternity leave, worked 6 more months full time so I could get my next pay increase, and then went part time to 24 hours/week. It's the best - by Monday morning, I'm ready to do the lawyer thing and by Wednesday afternoon, I'm so ready to leave the office behind and be a full-time mom. I think it makes me a better mom and attorney to feel balanced. I feel extremely lucky.

Hyeyoung
mama to Nicholas 12/13/01

suzska

03-20-2003, 02:08 AM

Hmmm...I can't "describe" what I did with a job title. Never really knew what my job title was--we kind of made them up in my department. I think it was something like "Magazine Production Supervisor?" Yeah, that sounds right.

Anyway, I worked for a software company that wrote (writes?--the company's still there, barely, I'm not) products for the printing and publishing industry.

My department was sort of an "outsourced" group that actually used the software for Time Inc. (until they went and wrote their own). We received data from the publisher and ran it through the software, did a lot of manual manipulation to make things "work," and sent printing and binding instructions to the printing plants. The paperwork would tell them how much of each signature to print and which signatures bound in which versions. You'd be amazed at how many variations of the magazine are created based on targeted demographic ads! So I talked to the production folks at Time, People, Sports Illustrated, and Fortune magazines, and sometimes Money magazine, a LOT. And I talked to the customer service and bindery folks at seven printing plants around the country a LOT. Oh, and then their was the whole "Time Weekend Duty" thing. We rotated weekends between 2 to 4 of us (our dept. had a way of losing people). Time prints and binds on the weekend, so I had to go in to the office early Saturday morning to send out the final paperwork. Then if there were problems I would get paged and often have to go back--yuck! Thankfully that wasn't that often. But any major news story during those 4 years (Princess Di, JFK Jr., etc.) probably meant I was back in the office. We did get paid extra for the weekend duty, though. I missed a lot of holidays because the magazines go out whether there's a holiday or not (Friday=SI prelim, Monday=SI final, Tuesday=People final, you get the pciture). The only guaranteed day off was Christmas Day.

Do I miss it? Believe it or not I miss talking to the people at Time and the plants, but I don't really miss the work. My dept's gone now anyway. One by one, Time took the magazine titles back to be run on their new software. I didn't really have the same job to go back to, so I wasn't completely surprised when I was laid off on my last day of maternity leave. That's okay, 'cause I really wanted to be a SAHM.

Sorry this got so long, but you asked, and I can't explain it in three sentences!

Before this job I was the Library Material Receipts Coordinator for the library's Acquisitions dept. at Carnegie Mellon University. I was responsible for receiving anything that wasn't a serial or a gift in the library's IS system. Thousands of books a year. I did the same job as a work study student before becoming full-time when my supervisor left right after my graduation.

In case you can't tell, I have a B.S. in Industrial Management/Graphic Communications Management with a minor in Visual Communications from CMU. Translation=business degree in printing/publishing management with a minor in graphic design.

Okay, it's late, I'm rambling, you're all bored....

newbelly2002

03-20-2003, 05:20 AM

I was a book editor for many years--both fulltime and freelance. Then I taught English Comp, Lit, and Creative Writing while getting my degree (M.F.A. in fiction). I finished up teaching a few months before DS was born, and--most days--don't miss it. Currently, I am--most days--a writer. I try and write and least 15-20 hours a week. I do however miss the 5-7 hour regular writing days of 'yore. I'm happiest when I'm splitting my time equally between being a mom and a writer (of course when that leaves time to be a friend, a wife, etc I'm not sure. . .I guess there's always weekends).

Paula

zen_bliss

03-20-2003, 05:41 AM

what a fun question! feature film executive. I left to have a sane and healthy pregnancy for a good start for baby, a choice far truer and wiser than i even imagined at the time.

SASM

03-20-2003, 09:06 AM

I was a massage therapist before I relocated mid-pregnancy. Moved to another state so I turned to retail for the few months left in the pregnancy. Before massage therapy I had several positions in healthcare, working mainly in pediatrics, hematology/oncology, and bone marrow transplantation.

Momof3Labs

03-20-2003, 09:23 AM

Ahhhh, now I understand your interest in cord blood donation (were you able to do it?) and our conversation under that thread...

Andrea S

03-20-2003, 09:34 AM

I am a RN in a pediatric intensive care unit. I dropped down to 32 hours a month after having Andrew. It is soo much harder working in the unit since having my own child.

Andrea
mom to Andrew 8/14/02

SASM

03-20-2003, 09:41 AM

Hi Lori!

Unfortunately not. Their screening process eliminated me as a candidate :-( I cannot tell you how miserable I felt...for WEEKS (Thank you, pregnancy hormones!)!!! I couldn't find ANYONE who would use the cord blood/stem cells for research ~ I searched for weeks along the East Coast. The best that I could come up with was donating the cord blood to a cord blood bank so that they could calibrate their machines ~ kind of a slap in the face! It took me a long time to get over that. Thanks for asking :-)

cuca_

03-20-2003, 10:53 AM

Another lawyer here! But I'm not practicing law at this time. We moved in november, and since I knew that I wanted to be a SAHM for a couple of years, I decided to be a SAHMTB for a few months. I must admit this has been the greatest thing. I do not miss working one bit, and I think it has helped me have a very smooth and comfortable pregnancy. With the amount of stress I encountered in my previous jobs, I would have been a basket case. I worked both for a private practice and for the local attorney general, during a 7 year period, and would not go back to either if I had my way. An in-house position sounds nice for the future though.

Carmen
EDD 5/30/03

03-20-2003, 11:01 AM

Wow, another actuary. I am one too (i dont usually partake in the 'chatty' portions of the board, too busy working). I do pension consulting, and hadnt even considered the part time thing until i had #2. I would never want to give it up to stay at home, but i must admit i do think about the part time thing more now.

egoldber

03-20-2003, 11:31 AM

Sharyn, as someone who used to work in biotech, I can assure you that this donation was NOT wasted! It is incredibly difficult to find sources for and people willing to donate cord blood for "mundane" purposes. Without these donations, labs would not be able to run the machines that perform critical work. Your donation is VERY important!

atlbaby

03-20-2003, 12:34 PM

I taught preschool and was a nanny while DH was in med school, since both of us couldn't *spend* money at the same time (even if it was for a good cause!). Then when he began his residency I began grad school in child psychology. I put it on hold for now though to be a SAHM.

-Rachel
Mom to Arielle Jill, 10/30/01
#2:) EDD 10/24/03

alkagift

03-20-2003, 01:01 PM

Wild! I'm an HR Manager at a HR Consulting firm that specializes in Pension Actuarial. Who knew? Many of our Pension Actuaries in our office have Stay at Home DADS.

Allison
Expecting #1 5/27/03

LucyG

03-20-2003, 01:22 PM

I am a teacher (reading specialist), and work with at-risk 3rd graders. I'm planning to go back part-time in the fall, when the baby will be almost 6 months old. I miss "my kids" from school, but love being home for now!

casey

03-20-2003, 01:24 PM

i am a pharmacist.now, i am a SAHM.i used to work for cvs for about 2 yrs and then went hospital for about a year.
whem i worked at retail (cvs) not pg yet,i used to hate those moms with crying baby in their hands and want rx done in a min.
now, i am a mom with crying baby in my hand it's little differnt story.but, all the moms here ,please be patient at the pharmacy.
we can't fill your rx in min.
casey
from nyc
mom to alex 10/22/02

03-20-2003, 01:36 PM

I dont doubt that a bit! I know several women in high leadership structure that have at-home husbands. There are times I feel a woman can better relate to my needs for limiting hours and last minute emergencies, but these women can't really relate to that situation! It is a nice salary that could comfortably support a family all on its own, and in this uncertain economy I am thankful for that!

Zansu

03-20-2003, 02:05 PM

I'm another non-practicing attorney. See a trend? :)

Currently, I'm a contracts negotiator in the defense industry. I took two months off after DS's birth. And yes, we're a little busy right now...

Before this job, I managed large-scale construction projects (pipelines, roads, flood control, etc.) for an Indian tribe. My first job out of college was project management of Superfund (hazardous waste) site cleanup.

My degree is in Middle Eastern Studies, focusing on hydropolitics.

Hallie_D

03-20-2003, 02:24 PM

I was/am a program director at a nonprofit, doing lots of youth-related activities and scholarships. I was working part-time for a few months but returned to full-time for "scholarship season" and will luckily be able to return to part-time at the end of May.

nitaghei

03-20-2003, 02:26 PM

I still find it weird to think of myself as an attorney - just got sworn in to the Bar in December (in my 9th month!).

I have a Ph.D in Economics, and did consulting for several years. Went back to law school because I wanted to be a law prof and teach/research using law and econ.

Did the summer associate thing at a big DC law firm and hated it - though I do understand why a lot of people would really enjoy the work. And I really have profound respect for some of the women partners I met who seemed to have found a way to balance jobs and family.

I'm clerking right now - and getting ready to go on the academic market this fall, now that my first (law journal) article is being published (already have econ articles published).

Nita
mom to Neel 01/05/03
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

COElizabeth

03-20-2003, 02:34 PM

I was a congressional staff member for four years and worked primarily on energy and environmental legislation. I then spent a year volunteering for a couple of nonprofit agencies in eastern Europe (Hungary and Lithuania) before getting my MBA in Chicago. After grad school I worked in nonprofit management for a children's health charity. I too felt I needed a less stressful job when I was trying to get pregnant, and I left right around the time I became pregnant. I then worked part-time at The Right Start to keep somewhat busy and to learn about baby gear :) until I was put on bed rest at 32 weeks. I am staying at home with James for the foreseeable future but hope to get back into nonprofit work (possibly health care related) at some point. I am still interested in politics, too, so may do that again (not run for office, but as a staff member). Then again I may do something completely different. DH and I dream of starting a mountain guide business, and I would also love a job where I got to be around babies even when mine are older. I've even thought about looking into becoming an LC, although I don't know whether I would be good at it. Who knows?

Elizabeth
Mom to James
9-20-02

nitaghei

03-20-2003, 02:35 PM

It's not that I'm embarassed about being a lawyer - it's just the reaction that worries me. :)

OTOH, it isn't like "Economist" exactly gets massive approval, either!! :) :)

And, then when I tell people I want to be an academic, and a law prof who uses economic analysis ?!! (gotta use that Ph.D, after all) (sigh)

That's why I'd rather talk about my baby and my dogs!

Nita
mom to Neel 01/05/03
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

trumansmom

03-20-2003, 04:08 PM

I'm the Community Relations Manager for a non-profit women's health organization. This basically means that I do everything (media, lobbying, fundraising) that is not clinic related. I've stayed full time (our full time week is only 35 hours). They've been terrific about the time I need for doctor's appointments, and until Truman was weaned at 12 months, if I had to travel out of town, he went with me. He was nursed in many meetings, as well as the state capitol while I was lobbying a legislator. (That was kind of accidental. Truman and I were in a quiet corner, and the legislator came up to me, not noticing what I was doing.)

sweetbasil

03-20-2003, 05:03 PM

What an awesome group of people...and quite a cumulative resume, everybody! It's a priviledge to be a part of this board! :)

Karenn

03-20-2003, 05:23 PM

Before staying home, I was a Learning Specialist in a private elementary school. I helped classroom teachers find ways to work with children who's skills fell outside of the norm academically (at either end of the spectrum). Before that, I taught first and second grade. I loved my job (except for, as lisams said, all the politics!) but am surprised at how little I miss it. I'm hoping I might be able to go back once Colin, and any additional siblings that may come along, are school age.

khakismom

03-20-2003, 06:04 PM

Me too! I still am actually, writing Web content for a corporate site. Before this, I was an editor for a computer book publisher, and worked 3 days at home after baby was born. Now, back to working full-time in a office. It was an offer I couldn't refuse. ;)

In the next year or two, hoping to go part-time, because I love what I do...

MartiesMom2B

03-20-2003, 07:10 PM

Nita:

Which DC law firm? I'm asking because I used to work in property mangement at Columbia Square and Hogan & Hartson was our main tenant. I actually was thinking about getting into real estate law for a while. However after seeing how hard those attorneys work day in and day out, I could see how you could hate it.

Sonia
EDD 4/14/03

MartiesMom2B

03-20-2003, 07:16 PM

I have a degree in Psychology, which I do not use. I was going to go to Grad School for Industrial & Labor Relations, however I got accepted the week before I graduated and was expected to start grad school right after graduation and I didn't have money. So I fell into real estate somehow. I worked in property managment for a real estate developer in downtown DC. I then got a job working in the management office Tysons Corner Center working with Leasing, Contracts, and Construction. I loved that job! Didn't go home a day without a bag in hand (DH hated that job for me, was sad that I kept bringing home bags). Then we moved to Raleigh, NC where I worked writing contracts and assisting the leasing department of a local mall. I really hated this job and quit. Somehow in the middle of this I became a Mary Kay lady and was going to do this to support us until I found out that I was pregnant. I was very sick until last December and have temped ever since, in once again a real estate developers. So I'm going to be a SAHM, and I think when DD is in preschool I'm going to go ahead and get my real estate license.

Sonia
EDD 4/14/03

muskiesusan

03-20-2003, 08:32 PM

I have a degree in History and Political Science, but fell into the financial industry. Before I had Nicholas, I was managing the operations of a money management firm specifically dealing with trading/high level account issues. I now work part time for financial planner evaluating client portfolios and doing retirement planning.

When the kids are older, I would like to go law school, but seeing all the lawyers here who no longer work, maybe I should reconsider?

Susan
WAHM to Nicholas 10/01/01

lmintzer

03-20-2003, 10:07 PM

I'm a clinical psychology postdoctoral fellow (which means I have my Ph.D. but am not licensed yet). I work 3 days/week at both a small chronic care children's hospital and a large medical center, doing research and providing assessment and therapy services to children who have been burned or otherwise traumatized. I've only been on my post-doc since December, so this working and staying home combo. is new to me. I'm hoping I will settle into a groove, because I'd love to finally finish my education and training. I started my Ph.D. program in Sept. of 1994, so it's getting on 10 years!!

DH (when he was still in training) used to joke that we were in the 25th grade!

Lisa
& Jack, 4/20/01

Roleysmom

03-20-2003, 10:52 PM

This is a great topic. I was the state policy director for a non-profit in Chicago. It's one of those jobs that's hard to describe in a sentence. Essentially I was responsible for advocating on behalf of issues that help low- and moderate-income families (child support, anti-predatory lending practices, increased funding for social services, etc.) I decided not to return to the agency after my maternity leave and now work out of my home doing essentially the same type of work as before with non-profit clients.

This is also a good time to officially introduce myself. I've posted a handful of times but have been a little shy about responding to the introduction and other more personal posts. I certainly wish all our new moms and babies and new moms (and dads)-to-be well and have the military families in my thoughts as well. My husband Andrew (Ph.D. candidate in cognitive psychology and tutor) and I live in Chicago with a very big, very sweek hulk of a dog (Chesapeake Bay Retriever) and two Siamese cats and our 14-month-old (very hard to believe!) DD.

I have appreciated all of the advice and humor from this board. Thank you all!

Paula
-- mom to Roley Julia 1-04-02

hbangthompson

03-20-2003, 11:01 PM

Just curious - where is your husband doing his Ph.D.? My husband is also doing his PhD (in human development at University of Chicago).

Roleysmom

03-20-2003, 11:13 PM

Hi. My husband was a UofC undergrad (math, class of '88) but is now at UIC in his fifth year.

Paula

smilequeen

03-20-2003, 11:44 PM

I'm not a mommy yet (crossing fingers for a positive test if AF doesn't show tomm.), so I'm still working full time.

I'm a dentist, I graduated 3 years ago, dh graduated a year ahead of me...we don't work together, although we are occasionally considering it.

I plan to keep working after a few months off, but only part time, 2 or 3 days a week, just so I don't lose the abiity to work later. It's not a career where you can take a few years off and stay skilled and up to date...

nathansmom

03-20-2003, 11:58 PM

I worked as an audit/payroll/schedule person for a department store (Mervyn's). I actually quit work 2 months before I got pregnant because I was going to do IVF and the store wouldn't work around this. I now plan on being a SAHM and working on my degree online.

August Mom

03-21-2003, 12:05 AM

Susan,

I'd think long and hard about becoming a lawyer, if I were you. As you can see from the responses to this post, there are a lot of lawyers out there (and apparently a lot of lawyers who aren't too sad that they're not working as attorneys and billing thousands and thousands of hours this year). Attorneys are notorious for getting burned out. There is constant work and lots of pressure and it's not the sort of job that you can leave at the office. Rare is the job of an attorney that is truly family-friendly, especially in private practice. There are lots of positives to being a lawyer as well, but it's not as exciting as it looks on TV. I'd be happy to e-mail you if you want to discuss the legal field more.

Annette_C

03-21-2003, 12:25 AM

I owned a business and I took care of the accounting, AR/AP, tax preparation & quarterly filing, employees' benefits, payroll, ordering supplies, talked to costumers, etc., etc.
When you have your own business, you're a "Jack of all trades" LOL:)

Annette
SAHM to Sabrina 6/24/02

smomom

03-21-2003, 10:08 AM

I feel like I am in the minority, because, unfortunately, I am a full-time working mom. I am a business systems analyst for an international engineering and consulting firm. I provide support and development for our company's accounting systems. Although I desperately wish to be a SAHM, we just aren't in the position to do that now. Hopefully we can accomplish that goal eventually....

mcmorfit

03-21-2003, 10:21 AM

What a great group of parents we have here! It is so cool to see the other roles we play.

Play is what I do - I am the "Field Trip Lady". I worked as a museum educator at a museum dealing with immigration and social justice. I worked with kids and also developed curriculum on a variety of topics. I'm also one class away from my masters in education.

I say it is play, because it is, I love it. Prior to this career I worked in corporate contributions for a large bank, developing volunteer programs and then developed employee programs for the government. I will return to my goofy Field Trip Lady role soon on a per diem basis.

Ellen
Mama to Lucy 2/27/03

nitaghei

03-21-2003, 11:17 AM

I'm working full time, too! Would like to stay home, at least for a year or two - but it's not feasible!
Nita
mom to Neel 01/05/03
dog mom to a cocker and PWD

nitaghei

03-21-2003, 11:24 AM

Wiley, Rein & Fielding on K St. I do have a friend who works for Hogan & Hartson.

It wasn't just the hours that bothered me (doing a decent amount of reseach as a law prof, in addition to teaching will also be very intense). It's also that I find the theory of law fascinating but not the practice of law - in view of the constraints of time and clients budgets. I must emphasize that this is a personal preference. Lots of my law school friends LOVE practice, and think of teaching/research with horror! :)

Nita
mom to Neel 01/05/03
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

kclm

03-21-2003, 01:34 PM

I was a high school teacher.

Karen
Tad, 11/21/02

caroliner

03-21-2003, 05:25 PM

I was in a private civil lit firm before moving over to the state. I am MUCH happier here. If you think you want to do something like this, I would encourage you to find out how to get a govt. job. For me, I had to get on a hiring list before I could apply and then basically apply to all those positions that seemed interesting. It took about 2 years. I would not be a happy mom if I were still in private unless I was part time and you know how that goes in litigation.

caroliner

03-21-2003, 05:28 PM

If I were in my previous position in private practice: civil litigation in a mid-size firm, I would not be able to be the kind of mom I want to be and gratefully can be! I wonder if the two roles are even compatible... I know people who do it, so they must be, but I guess not for me.

caroliner

03-21-2003, 05:38 PM

I can very honestly say my lawyer job IS family friendly, but it is also not private practice. I was a litigator in private practice for about 6 years, and I did like it, but I was not married and did not have a child. I knew it was not going to be for me once I had a baby. I honestly enjoy being a lawyer because I like what am doing now. I like the analysis that goes into it. I enjoy the law. Geeky, but true. There are good lawyer jobs out there. Litigation in private practice is really tough though and typically family friendly not only due to the actual work aspect, but the billing. That is what I really hated. It is OK for a while, but you can get burned out... I know I had had my fill, but I still enjoy being a lawyer. Sory for the rambling on...

caroliner

03-21-2003, 05:40 PM

Working full time too...

dogmom

03-21-2003, 07:04 PM

I am an RN. I only noticed one nurse so far in the posts. Right now I teach full time at the graduate level and work per diem in an ICU. I'm going to go back to just working 20 hours a week in an ICU in the fall. Being a nurse is great for a mom. I can't think of a more child friendly career. No one asks why you have a gap in your resume, they just want to see your kids pictures! I highly recommend it for a second career.

Jeanne
Mom of Harvey
1/16/03

MartiesMom2B

03-21-2003, 07:53 PM

Nita:

I understand your point of view. My SIL (the nice one) is an attorney for Univ. of MD University College and she also teaches paralegal classes which she really enjoys. It's pretty fascinating to learn that there are so many different sectors and things you can do with the law.

Sonia

Sonia
EDD 4/14/03

Sandy

03-21-2003, 09:05 PM

I am a project manager for a large telecommunications company and project manage Voice and Date Network Implementations and special projects for Global customers. I am lucky that my job is incredibly flexible and I am able to work at home or in the office depending on where I want to be. We have Alexander in daycare as he is an incredibly social baby and loves being around a lot of people but this allows me to keep him at home with me for part of the day.

I'm not sure I would be working still if not for how flexible my work is. Right now I have the best of both worlds.

Sandy
mom to Alexander Thor 3/16/02

nohomama

03-21-2003, 10:33 PM

Is anyone still reading this post???

I'm a massage therapist. I have a private practice and scedule anywhere from 5 to 15 appointments a week.

The hours I work keep me sane and are absolutely vital to me being a good parent. Though I admire parents who are able to be at home full-time, it's important to me that I maintain a non-Mama related identity. It makes me feel more whole, which is what I want my daughter to see.

kapow

03-21-2003, 11:52 PM

I'm a software development consultant. It's a great job flexibility-wise but it requires alot of travel, every week. I got lucky for the last 14 months with a project based in my city, but I spent last week commuting each week from Chicago to the east coast. I can't wait to get to the point where I have to tell my boss "no more travel, doctor's orders." I like what I do well enough, but I've been ready for a career change for some time now, and the meltdown in tech in the last three years has certainly given me enough food for thought. Once the Boy Wonder arrives, I'll be a SAHM and figure out what to do next.