Troubled Thinking

Making me very tired.

We can't continue to afford living on one income, now with both kids out of the house. I know I can't work full time. I just can't. I would miss my kids to much. And our house. Tracy just tried it and is happy not having to do so every day. But even part time makes me freak out, because what kind of job could I get? I don't have an education. I don't have much work experience. And I don't know what I would like to do! I know I love to craft and be creative, but with the above mentioned background? I just don't see a job title that fit. I'd love to work out of the house once in a while, meeting new people with same interests, working on shortish projects or something. Work from home some days. Freelance something? I wouldn't mind using tons of time in periods. As long as I could work from home some of the time. Anyway, my imagination is a little...blocked at the moment. Got any suggestions?

Comments

[Ali]

If you come up with something, be sure to let me know. It sounds like the great 'back to work' musings that swirl round my head too.

[Anne Dyrholm Stange]

Jeg ville ønske, at jeg havde en idé, Kristina, et eller andet genialt lille påfund, så du kunne være hjemme, passe børnene, når de kom hjem, nyde dit dejlige hus og få lov at være kreativ, når det var det trangen var til, og allermest af alt, passe på dig selv, hvor ville jeg ønske...

Det er ikke let at være en småbarnsfamilie på bare en indkomst, heller ikke selv om man barberer luksus væk, og at overveje hussalg m.m er også meget drastisk.
På den anden side, så er det dit gode liv med børnene og din kreativitet, der gerne skulle ha' lov at fylde dagene og det kan det vel også i et andet hus eller en lejlighed.
Hmmm, både og og, hverken eller, det er ikke let, jeg kan godt forstå, at du får et bekymret udtryk og panderynker.

Bettina, http://www.ruki-duki.blogspot.com/, tog springet fra god stilling i et stort firma til freelance stylist, som hun ikke er uddannet til, hun gjorde det ikke uden nervøsitet, men det var det hun brændte/brænder for.
Mon ikke hun gerne dele ud af råd og erfaring?

Ha' en dejlig weekend, trods alt, jeg sender tanker i din retning...

[Heidi]

I wish you luck in your discernment on work for the next stage of your life. This is an issue that is really important to me. I had a stay-at-home mom who went back to work after we went to school and she always taught me that women should be able to support themselves, just in case anything should happen to their husbands. It's scary for women to end up with no marketable skills after 20 years of working at home, which is what happened to alot of women of her generation.

I plan to keep working when my kids come but then I have an established 20-year career already. I also like making some extra money with my crafts, but unfortunately, since my husband is a teacher, that wouldn't be enough money for us to live on. It sucks, but unfortunately the reality of today is that it's really hard to live on one income. You can only do so much with cutting back, buying second-hand etc.

It's sad to me that the whether to work at home versus work outside the home always descends into a nasty debate among mothers, because I think it's an issue that affects us all. I really feel for you as you go through your "troubled thinking." I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers till you figure something out. Good luck!

(Sorry, didn't mean for this to be so long!)

[Dawn]

I completely understand. I have been making a few extra dollars these days and it has helped a lot but it is very, very hard. I too did not finish college and am at a loss for what I would do???? Life is so hard and kids are the most important but money matters...
I know you will figure it out. xo
Oh..I tagged you for 8 things...xo

[Rebecca]

wish I knew the answer - it would help my 'troubled thinking' too!

[carol]

bleck- this issue touches on so many of us.

For me, I like to think I juggle my home life and part time work pretty well- thanks to my husband. We really are partners and help one another out, which means a lot of "tag team". There are weeks that this can really suck, but it really works and the kids see us working together and not just ME doing the cooking, cleaning, nurturing...which in reality is how families are and should be...a wife and husband sharing the responsibilities...

So- what do I do? I bake a few nights a week and cater parties on the weekend. The money is good and we have been pretty reasonable with what I need to bring in for us to keep afloat. It's pretty minimal with what I need to make in $, but it is realistic and makes me feel like I have the best of both worlds.

Have you considered waiting tables- I know here in the states people can rake in a lot of tips and it wouldn't be full time.

Good luck Kristina- you are brilliant, creative and lovely woman. These challenges can only make you (and the rest of us) stronger.

[Elisabeth]

I understand you as well Kristina. You should do something craft and creative related, that seems to be your thing. Hug E.

[fanja]

Hi Krisitina, hope you find a solution to your troubled thinking very soon. it is a difficult one but you are indeed very creative, thorough and clever and will no doubt find a way through x

[hilde]

I know what you mean..sometimes I wished I could stay home with the kids all day long, but than again I think: I'll never ever find a good job like this one again, I work part-time, it is never an issue to call in the morning to take a day off when someone at home is sick, I get to see people, every day I learn some more french (I'm flemish speaking) and a lot more...
Why don't you try something like in the local library, or a guide for kids in a museum, or stay at home and start a webshop or something with your handmade goods?...

[dani (pyglet)]

This is also a question that I consider often. I still have a few more years of home and children but I do not want to go back to my original career (40 hours of boredom). I continually try to find an answer that can fit into the 9-3 hours that they will be at school. I also would like to work from home. It's a puzzle I have not yet got all the pieces to.
You should definately do something with your creativity though. You have such talent and I am positive there would be many willing customers to help you along. x

[Sue]

I was totally in the same situation. Here is the advice that someone gave me. Take some time and really think back to your childhood. Start with your earliest memories and work your way through each year of your life. Remember times that made you happy. Think about what you were doing that made you happy. Keep going through the years and jot down on paper everything that made you feel glorious. There is a connection between those times.....and what inspires you today. It will come to you....it will....!

[sidsel]

Kristina - I suggest you get help to find or dig out the answers from a good personal coach. I can recommend someone to you if you wish -just send me an email :) when I was in the same situation I started as a freelancer and it works well because I can mostly plan my day and evening as I wish :)
The above post is a really advice!

[Annilee]

Hi.. I have been reading your blog for awhile now and am just "delurking". Hope you don't mind. What about doing something with children such as an after school home daycare for a couple of school aged kids. You could do simple crafts with them, bake, help with homework, go on nature walks. Things you probably do anyway. I look after one of my son's friends after school between 3-5 pm and it gives me a little bit of extra money each week. I've thought about taking a couple of more kids in for the coming school year. I enjoy it and my kids (ages 7 & 9) love having the company. good luck and best wishes.

[Liv Kjersti]

Hei! Du er uten tvil et kreativt menneske med sans for søm og design. Hva med å arrangere kurs for andre som har samme interesser men mangler kunnskap? "crafting" er in i tiden, mange ønsker å lære - du kan lære bort. Da kan du styre tiden din selv, kurs holdes gjerne på kveldstid etter at barna er i seng, eller du kan "ofre" noen helger i blandt for mer intensive kurs. Bare en idè fra ei som finne mye inspirasjon i bloggen din.

[tracy]

yes my friend. all yes! the above comments are great. i have thought about after-school care/art classes for a few neighbourhood kids. as well as trying to market my writing skills in some new way. i will be curious to see what you come up with. i know whatever you do it will be as beautiful as you! xo

[isoinpapu]

Oh, sounds so very familiar to me too... I´m really looking forward to see what happens, what you come up with. I´m keeping all my thumbs up and fingers crossed for you (hopefully that means the same thing in english than in finnish... in other words: i wish you luck for finding a job that fits you).

And thanks for reading/looking my blog (puhti). I have bookmarked karkovski already long time ago and visit here often. What a nice surprise. Its funny how surprised i really am everytime i find that someone is reading my blog. yeah,, i know "world wide web",,but still.

[Ellen]

Don't have many ideas for you because we're in the same boat (sort of). I want to find some part time work that I can do from home - something creative. Looking forward to others' ideas. Hope you can decide on something that will work for you and your family.

[Karen in Alabama]

Kristina,
You seem like a person who loves children. Perhaps you could work as a teacher's aid or in a day care facility. I think you would be an asset!

[Alex]

I am just stopping by to send you good vibes. You are so talented, creative and seem to be pretty nice, too, I am sure you will find your way. Sorry, nouseful ideas here, my head is full of "big ideas", nothing realistic. Hang on!

[Aase]

Du har en fantastisk blog og en meget god kreativ teft! Jeg har fulgt bloggen din i et års tid nå, og fått masse inspirasjon. Tror du har fått noen råd allerede, særlig likte jeg hun som ba deg tenke over barndommen og hva du likte å gjøre da.. Du bør absolutt forsøke å gå videre med dine kreative evner. Å holde kurs er også en god idé. Kanskje kan du både ta småjobber for å få litt forutsigbar inntekt, samtidig som du forsøker å utvikle noe som er ditt eget.
Selv har jeg lang utdannelse i noe som ligger fjernt fra kreativt arbeid av det slaget du bedriver, men det er ingenting som gir meg større glede enn farger, garn, tekstiler og håndarbeid. Jeg drømmer om å endre kurs, og bruke mine kreative sider mer - men det er et vanskelig valg...
Lykke til Kristina!

[strikkelise]

Frilansarbeid er hardt i starten, man må skaffe seg kunder. Av og til virker det som et valg mellom tidkrevende, morsomme, dårlig betalte jobber, og litt mindre morsomme, men mer innbringende...
Du er jo kjempegod til å fotografere, er kreativ og har et godt øye for form og farge - noe, her ligger det kanskje noen muligheter? Journalist og stylist for et stilig blad?
Ellers fins det mange småjobber i kreative bransjer, musikk, teater, museum, kunsthåndverk etc, der man kan få gode kontakter for fremtidig frilansarbeid.
Det er heller aldri for sent å skaffe seg en utdannelse, hvis det er det man ønsker seg.
Lykke til!

[VictoriaE]

Hey. I reckon you'll work it out, over time. I have to say - you're a very very good mum (reading between the lines on your blog) and wont regret those sacrifices you made for your kids - be proud of yourself. Plenty of time to achieve your dreams too, as you discover what they are.

[Helena Marette]

Hi. As a single mom and two grown sons, I too have to face the realization that "money matters." With the "J" word being out of the question..(who would hire a 49 year old ex-booking agent from the L.A. 80's scene?) I have been teaching Felt making out of my home studio. I found that by teaching what I love to do, as well as selling my work at shows seems to help out quite a bit. You have so much creative talent. Why not share it with your community? Let me know if you are interested. I will be happy to share some ideas on how to get started. Best of luck to you.

[monda-loves]

You know, I think we all have moments like you felt when you wrote this blog post.
The first good thing to do was to share it, look how many positive comments you've got already :o)
Secondly whilst you may have been feeling at a really low point when you wrote this, you can only come up again now - Cliche I know but it's often they way it works out.
And thirdly, who needs an education when you've got so much talent to produce the lovely lovely items I've seen on your blog. I went to university to learn how to do this, but you are a natural.

You know, my problem is quite opposite to yours right now. I am working 11-12 hour days right now (my day job is working for that famous danish toy company!), with not so much time to switch off (was even working today from home) but I'm getting through it by telling myself that the pay back will be worth it and that it's not going to last forever.

I'm sure you'll find your way through this. The book is certainly going to help with promoting your work and hopefully will help make you some money too :o)