tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30754397.post5168613960253872011..comments2023-06-27T07:26:50.033-06:00Comments on The Mom Chronicles: What to do?JMBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903514053154713614noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30754397.post-72188511254365251782008-02-19T14:40:00.000-06:002008-02-19T14:40:00.000-06:00I am reading too! I don't comment much either but ...I am reading too! I don't comment much either but I promise to work on it. <BR/><BR/>As for your quandary...I'm afraid I don't know enough about being a patent attorney to give you any advice but much like pity, I think just writing it all out is something that you needed to do. Read over what you wrote and follow your gut (and your heart). Balancing motherhood and working is such a tough struggle, just know that you aren't alone and you are doing an awesome job. I hope someone chimes in with some better advice than I gave but I mainly just wanted you to know that I am reading!Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14151704255544531562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30754397.post-87798772738818073342008-02-17T10:33:00.000-06:002008-02-17T10:33:00.000-06:00Hi-I tried to comment yesterday but it wouldn't al...Hi-<BR/><BR/>I tried to comment yesterday but it wouldn't allow me to do so. You might have others reading that cannot comment. Did my comment ever come through to you? I am an attorney who has similar struggles with regard to the work/Mom balance. It's hard I don't envy you. I opened my own practice because I wanted the flexibility that my other job being an insurance defense litigator could not provide. <BR/><BR/>Looking forward to reading what you decide. I say follow your gut! You'll find the thing that will work for you and your family.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Lisa<BR/>MaddieandBobsMom at TLOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30754397.post-18768189075152201612008-02-15T07:26:00.000-06:002008-02-15T07:26:00.000-06:00First of all, I'm always reading :). I'm terrible...First of all, I'm always reading :). I'm terrible about commenting, but I do always read.<BR/><BR/>As for your quandry... oh, this is tough.<BR/><BR/>It's the constant struggle working women face - advances at work always seem to mean less time at home. Which is so unfair, why does success have to mean more work!!!<BR/><BR/>I do understand - my manager is a planner and she's retiring in about 3.5 years and we're already working on succession planning. I can already see where it's going - I suspect my immediate supervisor will be taking her job, in which case there is a sort of sub-management level position available. And I'm already being trained for it, along with a couple of co-workers. The problem is I don't know if I want it... I really think that in 3.5 years, when Lochlan is in school, I want to work less, not more. Which means a different direction and one I'm not sure I want to communicate yet. It's so hard...<BR/><BR/>I don't know what you should do... to be honest you sound rushed, stressed and sad that you're not home with your kids more. So before taking any of these director positions you need to decide if the professional advancements are going to worth the time away. There will be less time at home, less time with the kids and more travelling. So you're adding a lot more stress and busy-ness to your life - is the reward of these positions worth it? That I can't answer.<BR/><BR/>However, looking for something lower key, working from home or something like that is moving in the opposite direction. Instead of continuing up the ladder, you'd be getting off it. And there are implications (financial, health care etc) but it would simplify your life, give you more time with your kids and eliminate some stress from your life. It's worth thinking about, maybe doing a couple of interviews and seeing how it goes.<BR/><BR/>The final comment is what to do if they don't offer you a director position. That I don't know - it depends on how important the directorship is to you or how important the recognition of your hard work is to you.<BR/><BR/>I'd start checking out other options so you can make the right choice for you. I'm not sure staying at this company in neessarily right for you. You're not glowing about your job, you're stressed about being away from your kids. Maybe there is a job situation that you can find that would balance things a little more.<BR/><BR/>(((HUGS)))<BR/><BR/>Good luck, my friend! This is not easy stuff to figure out...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30754397.post-13460037752477424472008-02-15T06:54:00.000-06:002008-02-15T06:54:00.000-06:00First off, I'm reading-- avidly at that. As anoth...First off, I'm reading-- avidly at that. As another working mother trying to figure out how to do it all, I'm always lurking around to try to figure out how you manage so much. I'm sorry that I don't comment more-- the only time in the day when I get to read journals is typically in the evening when I come home and nurse Finn, and I'm just not that thrilled about one-handed typing.<BR/><BR/>As for your quandary, well, I don't know anything about being a patent attorney, so I don't feel very qualified to offer an opinion. Really, I think that writing all of that out was what you needed to do. At least for me that sort of exercise often makes me realize where my heart is leaning.pithydithyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07272200340074763289noreply@blogger.com