"Sign No. 1: Your co-workers are annoying."
Well, I can't really register this complaint. My only co-worker is my husband. Since he makes a good share of the meals and is more likely to pick up messes than I am, life is good in that respect. The only time he gets annoying is when he draws attention to something I have missed (vitamin distribution, tooth-brushing agenda, hand-washing upon returning home or prior to eating) in the multitudinous details of raising children with healthy habits.
"Sign No. 2: The environment is toxic. Do you work in a less-than-nurturing atmosphere? Is morale constantly low? Have you been complaining for two solid years? It could be an organizational problem that applying feng shui to your cube just won't fix."
Yep, the environment is often toxic. Less-than-nurturing fits, too. But the real nugget in this sign is the comment about it being an "organizational problem." Of that, I am sure. If I were a more organized, detail-oriented mother, the load probably would seem lighter and things would run like clock-work.
"Sign No. 3: You're mentally exhausted by the end of the day. Stress can cause low morale, decreased productivity and apathy towards work. Plus, it can spill into your personal life and even have a negative effect on your health."
Most definitely, mentally and emotionally exhausted by the end of the day. This is why bedtime can become such a nightmare. All the patience has been used up for the day.
Personal life? What is that?
As for the negative effect on health, perish the thought that mother ever get sick. Not allowed, so don't even think about it.
"Sign No. 4: Your boss is a nightmare.... If you have a lousy boss, even the best job in the world can make life a living hell. Your relationship with your supervisor plays a big role in your overall professional happiness and success.... If you are working for someone who is always absent, unavailable, self-absorbed or untrustworthy, it's time to look for a better supervisor and a better opportunity."
This might be a significant factor in mommy burnout. I thought, "Well, who is my boss?" Then, it came to me that the person who hired me for this job is none other than the Lord God, Himself. Oh, He is anything but a nightmare. And, I wouldn't dare call Him a "lousy boss."
When cast in that light, I'm quite certain that the most essential thing I needed to get from this article was the sentence reading, "Your relationship with your supervisor plays a big role in your overall professional happiness and success." I need to work on my relationship with my supervisor. In fact, I need to remember to recognize my supervisor. After all, He is always present (omnipresent, indeed), available, and entirely trustworthy. I doubt I could find a better supervisor. If only, I turned to Him for His assistance and instruction more often, this opportunity might continue to present itself as a rewarding opportunity with eternal significance!
"Sign No. 5: You're watching the clock... every 10 minutes."
The article actually mentioned being bored and under-challenged. Hee-hee. As if. We mothers tend to watch the clock, because we are waiting for that golden moment when the little dears finally, finally fall off to sleep and silence descends upon the house.
"Sign No. 6: You get no respect."
Too true!
"Sign No. 7: Your co-workers act like animals.
They live for themselves and only themselves. They irritate you. They offend you. They have no manners or ethics. And you work with them all. There's the Office Thief who steals your ideas. The Shirker arrives late, leaves early and disappears whenever work is near. The Buck-passer unloads her work onto everyone else and blames others for her mistakes. The Procrastinator delays things until the last possible minute, slowing you down by not having the information you need to meet your deadlines. The Interrupter stops by your cubicle 10 times a day to chat about her latest boyfriend despite your ringing telephone and pressing deadlines. And don't forget the infamous Elevator Person who rides up only one floor instead of taking the stairs."
Absolutely! The
Indeed, they lack manners and ethics, but I do work with them on it. They're thieves (getting into my own private dark chocolate stash), shirkers (whenever asked to help clean up a mess they have made), buck-passers (when questioned if they were responsible for the glitter strewn all over the carpet or the crayon marks on the hearthstone), ultimate procrastinators (when bed-time rolls around) and interrupters.
I'm thinking the work-world couldn't possibly be that bad a place if the complaint is for an Interrupter who stops by 10 times a day. If you've ever spent your days with a 2 year old and a 5 year old, you know that 10 is such a paltry interruption level, it must be sneered at. Try every 2 minutes. Try hearing your name called a thousand times each day.
Today, we have ES thrown into the fray, since he is home sick. More water. Medicine for a headache. Recharge my I-Pod, please. Did you call about getting my homework? Don't forget to go to my locker and pick up my Johnny Tremain book, 'cuz I have to read 100 pages in it.
"Sign No. 8: Nobody communicates.... the breakdown of communication can be frustrating and detrimental to your job. It can cost you an account, make you to miss a deadline, cause you to lose a client, and even get you fired."
Wait a minute! If I stop communicating, I could get fired? I doubt it.
"Sign No. 9: You're not valued. Recognition is important, and good companies implement programs to let employees know they are valued. Is your company doing anything to reward your efforts? Do you ever receive bonuses, perks or positive feedback?"
Being taken for granted is a given when you are a mom. Bonuses, perks, positive feedback? Good grief, I work 12-14 hour days and have to ask for permission to take a weekend off to visit friends. If they all leave for a weekend, I usually spend a good portion of that time cleaning up my work-place "environment."
"Sign No. 10: You feel stifled. What kind of quality of life do you have? Is your 40-hour week turning into a 24/7 grind? While salary may seem like the end all and be all, your quality of life determines your overall happiness. How much time you spend on the job, working conditions, supervisors and subordinates can positively and negatively impact your job outlook. If you dread the time you spent at work, it should be a clear indicator that it's time to break free. A job shouldn't stifle you creatively, mentally or physically."
If salary were the end all and be all to me, then I would be working in a lucrative job and placing my children in full-time day care. Yes, quality of life sometimes seems lacking. No, I can't just take off whenever I feel like it. Yes, my work week often feels like it is a 24/7 grind. No, I'm not always happy (when all three are fighting, the house looks like a tornado swept through, my clothes are all stained and out-of-style), but I'm sure I will look back on this time and say it flew by too quickly. I will miss the stories and the cuddles, the opportunity to peek into the mind of a child, the joy of watching them grow, the mini-milestones and the major victories. I will be glad I didn't throw in the towel and seek out some other "job." And, what doesn't kill me, will make me stronger, right? Now, I'm off to spend some time with my Supervisor to work on improving my job, or maybe just my attitude towards my job.
2 comments:
Enjoyed this: expect to check your blog from time to time.
I also enjoyed talking to you a bit at the Brownsburg writers meeting.
Best regards,
Linden Swift
Linden - Thanks for visiting. It was nice meeting you, as well. After you left, I mentioned that one of my favorite aspects about my old writer's group in IL was that we published a quarterly literary magazine. I may have to visit the Avon group some time.
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