Agree on split days. If they are sent home from childcare, especially for vomiting, they are not allowed back for 24hrs, which means they can't go back the following day.
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Agree on split days. If they are sent home from childcare, especially for vomiting, they are not allowed back for 24hrs, which means they can't go back the following day.
My two are always sick on weekends (or holidays) and often the fact that work Monday and then have Tuesday off has worked in our favor as they have been good to go by Wednesday - is DH who tends to take the time off but whichever way having the gap has definitely saved one of us from having to have day off.:
I personally would want two days in a row, as I think I would be more productive, and find it easier for me and the kids to be in a better routine.
That being said, I've never worked part time post uni, so that's my speculation ...
Good luck deciding!!
Work is *ridiculous* at the moment. Lots of late nights, lots of thankless clients, lots of meetings and coffees and going to events. Not much sleep.
Agree with splitting the days for the exact same reasons as wysiwyg. I used to go into the office mon/wed/fri and it worked a treat. Gave me the most flexibility.
Should find out interview outcomes in the next couple of days. I have my hopes up, which could result in massive disappointment but I really am hoping for the one I did the presentation for in Friday. Will keep ya posted!
Ooooh GL MN!!! Fx it's the one you want :crossfingers:
I agree with PN on the day thing - when I was working 3 days I did Mon, Wed and Thu, my reasons for those days were that there are the most public holidays on Mondays (yes, LOL, that really is one of the reasons I chose it), then a day off to recover from Mon, then Wed and Thu so that I had a three day weekend to recover from the two days LOL. TBH I really didn't think about sickness, needing two days off etc, but my kids were always more settled on Wed and Thu - exhausted, but settled. The rest of the time they were a bit all over the place, found it hard to work out what day was what.
So that's something else to consider.
I told them. Tues-thurs I just have up decide which days. I thought 2 consecutive would be better but makes sense the splitting cause of sickness as I have no family to help.
I can't do more than two days in a row. I do 5 a fortnight, and the days change every week, I've found it was too much doing 3 in a row (for me and Spock), 2 in a row is doable, but I prefer split, because it's all random anyway, we have no set routine for it to mess up with. Spock is pretty good at just taking it as it comes.
My nights were hard. I like the work at night, infact prefer it to during the day. The struggle is the having to sleep during the day, and not seeing sunlight for days, and worse by my not being at home and being in a little dorm room by my self with nothing but OUAT to keep me company and missing my family. Mum n dad were at our place helping dh with Spock, so my all my favourite people were hanging out and playing and laughing without me. But Spock just took it in her stride, asked for me but was happy with 'mummy is at work'. I have 2 more nights coming up next week, so will be easier than the 4.
Good luck with the interview MN
I think who is around to help definitely impacts the decision, we don't have anyone around either so the split works better and because I contract so no work no pay then it the days off tends to fall to DH. I think the type of job impacts to, if you are waiting for responses from others, for them to review stuff etc then having a gap can work, gives people a day to review - certainly in my role if I only worked consecutive I would end up feeling like some work days got 'wasted' waiting for answers and then the next week would be starting again. Spreading days can give better 'coverage', and less need to check things out on non work days. (Work can get up to less 'mischief' if are only left to their own devices for one day at a time :-)):
Best of luck MN! Fingers crossed you get the one you're after!
I think it probably depends on the type of job you do that would affect how you do your days too. I'd do my days together rather than split, because then I'm in my work zone, then break zone. I wouldn't like one day off in between and I don't think DD would like it worth daycare.
Good luck getting the job though BD!
DS has his first 2 hour daycare visit tomorrow, I'll stay for that one then organise some more over the next 3 weeks. I'm not at all worried about him going there, he's very outgoing and social and I think he'll fit in fine. But I'm having a major case of the sads over leaving them both there all week.
Met the guy doing my job today, that was awkward! I don't know what's happening to him when I come back. I'm paranoid that I'll get there and he'll go "so, these are all the things that were completely messed up when you left that I had to fix." I'm not my most confident at work!
Bugger - was unsuccessful for both roles! Devo!
Back to the drawing board and back to being redundant
Big hugs MN.:
=( MN
More hugs from here MN.
Huge hugs here for you MN.
Might be fate because something bigger and better might be just around the corner for you. Oxo
That sucks MN. Sorry to read that. Here's hoping the drawing board gives you something fantastic...
DD woke up crying this morning, sad because mummy had to go to work. She clung to me crying until I distracted her and let her play my special game on the iPad (Farmville LOL) while I got ready, then her grandparents arrived so that helped. But then she cried and held on to me until grandma came to prise her off me. Literally.
Boo.
DS1 and DS2 waved and were like "bye mum", whatevs :lol: Even DS2, I seriously got a "Byeee, mum, bye" and then back to his toast.
But poor DD. I think a massive part of it is preppie tiredness still - she is catching up from end of term. But it makes it hard.
Massive hugs, MN and OP.
It's so hard leaving sometimes - and I *love* my job ... Those little arms and big eyes, and the request for "no, wait!" Or "just one more ..."
MN: any thoughts of your own business ? Photos? Writing? Consulting ?
I'd love to start a kids party business PN, I'm a decent cake maker, great with creating invites/favours/party food and super organised - it's tempting, but for now we have a large mortgage so would prefer to keep the stable regular income in. I've done my sums and worked out that my redundancy pay will last me 15 months, so if I stay till the end (Nov), I'll be paid until March 2016. So happy to go now if thats whats gonna happen, have Dec/Jan off for the school holidays, and sort myself out early next year. If the right opportunity comes up earlier I'll go for it as I will be actively looking but not gonna stress for now.:
OP - Hows DD now? We just started school holidays as of today, but DS had the last 2 days off sick anyhoo
Teeki - hows the daycare transition progressing?
Thanks everyone for your supportive comments over the last few days (and months actually), I really appreciate the support in this thread, you girls are so easy to bounce things off of - it's nice to pop in here and know a friendly comment or thought is close at hand x
So peed off right now after being told that job was mine I just see it re advertised on seek
Personally I wouldn't think too much of that - as with Seek - sometimes they just get re-advertised due to people not cancelling the advert - as opposed to someone making a decision to re-advertise IYKWIM - I would be annoyed if they had told you was yours and then consciously decided to re-advertise - but it could just be a case of the ad being re-run. If the advert is different in anyway to how it was first run on seek then probably isn't a re-run, but if is exactly the same then it may be Seek are just re-running it because no-one has informed them not to (which happens quite a lot I have been told).:
The ad is now gone.
I called this morning to see what was going on and the boss wasn't there and the lady said he would call me back when he got in. That was 9.06am. Still no call :(
Did you hear back from your boss BD?
Well I'm either derranged, stupid or just awesomely stubborn - I've applied for another internal role. Its a Business Analyst Role, a 12 month secondment. Lots of the BA roles are former Team Leaders etc as the management and communication skills transfer nicely, so I've thrown my hat in the ring. While the secondment status isn't fab, it gives me a 12 month reprieve, lets me improve my skill sets significantly and the manager said there is every chance a permanent gig may eventuate in that time, although this particular one is a maternity secondment.
Had a chat with a colleague who's been in the role for 12 months, and a chat with the hiring manager today, submitted it tonight. It closes Friday. Not gonna get my hopes ridiculously up this time, but gonna give it a red hot go! It's probably one of the last chances of a this type of role coming up for a while so a limited opportunity too. Down side - its open across SA/VIC and NSW so plenty of competition. I have my other interview feedback tomorrow too so hope to get something worthwhile out of that
Good luck MN - I think is a smart move, and I think you will make a great BA - communication, common sense, and a desire to understand and the ability to influence, is what makes a good BA in my book (I started life as a BA) - I don't hold that much weight against some of the specifics you see adverts for BA's requiring - most of those are quickly learned, but if you don't have the other things which are more difficult to 'learn' - no amount of knowing the proper way to 'model' or document something will make up for it. Hope you get something useful out of the other interview feedback too.
Ooh I'm a BA MN, wholeheartedly agree with what wysiwyg said. Let me know if you've got any specific questions :)
Thanks OP. I've been smoozing today, I am hopeful to get to interview stage, then I might pick your brain a little in prep for that ;):
I got my interview feedback. TBH its extremely frustrating. I was the best interview and they loved my presentation, but were spoiled for choice and the successful's candidates social media background clinched it. To be told "there's not really much more you could have done" sucks. Great in the sense that I interviewed so well considering its be a loooooong time since I've done one, so lots of positives but frustrating when you dont nail the role. I've never had so much positive feedback for something I failed at IYKWIM
However, one good thing to take out of it, is to turn my current background into a positive - so reminds me to talk it up and highlight the diversity in my current role so interviewers understand that its actually a benefit, not a perceived weakness. My current dept is debt collection, but I manage a Hardship area, so talking that up in the sense that it covers all product/process/customer groups and show my breadth of knowledge will be an advantage in the BA Application I think
The boss didn't call another chick did.
Apparently interviews haven't been concluded but I'm on the short list. Wtf? That's a long way from job is yours see you in 2 weeks :(
BD that does suck! Have you asked for any feedback? I think you need to know what happened.
What do you think you'll do now??
MN you have such a positive frame of mind considering everything that's been going on! Most of the time anyway ;) It must have been tough hearing there wasn't anything you could have done better but you still didn't get it :hug: Lucky them being spoiled for choice!
AFM: went out for breakfast this morning with my PM and the rest of the guys (still trying to work out who's in the team and who's not, it's a huge program of works so I think most of the guys who came for breakfast were other PMs, so not technically on my team), which was quite nice. One of the other PMs bought me a coffee, all going well, then my PM looks at the other one and goes "Should I tell them? Yep ok... " Looks at us and says "I've just handed in my notice" :wall:
He's got a great opportunity to head up a huge DoD project five minutes from his home, win all round, awesome position, so great for him, but he's been a great PM for me to ease back into it all - he's relaxed, approachable and flexible. So, sucks for me. No one knows who's taking over from him, so I'll just have to wait and see I guess.
On the home front, DD is getting better at handling my departures, so that's good. Got a stressed phone call from DH yesterday about 4pm that DD was really sick and needed a Dr, where should he take her? I was a bit surprised, if she was that sick why hadn't the ILs called me? Turns out he was just being a stress head and DD is ok, she is definitely sick but not warranting immediate rush to the GP. DH isn't handling things so well ATM. He's stressed and grumpy and it just makes me feel stressed in turn that I can't be there to help like I normally do.
We're all struggling with the adjustment, really. We need to lean more on DH's parents, which he is reluctant to do, but we need them now and they are there for us, happy to help, DH just needs to let go of his pride and concern about "asking too much of them". That's what they are there for...
:( big hugs. Maybe you can be PM?
Indeed Yes OP – opportunity knocking??
I found it took longer to adjust to my return to work after baby#2, so I imagine that gets more challenging again after baby#3, so do hang in there. It’s a constant juggling act though isn’t it, and winter sickness just adds a whole other level of stress etc. I think you are smashing juggling a big family and work!
Thanks re the positive attitude comment. I have had a few pity parties as you know. But all in all I am one of those people that pick myself up and look for the next opportunity. I can only be a sook for a short while before it gets boring and old. LOL. I’ve set all the groundwork for this current opportunity, including a 30 minute meeting with our Transformation Director yesterday (a few management levels up the rung) so am talking to as many stakeholders as possible to position myself favourably for the role. Also in addition to my standard application of cover letter and resume I also send a 5 page presentation to the BA Hiring Manager outlining my skills, attributes and some key projects that I’ve run in my dept with fantabulous outcomes. I expect that there will be lots of decent applications so anything that makes them remember me and makes an impression is worth the extra effort I feel. It was received well. Lucky too I have a broad network of colleagues to sing my praises. Applications close today, I hope to have scored myself an interview opportunity.
I must say though, that job hunting is exhausting!! LOL It’s a full time job in itself!
LOL, me as PM, there's a thought!
Seriously, I think that once I've settled back in a bit more the pressure will start to creep in to step into that sort of role, but not this one. This program is huge and all the PMs are seriously experienced... not the kind of thing that I could cut my teeth on.
Plus I'd need to do some training etc.
PLUS I don't think I actually want to be a PM! More stress, managing budgets and timeframes and people, I just can't be bothered with all that. Not yet, anyway.
But thanks for your votes of confidence :)
MN, sounds like you are doing all the right things for this position! Fx it comes together and you're the best applicant this time! And yes, job hunting IS exhausting. Hang in there!!
I would be with you there, I think in a way it is a shame how many good BA's go into being PM's because it is one of the only ways to progress and get recognition at a lot of places, but it shouldn't really be like that - it should be possible to progress in a different manner. Maybe I have worked with too many not great PM's - but there is far too much just doing stuff to tick a box, and doing unnecessary things just because they are on the plan, rather than focusing the effort in the areas that matter. Too many times get to the end of a project and it is deemed a success but then the system doesn't actually do what was intended and the users aren't happy - I think PM's can be prone to losing sight of the 'why' behind doing things. I have worked with some good ones, but they always have a good support team (BA's etc. behind them):
wysiwyg and OP - what were you prior to your BA roles ?
A uni student, I went straight in as a Business Analyst on a graduate program at the big pharma company in the UK I have spent most of my working life with. But BA is a very broad term, covering a wide variety of things, I have always been an IT BA, so in that arena is the ability to learn and question the business and translate it to IT systems, so you don't really need to start with business experience whereas I think outside the IT world Business Analyst job adverts I have seen often want the business experience and knowledge you will bring IYKWIM. Lots of projects I have been called the BA and it basically meant the person who does whatever the project needs at that point in time.
I think honeymoon period is over in new job - lots about it really irritated me on Monday, I can't decide if they have decided don't want to go ahead with project or if they are just unorganized. Hope tomorrow will be a better day - I am on holiday next week and contract is due up mid August. Just done tax return though which I always enjoy in a strange sort of way.
Today has been a bad day - after swimming DS ran out of the swim center and ran into the road into the side of a car (I was trying to catch him but with my foot still in camwalker boot stood no chance!) - he is fine, but my nerves and DD's were shaken, and he was very shamefaced. Poor woman whose car he ran into the side of - she was great though very understanding (older but had had four of her own). Fingers crossed he doesn't use anymore of his 8 lives left before he turns three on Thursday.
Oh that must have been an aweful experience wysiwyg! And how frustrating not to be able to move very fast. Thank goodness he's ok.
Oh babe, how scary, so glad he is ok. Xxx
Scored a BA interview, not till 29th July though, plenty of time to prepare at least!
Well done MN!!!! I am off work till 28th now - off away to NT with my folks (they are already there) - looking forward to the warmth, and the boot is off - not sure there has been any healing but doesn't seem to be doing anything - so doc said to take it off -hooray.:
DS has been very sensible around roads since the Tuesday incident - which is nice.
Hi guys I thought I'd join in (I've been reading along for a little while and seems like a really nice support group for all things related to juggling family and work).
I've got a 4.5 year old boy and another one due in October.
Currently trying to finish my PhD thesis before the baby comes and working part-time.
I'm not really sure when I'll go back to formal work after the baby comes. Though I know I'll be busy enough revising my thesis and applying for jobs etc.
Welcome Nyigi - and yes, this is certainly a great thread to participate in from a juggling family/work life perspective :) Exciting to have #2 on the way, is your DS excited?
I had my other interview feedback yesterday. It was great ...again! Doesn't get me any closer to winning the role though. It was the Campaign Delivery role. Had there been three roles (there were 2, one here, one interstate) I would have got the third. Frustrating and great at the same time. Sigh. However I have a plan to position myself better for the BA role, and I've got lots of supportive contacts who have made calls, advocated and spoken highly of me to help position me as a sought after candidate. It all helps. Now its up to me to deliver in the interview. Missing out on the other 2 have rocked my confidence a bit, but made me think about ways of positioning myself better, so again I will leave no stone unturned.............
Well still no word from that last interview but had another today which seemed positive.
Really starting to stress now