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Wanting to Work Blues

January 1, 2012

I’ve been thinking about going back to work, somehow, but there are many obstacles to tackle:

Childcare–affordability, and childcare during school breaks/sick days!?

Schools–dropping off and picking up, also finding an accommodating position within these hours or a sitter for after-school pick up.

Resume Gap due to being a SAHM–not a big worry, but add that to being a mom, a plus sized one, and an “older” woman—Arghhh!

I get sick a lot, and have carpal tunnel-ish symptoms.

At the moment I have no work clothes.

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I may need to be able to earn a full wage at some point as well, and function as a single parent. Despite all this I want to stay positive and hopeful, that I can find something within my range that I can do.

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Nerve wracking, isn’t it? So much for staying positive. It lasts about a minute. The obstacles to becoming a self sufficient provider for your kids, as a woman, and a person without a “career” or “marketable skill” are just enormous.  Damn.

Almost makes fixing a marriage or accepting your lot look easier. Sell yourself for ease of existence. Sex for security. For food and shelter. Accept your lot and change your attitude–a la religious doctrine or Stepford Wives.

I’m mad at myself for not being a strong woman, a well worked woman, a person who knows themself…before getting married and producing kids. It would help so much to know firmly that I CAN take care of myself. Even if you choose to stay home and raise kids, it is beneficial to know you can fall back on yourself if need be, it might even give you a paid hobby–you know something “grown up” to do on the side, once they get older. Once you have kids, it is so much harder to get your footing and find the time, money, or childcare arrangements to get yourself into a better position. Men can be damn good husbands but they will never fulfill you. You need to fulfill yourself first, and keep doing it once married and with kids.

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Creative Every Day Theme for January: New | Creative Every Day

December 30, 2011

 

Creative Every Day Theme for January:  New

We will see what comes of this…maybe my lovely sketch book will become filled, maybe I will enjoy a routine of a small daily challenge…

I have about 2 hours totally free during school days and plenty of time when the kids are home and playing.

Inshallah.


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Shelter and Survival

December 14, 2011

The kids and I have been watching BBC Earth, enjoying the beauty and wonder of life. These animals, there life are so simple: eat, reproduce, survive the seasons.  They have all their means of survival within their bodies and the environment around them.

What the hell have we done to ourselves!? We no longer have access to the environment, for food and survival. We have traded so much in, and made it difficult to survive with dignity, on very little or to put a positive spin on it–by the blessings of our ingenuity and hardiness.  I do not think we can turn back the clock and live primal* anymore. I know everything is very complex, and I am in no shape to argue the merits of modern society vs. close-to-the-earth living like I’d like to.

Nowadays, with the economy, debt, inadequate amounts of affordable housing options, fear of loosing your job, your health care,  squeaking by….It’s just too much. We can’t even feed ourselves because we have no place to grow food, and people don’t garden enough to share with those that can’t. We can’t easily afford a plot of land to erect an affordable dwelling.  You can’t really live in a tent with out getting harassed. You can’t even pitch a tent on private land with permission from the owner (this was something I read a long time ago). Where do you go when everything falls apart? I feel so much has to change about how we live. We live in fear, and we are not coming together in meaningful and effective ways yet.

I recently read Ammonite by Nicola Griffith which was pretty neat because it both offered the experience of very sheltered, modern women of the space age and that of what I’d call a very advanced, low-tech, close-to-the-earth, tribal society—of women. The main character has to adapt to living unplugged from convenience with the native population, and is forced to change to survive. In the end it was all worth it. Yes, she lost fingers, got sick, gained hideous scars–but she came out a wiser, richer person for it. Anyway, I found it uplifting. Loved the book, loved it’s message.

*If you know the right work for this, please share. I can’t seem to find what I need. Primitive comes to mind, but it has a rather derogatory feel to it.

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I posted this over a year ago and it is still relevant, especially so with what is going on in the world.

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The Antidote • Grains of Sand Magnified X 250 (via thepegelow:)

December 14, 2011

 

Testing the

The Antidote • Grains of Sand Magnified X 250 (via thepegelow:).

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Goodreads | Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood by Karen Maezen Miller – Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

December 14, 2011

 

Goodreads | Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood by Karen Maezen Miller – Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists.