A lot of my thoughts lately have been directed to what I might possibly want to do for a career. A little early, you might think (or a little late depending on your feministic leanings). Well, I do have quite a bit of time until Honey is in school full-time. But I'm being honest with myself. I've been out of my journalism field for 9 years now, which in terms of marketability makes me about as attractive as fifth-grader writing a book report. And yes, I could work my way back into the crowd with the time I have before I need to hit the ground running, but I'm not sure that my heart is in that field anymore. So, I've been trying to think what if anything else could I do.
Here's a list of things I'm not good at:
• cleaning: that rules out any type of housecleaning business (phew!) and makes it more probable that when I do work I will need to hire a housecleaner
• little kid tending: so no daycare/preschool startup happening here
• managing my own business: this is a tricky one, because I feel like a few things I might want to do would require this skill; but I did learn when I did the invitation design business that I was pretty lousy at this, so ... ?
• being a peon: I want to be a STAR! No, not really. But I do like attention, so working at McDonalds or Walmart is out.
• cosmetics/appearance: this means I won't be going to hair school, becoming an Mary Kay lady or really ever looking like a million bucks
• playing piano in front of people: so combined with above reason, looks like my dream of working for Nordstroms or being a rock star has died.
Here's what I feel like I can do:
• write: someday I will write a book, or two or three ... but I don't feel like that's in the near future, I need some more life experiences under my belt
• sew/create: I think I would really love to work at a small quilt shop; touching the fabrics and cutting all day long would be so great, but I'm sure I'd be making like $5/hr which would easily be spent on fabric I fall in love with; along these lines I could do an etsy shop, but do I have enough motivation or is it worth it?
• teach: it would need to be at the high school level or above, but I might really enjoy it and the holidays they get; but it true what they say that teachers don't get paid that much for the time they give ... would it all just go to taxes?
• own a business: I have a couple of possible ideas, but this one scares the pants off me ... where do you start? do you get loans? investors? taxes? employees? can you even make money? Ahhhh!
• go into law: my favorite classes in college were the law ones, so I'd really love to get a law degree, but since an online law school is probably not that attractive, maybe just become a paralegal?
Clearly, I have several directions. Like Jo in Little Women said, "I should have been a great many things." And I'd like to figure something out that would be flexible to fit around my kids' schedules and not have to work a ton every week. And for a lot of those I'd need to go back to school and be rich to fund it all. But I feel like there's a lot of time to figure it out. Has anyone run a shop successfully? What would you do if you had the chance?
4 years ago
7 comments:
There are a few things I would love to do.
1. Go to nursing school then to midwifery school to become a CNM that does homebirths. (but something totally doable in the nearer future is to become a doula)
2. Get my masters in MFT and work as a therapist for Second Nature.
3. Photographer.
I love dreaming! And if you write it down, it's much more likely to happen!!!
So funny, I was talking about this very thing with Tom last week. I feel like I need to go back to school, but I don't know what I want to study. Do I get my master's degree in education or bachelor's degree in something else? At least you know what you like to do and what you're good at, I don't have a clue.
I had a daydream about opening a little shop down the street in the shopping center- to sell all of the awesome things that the ladies around here create. I thought it would be a really unique place and helpful for all the at home mommies. Surrounded by so many businesses with lunch time walkers, it seemed PERFECT. But the overhead. And CA labor laws. Uhhggg, no wonder no one starts a business here any more.
Will you autograph your first book for me? I've always been a big fan of yours!
Bri- I can totally see you as a doula ... you'd be great!
Carrie- I feel the same school confusion, like I need it but still don't know what I want!
Jess- I have a friend here who has that exact type of store open in Downtown Boise. Two years and they're still going. I think it'd be great there!
Amy- As long as you teach me how to shake my booty first like you do in Zumba :)
I feel the same way about being a recruiter again. Well, almost. I would love to get into that field again, but I have been out so long it might not even count that I had some experience in that field! :) I'm actually not doing any planning. I'm hoping to dive into the helping at school, working out, and totally excelling at my calling. Then, if I have time left I may try to think about something to do?
Hey Julia! What do you mean you are looking for a career? You have a career, girl! Raising kids doesn't stop when they all are in school. Your kids will need you home when they are teenagers more than they do now. You don't want them to come home and yell "MOMMMMMMMM!" in an empty house, do you?
Look what classes they have in the community night school. Start indexing, you love it! Take an upholstery class, a cake decorating class, look up night classes at Boise State, take an art appreciation class, see if they have weaving classes. There are tons of things to do to fill the time you think you are going to have. You just need something new to think about. Why do mothers have to work?
I just reread this and it sounds like an harangue. Nooooo This is all from love. . .Don't you know you are going to be called as the Relief Society president?
Lots of love
LOVE your pictures!!!!
G:ma
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