Yesterday I was part of a discussion about why we choose the jobs we have.
I could feel the heat creeping up my neck as the other person vehemently disagreed with me.
I have 2 jobs, both part-time. One gives me health benefits. The pay is modest and I like what I am doing. The second one offers a much better rate of pay, and a chance to exercise my passion.
I put in a little over 40 hours per week total, which is a pretty standard schedule for most of us.
The person I was talking to said that people who take on two jobs do it because they want more "stuff." My husband and I need two full time incomes to meet our regular household expenses.
Her claim was that I forfeit something in the way of family values by taking on the second job. Here is where I am jumping on my soap box<teeth in clenched postion>.....
Our youngest has clinically significant issues. For several years I just couldn't work.....it didn't matter how badly the $$ was needed. I am sure many of you know that drill all too well.
Then I was able to work flexible part time hours, altho the focus was always on the homefront. Gradually, I was able to work full time; I just couldn't the right blend all in one place.
We have a mortgage and one car payment, nothing extraordinary - no credit cards even.
Yes, we bought a house after 26 years of renting, and yes, we have 2 cars, but it aggravated me that the other person in this discussion was saying "that's the STUFF I am talking about."
We worked hard to get into this house and it gives us a measure of privacy that we had never had before. For 3 years I did a lot of walking, when our second car bit the dust.
We may have made some material gains because of our work efforts, but my feeling is that they contribute to the sound philosophy of what a better lifestyle is for my family, not detract from it.
I could feel the heat creeping up my neck as the other person vehemently disagreed with me.
I have 2 jobs, both part-time. One gives me health benefits. The pay is modest and I like what I am doing. The second one offers a much better rate of pay, and a chance to exercise my passion.
I put in a little over 40 hours per week total, which is a pretty standard schedule for most of us.
The person I was talking to said that people who take on two jobs do it because they want more "stuff." My husband and I need two full time incomes to meet our regular household expenses.
Her claim was that I forfeit something in the way of family values by taking on the second job. Here is where I am jumping on my soap box<teeth in clenched postion>.....
Our youngest has clinically significant issues. For several years I just couldn't work.....it didn't matter how badly the $$ was needed. I am sure many of you know that drill all too well.
Then I was able to work flexible part time hours, altho the focus was always on the homefront. Gradually, I was able to work full time; I just couldn't the right blend all in one place.
We have a mortgage and one car payment, nothing extraordinary - no credit cards even.
Yes, we bought a house after 26 years of renting, and yes, we have 2 cars, but it aggravated me that the other person in this discussion was saying "that's the STUFF I am talking about."
We worked hard to get into this house and it gives us a measure of privacy that we had never had before. For 3 years I did a lot of walking, when our second car bit the dust.
We may have made some material gains because of our work efforts, but my feeling is that they contribute to the sound philosophy of what a better lifestyle is for my family, not detract from it.