rien de rien
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Last week I got offered another short stint lecturing back at the French dept. Took a deep breath, and turned it down. Generally, when it comes to work, I'm just the girl who cain't say no, but my recent experience juggling teaching around breastfeeding a baby who insisted on two-hourly feeds has left me somewhat jaded on the whole combining-contracting-work-with-full-time-motherhood endeavour. Until we have regular childcare for the Magnet, I decided, I'm going to keep it simple and stick to looking after the girls.
So this morning, Becca announces to Jack that daddies go to work while mummies stay at home. Kids, eh? Who knows where they get these crazy ideas? And what's a mummy to do who isn't ready to send her tender infant off to daycare just yet, but doesn't want her nearly-four-year-old developing unfortunate ideas about gender roles?
One of the effects of motherhood is that whatever choices you make, you always feel you are somehow letting the side down. What's more, there's always another side, so what I'm slowly learning is that the best and only way to proceed is to figure out what's best for you and your particular family, and screw public opinion. Which, if you think about it, is more or less what true choice is about anyway.
What J and I have both wanted ever since the kids came along is a more equitable childcare arrangement, with both of us, at least while the kids are young, working part-time, in order that one parent is always at home with the kids. That way Maggie doesn't have to go into daycare for a bit longer, no one needs to take time off work when the kids get sick, Jack gets more time with his daughters, and Becca's ideas about what mummies and daddies do hopefully get a kick up the arse. No idea how workable this plan will prove to be, but we aim to find out in 2008. So, anyone want to hire a Cambridge PhD with teaching, writing, editing, publishing and translation experience?
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