5/27/06 "Il pochi il fiero i blabbermouths" We *will* sail again Part 3

[Dancind]

Sandi, that's a tough question. I have an accounting degree, and a finance degree on top of that. And I wish I'd gotten just about any other type of degree. One advantage is, you must certainly know your strengths and weaknesses by now. If I had a "do-over", I'd go into something more creative, something that would use my problem solving talents. No idea what. But I see my kid is a lot like me, with some of Kevin's traits thrown in, and I'd love to steer her toward some type of design. Architecture, maybe, or she'd be a great Imagineer!

But I can't imagine going back to school now. Very brave of you!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

OK, I'm looking for opinions again and know that I can count on you all. If you had to start over with a new career (one that provides a paycheck, by the way) and you were (insert age here, but let's say for an example 50), what career would you choose? And how many years of schooling would you be willing to put in to get there? Let's also say that any college degrees and previous work experience are practically useless at this point.

Opinions - R - US!

I'd love to have this conversation over a glass of wine.

Too many variables to even consider - One major one is - is my career my life or is it the ends to a means of what do I really want to do (ie save enough money to take a Disney cruise each year? Send kids to college? Built retirement home in (insert state)?

That as Fonzy the Bear said to Kermit the Frog is the fork in the road....

 

[Dancind]

Please no posting of HP secrets at least until the evening of the 17th, I think I can read it in less than a day! Of course I may be working.

Hey, no problem! I'm sure I'll be too busy reading it to be posting that night. I might get on and say something like "Wow"!

Is it wrong that I'm a Harry groupie? I do enjoy some of DDs books. We're both waiting for the reserve to come through of the third book in the Traveling Pants series. I don't have a favorite author, but I kind of like intelligent mystery/romance/historical type books with a little sci fi thrown in. I think the last ones I couldn't put down (besides HP) were Da Vinci Code and Time Traveler's Wife. As you can tell, I'm kind of lazy about searching out books I might like. I go to Costco and read the synopsis on the paperback, hoping I find something interesting.

 

[CajunGirl2]

I wish I could find a new career that allowed me to spend more time with DDs. It breaks my heart when Emily says, "Mommy, you never have time to play with me." I think if I didn't have 2 parents that were in education, I would have gone in to elementary ed. But knowing that they were underpaid steered me in to something more technical - computer programming. Looking back, I enjoyed the long vacations that we were able to take during the summer months and never having to go to day care or after care or a babysitter during the school year. My husband just doesn't get it that Emily is already "burned out" and she hasn't even started kindergarten. He says that there are many other kids in the same boat. But, he had a stay-at-home-mom so what does he know. But, by me working we're shooting for early retirement for both of us; hopefully me before him but definitely both of us before 60!

Angie

 

[scuba.mom]

Opinions - R - US!

I'd love to have this conversation over a glass of wine.

Too many variables to even consider - One major one is - is my career my life or is it the ends to a means of what do I really want to do (ie save enough money to take a Disney cruise each year? Send kids to college? Built retirement home in (insert state)?

That as Fonzy the Bear said to Kermit the Frog is the fork in the road....

I would have to say my opinion of work changed drastically as my kids got older (and so did I). I went from having a department of people working for me to being the being the department. When I turned 40+, Jim and I re-evaluated how many hours we were spending at work, etc and opted for career changes. We both work 40 hours or so each week (forget the 60-80 hours/week), I am done Friday's at noon with no weekend work. There is much less pressure and a lot more time for the kids. We travel more (and save less for someday), hire out more chores (cleaning & lawn), and travel more. For us, it was the right choice.

 

[MarkRG]

That as Fonzy the Bear said to Kermit the Frog is the fork in the road....

We were in MGM a few days back... I don't remember any bears in leather going AAAAaaaaaayyyyyyy....

 

[kikipug]

If you had to start over with a new career...

When my oldest started Kg., I decided to go back to school too, and get the Master's degree in Business Education that I always wanted, so that I could teach college. I felt that my marketing background wasn't getting used the way that I wanted it to, and I had always wanted to teach, so I wanted to teach a subject that I had a passion for.

My first semester teaching (while still finishing grad school), I was only offered 2 classes, so I kept my 'former' job on a part time basis... 2 weeks later, Ray's company shut its doors, forcing me to work full time at my old job, continue teaching, AND finish my schooling. (I lost 15 lbs in 13 weeks).

Four years later, here I am, back in the ORIGINAL field that I went to school (the first time) for, in a job that I 'fell' into 100% by accident, in a state that I SWORE I'd never move to. (And you know I love it here.)

I still want to teach on the college level again part time, but it's getting harder and harder to do without a doctorate.

So... think about what things you enjoy go from there... it may take some creative thinking and unconventional methods, but you might find something very intersting.

 

[whnim64]

I would have to say my opinion of work changed drastically as my kids got older (and so did I).

We both work 40 hours or so each week (forget the 60-80 hours/week

DH and I decided that overtime hours weren't important when DS was little. He still turns down all (unforced) overtime, now. We value our time together more than the $$$. There are other guys that he works with that live for all of that overtime. I love my job at the library (18 - 20 hrs. a week), but I guess I'm feeling guilty not bringing in my share of the salary like I did for the first 11 years of our marriage. I've been dreaming of one of those great at-home businesses, but keep waking up and can't figure out what I was dreaming about .

 

[whnim64]

When my oldest started Kg., I decided to go back to school too, and get the Master's degree in Business Education that I always wanted, so that I could teach college. I felt that my marketing background wasn't getting used the way that I wanted it to, and I had always wanted to teach, so I wanted to teach a subject that I had a passion for.

My first semester teaching (while still finishing grad school), I was only offered 2 classes, so I kept my 'former' job on a part time basis... 2 weeks later, Ray's company shut its doors, forcing me to work full time at my old job, continue teaching, AND finish my schooling. (I lost 15 lbs in 13 weeks).

Four years later, here I am, back in the ORIGINAL field that I went to school (the first time) for, in a job that I 'fell' into 100% by accident, in a state that I SWORE I'd never move to. (And you know I love it here.)

I still want to teach on the college level again part time, but it's getting harder and harder to do without a doctorate.

So... think about what things you enjoy go from there... it may take some creative thinking and unconventional methods, but you might find something very intersting.

 

[whnim64]

We were in MGM a few days back... I don't remember any bears in leather going AAAAaaaaaayyyyyyy....

There's one in every crowd, isn't there?

 

[whnim64]

Setting someone up for a T.O.P...and it's me! Two in one day. I set my own record.

 

[ohiominnie]

On an aside note, because I know how hard library staff work, I've taught my kids from a young age - how to look up topics & books, how to find them and importantly, put them back...Also, talk in whispers...(uh oh, I"m getting on my soap box - but, I get really annoyed by cell phone use in the library...)

Oh yeah, mine too. The only thing I don't *force* my kids to do at the library is reshelve. Unless they know for 100% certain where a book goes, I encourage them to just lay it in the general area and have a librarian do it. (I try to get them to pull out TWO books when they are looking....one take out totally, the other only take 1/2 way out....that way they know where to slide their book back in. It's SOOOOOOOO frustrating to be looking for that ONE particular book and not be able to find it b/c it's mishelved. I often times come across a book that is mishelved and I'll pull it out and lay it somehwere....hoping it finds it's rightful home!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Hey, no problem! I'm sure I'll be too busy reading it to be posting that night. I might get on and say something like "Wow"!

Is it wrong that I'm a Harry groupie? I do enjoy some of DDs books. We're both waiting for the reserve to come through of the third book in the Traveling Pants series. I don't have a favorite author, but I kind of like intelligent mystery/romance/historical type books with a little sci fi thrown in. I think the last ones I couldn't put down (besides HP) were Da Vinci Code and Time Traveler's Wife. As you can tell, I'm kind of lazy about searching out books I might like. I go to Costco and read the synopsis on the paperback, hoping I find something interesting.

Well, I'm re-reading all the HP books in anticipation of the 6th - it is a great pastime, for relaxation before bed,,,,
Don't know Time Traveler's Wife but title sounds interesting. Was not impressed by DaVinci Code at all.
So we are batting one out of 3 - not bad odds.

 

[ohiominnie]

Did you catch the Voices of Liberty? They have a new singer, a young lady that wears a blue dress, that absolutely takes your breath away! She's got an operatic voice that gets stronger when the notes get higher and more extended, it's really something to hear.

And we love the concerts, the street performers, and of course the variety of snacks and drinks available.

Yes, saw the VOL the last time we were there! ALWAYS amazing every time I hear them. As someone who can't carry a tune in a bucket, I can totally appreciate their talent.

Street performers.....I heard they fired them all. Roland wasn't there the last time we went. We really missed him. KT had a composition lesson where she had to write a business letter and she wrote to WDW.guest.communications and told them she missed the street performers.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

I'll chime in to praise librarians in general. I was raised in one and oculd not wait to get my first library card. I had to be tall enough to sign the book....made it on tip toe - still remember that day - long marble stairs up to the second floor - WOW....And now my best friend works in a library - not sure her exact title anymore...

I would boil over at cell phone usage in the library! Unless they are all awaiting a kidney transplant!

 

[justmestace]

We were in MGM a few days back... I don't remember any bears in leather going AAAAaaaaaayyyyyyy....

 

[ohiominnie]

Is it wrong that I'm a Harry groupie? I do enjoy some of DDs books.

Nah! That's fine! We've never gotten into Harry Potter here. I think we watched the first two movies. Kids have never seen them (they're sheltered) but we've been considering a family viewing soon....

We try to steer them away from movies that have more mature elements to them....I think they're getting to the point they can see that sorcery isn't the way to go, but I'm still very protective of sexual content in movies. Typically I preview them first and if it's too much in the way of sex, they don't get to watch it. I'd LOVE to let them see My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 'cept for the bed scenes. They want to see How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days b/c we've told them all the funny parts, but there is just too much in the way of sex in that for my liking....ok, not for MY liking....I like it very much, but for THEM it's too much! Or Something about Mary....the movie CRACKS me up and I think they'd find a lot of the parts of it very funny, but not at the expense of being exposed to all the bad stuff. Not yet...there's plenty of time for that later.

I enjoy a lot of the kids' books too. In fact, currently KT is reading "Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism" to us and it's really good. Good writer. Good reader!

 

[Dancind]

And the biggest loss, no Living Statues! My niece even asked about them. I'm amazed that they are gone, they were so popular. But they still have the guy with the chairs in France (yawn). The World Showcase Players have a new show, though, that's lots of fun. Romeo and Edna. And they seem to really have beefed up the street performers at MGM. We sat and watched one show there that was not so amusing. I think it was the Hollywood Chorus?

 

[ohiominnie]

I think if I didn't have 2 parents that were in education, I would have gone in to elementary ed.

HA! Funny you should say this. My parents were both in education and I'd have gone into it too if it wasn't for all their complaining about the beauracracy (sp?) of it all. So I went to nursing school---another serving sort of profession. A good number of my classmates had parents in education.....and a good number of the education majors I knew had parents in the medical profession!

 

[kikipug]

Thanks- but you've got it all wrong... what I really needed at that time was someone to tell me I was running myself into the ground!!!!!

My idea of 'lunch' was a SlimFast bar an and Diet Coke, while driving 80mph from work to make it to the class I was teaching til 5PM, then back down the highway (usually with another slimfast bar) to make it to the class I was attending at 5:30. I look back now and realize that I was INSANE!

Now, I subscribe much more to the "scubamom" school of thought...

We both work 40 hours or so each week (forget the 60-80 hours/week). There is much less pressure and a lot more time for the kids. We travel more (and save less for someday), hire out more chores (cleaning & lawn), and travel more. For us, it was the right choice.

We haven't really reached the 'travel more' stage, as our income changed ENORMOUSLY (and NOT for the better) when we moved to FL, but at least now more of our time is our own. Besides, FL isn't a bad place to have to hang around on the weekends...

It's all a matter of finding that elusive 'balance'. And once you find it, there's no guarantee that it will stay that way!!!