Tech Frustrations
  • Home
    • Tech Tips
  • About
  • Share
  • Happy
  • Review
    • Resolution
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Subscribe

Tech Frustrations Blog

Why It's Worth It

7/11/2017

6 Comments

 
Picture
Years ago, when our kids were little, there was a single moment on a Saturday afternoon that I clearly remember. The house was busy. More than just our kids were running around inside. They were loud. They were hungry. They were thirsty. A glass of milk was spilled. I remember thinking to myself, “I don’t have time for this! I’m trying to get some volunteer work done, and it’s impossible to concentrate and focus with all of this commotion.”  My thoughts continued, “How can I get all of these children out of here so that I can help others?” And then it hit me. Like a ton of bricks. One of the kids had survived some traumatic situations in the past. Maybe welcoming him and giving him a little time (like enough to pour a glass of milk or even mop up a spill) was the best way for me to help others. Maybe the people who most needed my time and attention were standing right in front of me at that very moment. How did I miss it? Why wasn’t it immediately obvious? Why couldn’t I see the forest for the trees? That moment changed me. At least a little. 
 
Fast forward a few years, and I still want to help others. Since retiring, it’s been easy to find ways to continue doing most of what I enjoyed doing at work. I send my husband financial reports. I create and maintain web sites. I’m organizing everything. I’ve planned a few events. And there is no shortage of intelligent and engaging people to talk with most days (in person and online). When I left work, my only concern was that I had wanted a few more years to help younger employees realize their full potential in the workplace, and I figured that would be hard to do in retirement. But I also wanted to have more time to do other things, so I left.
 
I’m convinced that the minute you leave the work world you start to lose touch with it. Changes are occurring every day and you’re not keeping up with them because you aren’t experiencing them. But yesterday morning, after I hung up the phone following a monthly conversation with a former European colleague, and after sending a quick networking note to another young woman whose career was launched only a couple of weeks ago, I had another one of those “Ah ha” moments. I realized that I am helping others with their careers. At least a little. 
 
When I started working, my career goal was simple; show that it was possible for a woman to work full time while raising children. In hindsight it seems almost silly, and it even seemed like a modest goal at the time. The thing is, it wasn’t easy. Ever. As I stated in my Stamina blog post, the critical success factor for me was marrying the right person. My husband could not have been more supportive. My goal became his goal, and while there were many challenges, frustrations (and not just Tech Frustrations), and stories that only became funny in hindsight, we pulled it off. One day at a time. 
 
The goal sounded trivial, even in 1985. The implementation of the goal was and is anything but trivial, even in 2017.
 
Now, when we gather with friends, most of them retired, it’s the stories of the craziest and most hectic days we recall and laugh about. The daughter who cried for at least five days in a row when we picked her up from daycare. The inability to helicopter parent which resulted in my husband exclaiming, “What do you mean you have to memorize the Periodic Table of Elements by tomorrow morning?!” And the annual Halloween costume conversation which started with, “You can be any character hanging in this aisle [at Walmart].”
 
For those of you parents working and raising kids right now, I think it’s worth clearly stating that what you are doing is hard. And it’ll probably be worth it in the end. You’re showing your "village" that you value the education, upbringing, and guidance they provided. You're showing your employers that working parents can be strong contributors and leaders. You’re showing your kids that hard work is important, it isn’t always easy, and you’re giving them real opportunities to add value around the house which builds lasting self-esteem. You’re showing another generation of young parents what’s possible and hopefully helping them understand that both families and careers are worth the effort.

What you’re doing matters.  


If you're a working parent and/or young employee and think that I can help you in any way, please feel free to contact me.

​
Subscribe or unsubscribe to this blog.
6 Comments
Kelly
7/11/2017 03:51:16 pm

We did manage to make it work :)

Reply
Kathy Haselmaier
7/11/2017 09:29:25 pm

Yes. By the skin of our teeth ;)

Reply
Mary Beth Thorne
7/11/2017 04:11:28 pm

What a wonderful story about those "aha" moments! It shows purpose, validation and encouragement to those now going through parenthood and "workhood." I can't sent this blog off to Suzanne fast enough!

Reply
Kathy Haselmaier
7/11/2017 09:32:44 pm

It's hard for me to believe that Suzanne is in the midst of these years already. It seems like just yesterday she was part of the craziness of the Lesher carpool. Why did we agree to shuttle our kids across town when there was a bus at the end of the street that would have taken them to a perfectly good school?! Oh yeah, it was because we loved them and wanted the best for them :)

Reply
Ann Brauch
7/11/2017 05:12:18 pm

What a great write-up! I've pondered so many similar moments as a working mom. You are right that a supportive partner is a must. Although it was never easy, I suspect staying home is also not easy.

Reply
Kathy Haselmaier
7/11/2017 09:34:14 pm

I've spent my entire life looking for the easy way out. Let me know when you find it ;) Thanks for reading!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Kathy Haselmaier

    Technology enthusiast.
    ​Communicator.
    ​Organizer.

    Subscribe 

    Archives

    September 2019
    June 2019
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    AirPods
    All-Index
    Best Blogs
    Books (audio)
    Car Keys
    Cars
    Car Tires
    Cell Phones
    Charitable Contributions
    Communication
    Conflict Resolution
    Converters
    Debates
    Diversity
    Doors
    EBay
    Etsy
    Facebook
    GPS
    Holidays
    Home Improvement
    Hoopla
    Insurance
    LED Lighting
    Michigan Tech
    Music
    Negotiation
    OfferUp-TrashNothing-Freecycle-CraigsList
    Politics
    Roof
    Simplifying
    Skiing
    Social Media
    Stamina
    Streaming
    Tech Shame
    To-Do List App
    Translators
    Travel
    TV
    Working Parents

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Juho Holmi, Radomir Cernoch, tiagopadua, fazen, Rina Pitucci (Tilling 67), Hunky Punk, billy3001, C. VanHook (vanhookc), torbakhopper, usembassykyiv, TheBetterDay, Carl Mikoy, ota_photos, Blue MauMau, romanboed
  • Home
    • Tech Tips
  • About
  • Share
  • Happy
  • Review
    • Resolution
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Subscribe