Me Time!

[zac's mum]

DS weekdays dismissal at 2.30pm by the time reach home is already tea time kind of timing, so I asked him to eat his lunch in school (or near school) whenever possible before heading home. So he will usually be rotating lunch with whichever friend group is staying back for cca. If no friends free then he will dabao his and mine (lunch) along the way home. Otherwise i am happy to eat an apple alone


I am thinking to go back to full time work hours liao, since i am quite “redundant” at home nowadays.

[sharonkhoo]

Funz\" post_id=\"2132154\" time=\"1712458012\" user_id=\"6230:

Yes, being idle can be stressful as well. No sense of purpose, no sense of accomplishment, nothing much to look forward to.

Some can say no deadlines, no worries, no one to answer to, what's there to stress about. But different people are wired differently.

Agree with you! I just met up with a bunch of friends my age, and most are spending their time travelling and doing hobbies. I am slowing down on work and planning to travel more, but I can't see myself just doing hobbies - that has happened at various times in the past, and I find it boring and stressful after a while.

I'm happy to do volunteer work because I can see that what I do benefits people and the organisation, even though I don't get paid. I will do paid projects if offered, but that part of my work has reduced recently and I haven't been trying very hard to build that up as I'm busy enough for now. I realise that I need to feel that my skills and activities are useful - and I don't see my main skills as cooking and housework!

[sharonkhoo]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2132176\" time=\"1712478100\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2132176 time=1712478100 user_id=53606]
I am thinking to go back to full time work hours liao, since i am quite “redundant” at home nowadays.[/quote]

Why not? And if you find that a FT 5 days a week is a bit much, you could try working PT 3-4 days a week. Also, nowadays, WFH a couple of days a week is the norm for many jobs, which is not as intense as 5 full days in the office.

[MrsKiasu]

In my mind I know I want to have something to do now and later can bring it into my ‘retirement’ years…just that what/how/where to start.

[MrsKiasu]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2132174\" time=\"1712477151\" user_id=\"28674:

I think you should look at doing \"something\" as a means to improve your own life by having something purposeful to do. Don't think about the pay and whether it's \"worth it\" - people will do hobbies and activities which cost money to give them something to do! In fact, if you can't find a job that suits you, why not find some volunteer work? Your kids don't need you as much now, so a few hours a week of something may be just what you need.

Looking to the future, sometimes volunteer work can lead to paid work, or can give you some skills and exposure that will help build up your resume. Start with that first, and see where it leads you.

I think go out find a job should be able to ba..if both the company and I compromise a little..but somehow find it not 'sustainable' as in I still would like to have my freedom of time to fetch dds..esp nowadays so hot outside. The weather makes me feel reluctant to go out for a walk also.

[MrsKiasu]

Dd usually go to shortest Q stall during recess forgoing her favourite noodle soup so that she could go library to enjoy aircon. After school, once in a while she will ask me if can dabao tomyam banmian. I bought a bottle of tom yam koong fm SS for her craving at home.

[Funz]

MrsKS, like you say, you need to make some compromise. I would say you should be more ready to compromise than the company since the company has a lot more restrictions in the form of operating hours, manpower availability, etc.


Singapore is either hot or rainy, now hot, wanna pick them, later rainy, also wanna pick them, aiyah activities end so late, huh project work at fren's place so far, competition in a school at the other end of Singapore, pick pick pick. I know, I also have that urge whenever I am off or working from home. If cannot drive or no car then no such issues.

[sharonkhoo]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2132182\" time=\"1712480068\" user_id=\"43981:

I think go out find a job should be able to ba..if both the company and I compromise a little..but somehow find it not 'sustainable' as in I still would like to have my freedom of time to fetch dds..esp nowadays so hot outside. The weather makes me feel reluctant to go out for a walk also.

I totally understand. When I was in your position, I was very clear in my mind that I didn't want to get a FT job. I didn't have the restriction of fetching kids as they took public transport, but I especially wanted to be at home the couple of hours before dinner when kids come home from school. Since you still want to fetch your kids, you may have to get a PT job that is mornings only or flexi-time.

My first PT job was flexi-time - I was paid for the amount of work I did, but I was free to choose when I did it. When I felt my kids needed me even less, I took on a 2.5 days job - 2 full days and 1 half day. With both those jobs, I also took on freelance work which I could do at home. I have a similar arrangement now - 2 days in the office, on call for urgent matters at other times. I considered going back FT after a while, but by the time I was ready for that, I was in my late 50s, and my applications never bore fruit. The pay for working PT or flexi-time is low compared to working FT, and benefits are pro-rated. But for returnees to the workforce, I think we have to accept that they are taking a chance on us (at least at first), and flexibility comes at a cost.

[sharonkhoo]

Funz\" post_id=\"2132189\" time=\"1712483459\" user_id=\"6230:

If cannot drive or no car then no such issues.

True! And by the time we had a car, the kids were so used to public transport they didn't ask, and I didn't offer! And I had started my PT work by then.

[MrsKiasu]

Also school holidays I need to be away. Who will want me :sad:


But true lor, no car no problems ..suddenly all will be super independent