Help me, Obi-Mom Kenobi! You're my only hope. » work life

He never expressed any unhappiness with my work.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:43:46 +0000

“What could possibly have come over Master Luke? Is it something I did? He never expressed any unhappiness with my work.” - C-3PO, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi

I fight the good fight. I want, no demand, equal rights for women. I expect women to be taken seriously in the workplace - even (especially) if that workplace is the home. I hate doing it, but I make myself speak up every.single.time someone (be it dentist, hairdresser, or family member) makes a comment about the fact that I don’t work. “Would you have said that if I was volunteering at the Art Museum?” Because I do work, I just don’t get a paycheck for my physical and mental labors. I may go back into the labor force at some point, but it will be my and Dad Windu’s choice – we make all our important and family-affecting decisions jointly – and not my dermatologist’s misgivings.

Maybe I don’t look the part of the traditional housewife (whatever that is). Maybe it’s because I don’t have a gaggle of small children following me everywhere I go. Maybe it’s because I hold an advanced degree. Maybe it’s just assumed that people at home are just scratching at the walls or bemoaning a lost income.

This is the reality and explanation of my current non-employment status.

No, I have no plan to get a job at present. I did have a very successful career for many years, doing important work, and I made decent money doing it. I was very good at what I did, was in high demand with vendors because I got results, and I hated every minute of it. It is always a stressful job working with people at their worst physically and emotionally. I was the middle man in ongoing contentious legal situations every minute I worked, while trying to do right by the clients receiving services and the funding sources paying the bills. Money was, not surprisingly, the root of the conflict, as it so often is.

These days, I make my family’s life better and easier by staying home. I save us money in a variety of ways to keep us living comfortably and well on one income. I budget, cook, clean, comparison shop, and as often as possible take care of our things rather than sourcing out their care. I still get results. Additionally, by not entering the labor force, I free-up a job opening for someone who absolutely must work in these tough economic times. All in all, this isn’t a bad way to spend my time.

Your presence is soothing.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:42:02 +0000

Anakin Skywalker: (eyes closed) “Don’t go.”
Padme Amidala: “I don’t want to disturb you.”
Anakin Skywalker: “Your presence is soothing.”

Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

We were all a little nervous about Dad Windu getting laid-off and being home all.the.time. Rightfully so, I think.

Were we going to get on each other’s nerves?
Would DW start channeling his inner professional and start managing the way I ran the house and our homeschooling?
Would Padawan Learner get distracted having someone else walking around, talking, and moving in and out of our ‘school’ space during the day?
Would I begin to chafe at having to share the computer, the kitchen, and the teapot more than a few hours each night?

It has, thankfully, worked out very well this past month and a half. Dad Windu has his own routine going for large parts of the day, and he and I are getting out for a daily walk nearly each afternoon. PL has benefited from having Dad Windu right there for some of the math questions that I would normally have to go look up. I’ve enjoyed having another adult around to talk with during the day. DW helps with the house picking up, meal prep and chauffeuring tasks, freeing me from having to do all the day-to-day boring tasks myself.

In the end, we’re enjoying each other’s company on a day-in, day-out basis, and truth be told, I’m going to be a little sad to see him go away for 9 hours each day once he’s back working someplace.

Anakin did not take to his new assignment with much enthusiasm.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:00:05 +0000

“Anakin did not take to his new assignment with much enthusiasm.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

I just can not muster up the enthusiasm to care about my (I’m.a.successful.career.woman.hear.me.roar) very-part-time consulting job today. I don’t care if this guy gets a job, gets Social Security benefits, gets a fair trial, or gets a dog. It is warm, sunny, and a Friday. These three factors have conspired to send my Give-a-Damn gene on holiday.