My first proper, drinking night out in 14 months was well-timed on Thursday. I found out that morning that my contract at work isn’t being renewed after August. Talk about gutted.
It’s complicated, but I work for two organisations. I’m employed by one organisation (a government department) to provide them with a service but I’m based at another organisation (a charity) because they have the resources that the former needs. The government department wanted to keep the contract going but the charity doesn’t for various reasons, none of which involve me. In fact, the people involved in making the decision at the charity didn’t realise that I had just returned from maternity leave, let alone that I had had twins. It’s a children’s charity but I won’t say which one. Spot the irony there. To cap it all, the girls are in the on-site nursery at the charity. Luckily it is a private nursery so I don’t necessarily have to remove them but things are a bit up in the air right now.
I have been offered a different job at the charity from August, but it involves taking a significant pay cut. The government department has made noises about wanting to keep me (they described me as a ‘valuable asset’, which was nice) but nothing concrete has been offered as yet. It’s infuriating (to put it mildly) because I run a successful, well-used, popular information service that generates a lot of goodwill, not to mention cash and plaudits for the charity but they simply want to cut costs, even though I don’t actually cost them anything as I’m paid by the other organisation. Still with me? Keep up at the back, I’ll be asking questions at the end.
So, I have a job until 6th August and then who knows? Do I take a job that pays less money and doesn’t reflect my qualifications and status at a place I have real ideological problems with so that the girls get continuity of care at their marvellous nursery? Should I hold out and see what the other organisation offers? What if they don’t offer me anything? Is there a third way?
I’ve been back at work for four weeks now and I know that I’m simply not cut out to be a full-time SAHM. I admire anyone that does it but I’m thriving in the office, the girls adore nursery and we have much more fun with them at home now. I’ve worked my arse off, frankly, to get to where I am in my profession but equally I don’t want to compromise my girls and force them to leave an environment they love simply so I can swan off and pursue my ambitions.
Anyway, the night out was marvellous. We went for a curry at work and on to a couple of bars in the City afterwards. At the end of the night it was me and two of my male colleagues putting the world to rights in a Wetherspoons. I am both classy AND a cheap date. I’m such a catch – dh is a lucky man isn’t he?! I didn’t get home until 12.30am and I was up at 6am to get myself ready for work and the girls ready for nursery. I was knackered by the time I put the girls to bed last night but it was worth it.
Now I just need to figure out what I’m going to do next.
