Today's Rant: The Myth of the Part-Time Job

Ok. So it's not a complete myth. Many people can, and do, have successful, well-paying part-time jobs. But my guess is (and please correct me if I'm wrong) most of these people are either single, semi-retired, or in a relationship without dependents. Because let's face it, when you have small kids at home, just about any job you take will either need to happen "after hours" (aka when the ankle-biters are a-bed) or will need to pay enough so you can afford part- or full-time childcare. In which case, you're simply working to pay for your childcare. Ummm....no thanks.

Oh, and by the way, those jobs that claim to be "tailor-made for stay-at-home moms and dads" are either glorified pyramid-scams or totally full of shit. As any parent will tell you, the chances of being able to do ANY work at home while in the presence of a non-napping small child are nil.

So why am I going on about this, you ask? Mostly because I'm frustrated. At this time, I have no interest in holding down a full-time paying job. But the idea of having a flexible part-time job (and the paychecks that come with it) is really appealing. Only it feels like the current system in the U.S. is not designed to support parents like me. Even regular freelancing isn't an option unless we are willing to put Z in daycare so I can set up a website and drum up business. And there's no guarantee that it'll be worth our while.

For now, our options are as follows:
- continue finding freelance work with folks who don't need to work with me during the day
- continue looking for a job of some sort, contract or otherwise, that will pay enough so we can afford childcare AND actually have some money left over
- continue bitching and moaning about the unfairness of it all
- join grassroots movements like this one and see what I can do to help change the current employment laws and guidelines for the better

Over and out.