http://www.slate.com/id/2274736/
Going Dutch
Women in the Netherlands work less, have lesser titles and a big gender pay gap, and they love it.
This article addresses something I think about sometimes...how women in the US struggled for equality in the workplace, but ended up working full time on top of all the same duties in the home. I am waiting for 5:00 so I can pick up Austin and work on dinner and I am jealous of part-time workers who have the time and freedom to cut back on hours on the job and balance life the way they determine it should be balanced.
(Note: I am not complaining about my job, or my pay check. I realize that I decided to work and I could just as easily decide not to.) This is not a whiney post.
Here is an excerpt from the article that says what I'm thinking:
Women in the United States have become defined by the compromises we make. More than 75 percent of American women work full-time jobs. As our responsibilities increase at work, they do not shrink at home. We give up time with our families for our careers, and after work we give up other interests for time spent with our children and spouses—because there are only so many hours in a day. Because of part-time work, Dutch women are able to develop themselves and their relationships in ways many of us simply don't have the time for.
In the end, the article makes the point that American women tend to strive for perfection, which is a hefty solid wall that I run myself into quite regularly, usually with nasty consequences. Maybe this is a better way. What if we did "go Dutch"?
Monday, November 15, 2010
Baby Babbling article in NYT.
Also, it is amazing to watch my toddler acquire language skills. I want to read more about how language develops, but I am too busy participating in his life to do the reading!
Also, it is amazing to watch my toddler acquire language skills. I want to read more about how language develops, but I am too busy participating in his life to do the reading!
Lately
I have found a lot of interesting content lately and I am thinking about starting to post some of it...to recycle it for others to enjoy:
Evernote
I have been collecting interesting things using Evernote, which is sort of like the ultimate digital post-it notebook. You can take pictures of things that interest and inspire you, write text notes, capture screen shots, Microsoft Outlook links to it, so you can automatically add emails, and it all syncs via a website, so I can access it on the iPhone, at home, at work, any where that I feel inspired. You can tag all of your notes so that when it's time to redecorate the living room you can easily pull up all the "House" inspirations. I can easily grab all my "Style" inspiration shots to show the hairstylist how I want my updo for a wedding (side chingnon). I like it because I can collect and catalogue things of interest without fear of losing them.
Wallpaper
Currently it is the deer shot from http://happymundane.com/2010/11/wtf-posters-by-minga/: I know, I know...inappropriate. But funny.
Let It Go
The other morning I had an extreme round of self-doubt...sort of imagining all possible kinds of things that were wrong. It was a really tough hour for me, but I got through it by holding each one of my fears up and really looking at them honestly, before telling myself to "Let it go." Breathing helped, too. When you stop breathing, it's not good.
Joint Finances
I am excited to have our finances combined, instead of operating like two single people. I have been reading a lot about personal finance and I hope that we start making great decisions for our family. I have found some inspiration at http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog and although I don't see us selling our cars, it's been good to think about the best ways to pay off the debt (not much now) and plan/invest in things that matter to us.
Family
I was proud to stand by my husband's side at his best friend's wedding last weekend. Congratulations to the happy couple who should be on their honeymoon now. Here's to a very happy future. Not that I was asked, but my advice would be to always put each other first, something that I am only now learning how to do. Side note from the wedding: My family is gorgeous.
Last night the baby (toddler) and I were playing for a while in the living room, just laughing and playing with blocks and climbing up on the coffee table and harassing the dog. It was really fun. He's saying so much now. After he went to bed it was The Amazing Race with my amazing 12-year-old. Any suggestions to plan an amazing race locally for her and her friends would be welcome.
Finally
I have no stated policy about posting or comments, since no one reads this, but I reserve the right to completely moderate anything that is posted in response to my posts. You are warned.
Evernote
I have been collecting interesting things using Evernote, which is sort of like the ultimate digital post-it notebook. You can take pictures of things that interest and inspire you, write text notes, capture screen shots, Microsoft Outlook links to it, so you can automatically add emails, and it all syncs via a website, so I can access it on the iPhone, at home, at work, any where that I feel inspired. You can tag all of your notes so that when it's time to redecorate the living room you can easily pull up all the "House" inspirations. I can easily grab all my "Style" inspiration shots to show the hairstylist how I want my updo for a wedding (side chingnon). I like it because I can collect and catalogue things of interest without fear of losing them.
Wallpaper
Currently it is the deer shot from http://happymundane.com/2010/11/wtf-posters-by-minga/: I know, I know...inappropriate. But funny.
Let It Go
The other morning I had an extreme round of self-doubt...sort of imagining all possible kinds of things that were wrong. It was a really tough hour for me, but I got through it by holding each one of my fears up and really looking at them honestly, before telling myself to "Let it go." Breathing helped, too. When you stop breathing, it's not good.
Joint Finances
I am excited to have our finances combined, instead of operating like two single people. I have been reading a lot about personal finance and I hope that we start making great decisions for our family. I have found some inspiration at http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog and although I don't see us selling our cars, it's been good to think about the best ways to pay off the debt (not much now) and plan/invest in things that matter to us.
Family
I was proud to stand by my husband's side at his best friend's wedding last weekend. Congratulations to the happy couple who should be on their honeymoon now. Here's to a very happy future. Not that I was asked, but my advice would be to always put each other first, something that I am only now learning how to do. Side note from the wedding: My family is gorgeous.
Last night the baby (toddler) and I were playing for a while in the living room, just laughing and playing with blocks and climbing up on the coffee table and harassing the dog. It was really fun. He's saying so much now. After he went to bed it was The Amazing Race with my amazing 12-year-old. Any suggestions to plan an amazing race locally for her and her friends would be welcome.
Finally
I have no stated policy about posting or comments, since no one reads this, but I reserve the right to completely moderate anything that is posted in response to my posts. You are warned.
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