The bit about career progression not always being linear was really helpful to read. After years of climbing the ladder at the behest of my ambition gremlin, I took a role as an individual contributor and it’s been difficult for my ego. But I am available to take my daughter to therapy sessions in the middle of the day each week and I’ll be volunteering at the school at 9 am next week with no issue.
May 13, 2022·edited May 13, 2022Liked by Claire Zulkey
It can also be a midlife crisis. I remember feeling this way through my late 30s and the majority of my 40s. Coincidently, my mind started to clear right around the time youngest child began to be more independent. Also, in college I had many many "non-traditional" students in my classes. Mostly women who were empty nesters and/or recently divorced and going onto to their next phase. They were awesome. One became an actress and ended up being the Meryl Streep of the local theatre scene. It's never too late.
but I thought I handled my midlife crisis when I colored my hair crazy colors and got a tattoo!
I think you are right about the age thing--it's weird (and great) for parenting to get a little easier and humbling to see so many new moms the last few years doing this in an even harder timeline.
Thanks so much for articulating how I have been feeling with school-aged kids, especially with summer looming and the hodge-podge of childcare that represents. Do I just give up and reset in the fall? Do I take on more work since the last two years have been a mess? It's really anyone's guess at this point.
I loved this one. Missed it when you originally sent it. I think for me there's a huge amount of fatigue from the last two years. For a while there was a meme that said something like, "When you hit a wall, sometimes the wall is there for you to rest." And I feel I've been resting on the way this whole year. It's been a lot. It continues to be a lot, and I'm not recovered yet from the a lot IT HAS BEEN.
Loved this from beginning to end -- Jessica is a true gem.
The bit about career progression not always being linear was really helpful to read. After years of climbing the ladder at the behest of my ambition gremlin, I took a role as an individual contributor and it’s been difficult for my ego. But I am available to take my daughter to therapy sessions in the middle of the day each week and I’ll be volunteering at the school at 9 am next week with no issue.
It can also be a midlife crisis. I remember feeling this way through my late 30s and the majority of my 40s. Coincidently, my mind started to clear right around the time youngest child began to be more independent. Also, in college I had many many "non-traditional" students in my classes. Mostly women who were empty nesters and/or recently divorced and going onto to their next phase. They were awesome. One became an actress and ended up being the Meryl Streep of the local theatre scene. It's never too late.
but I thought I handled my midlife crisis when I colored my hair crazy colors and got a tattoo!
I think you are right about the age thing--it's weird (and great) for parenting to get a little easier and humbling to see so many new moms the last few years doing this in an even harder timeline.
I want to hear more about having a mid-life crisis for real! Even a plodding one
Thanks so much for articulating how I have been feeling with school-aged kids, especially with summer looming and the hodge-podge of childcare that represents. Do I just give up and reset in the fall? Do I take on more work since the last two years have been a mess? It's really anyone's guess at this point.
I loved this one. Missed it when you originally sent it. I think for me there's a huge amount of fatigue from the last two years. For a while there was a meme that said something like, "When you hit a wall, sometimes the wall is there for you to rest." And I feel I've been resting on the way this whole year. It's been a lot. It continues to be a lot, and I'm not recovered yet from the a lot IT HAS BEEN.
I was just talking about this the other day with my therapist. she said she's been hearing it a lot.