Over the Shock and GALing 5

[Thinker]

Thanks Sara,

I understand what you are saying, and my W has requested just that - "It's just too much. You are always here." There is also an alternative. My company has an office about a half hour drive from here. I work with none of the people who are in that building - it's a complete different division - but I could get an office there. I could drive there, go into my office, close the door, and talk on the phone all day - exactly what I do here at home.

My objections to this have so far been as follows:

1) the impact of me working here is minimal. I go into my office in the morning, and am there all day with the door closed. I come out for only a few minutes at a time (coffee, bathroom, quick lunch) and almost never see my W during those times. So there is an impact on her - but only "because she knows I am there", and not because I am interrupting her, getting in her way, etc.

2) The quality of life improvement for me improved dramatically when I started working from home. I got about an hour and a half of my day back. I'm healthier because I have time to exercise and because I eat better (no cafeteria food). I see my kids more because they wander in and out, hang out with me as I work, draw on my white board, etc. I am happier.

3) It is better for us as a family. We save $ on some of our bills because the company pays. We only have to maintain 1 car because I never need one, so save $ on car payments, insurance and gas.

4) It is actually better for my W. My W has been able to start her consulting business because she can leave S1 here napping and take off to meet clients, and S4 and S6 can hang out here in the house while I work. If she has a doctors appt, or otherwise needs someone to watch the kids, I can normally re-arrange my work schedule, free myself up and step in on short notice. I "go to work" (ie go upstairs) late enough that I can help get the kids off to school, and am always able to "get home" (ie come downstairs) early enough to help with the hectic pre-dinner rush.

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So I am considering what you said, but I am not sure how much it would help (vs how much her complaints are a kind of scapegoat for her), and also am reluctant to give up all of the benefits.

Maybe I should look into it short term.