A Little Epiphany - (and a newbie delurking)

[Dia]

Hi, Fallgirl,

Re: subbing/taking classes - This is a bit of a messed up situation. All I have left to finish my doctorate is my dissertation. Subbing wold be a stop gap to earn money in this difficult economy. My parents raised us kids to believe 'that we could do anything we wanted' career-wise. What I didn't realize was that there was this unspoken part that said "As long as it's teaching." I'm the eldest. My younger bro and sis dutifully went into the family business - one is a science teacher and one teaches gym. Me, silly me - I wanted this doctorate and to work in non-profit development. It's amusing in a sort of twisted way that I *never* hear any encouragement to work on or finish my dissertation, but they've offered me money if I would go get a teaching credential.

They are both retired boomers who are in a bit of denial about the current job market. Their idea of the work world is that you get one good job with nice benes and a pension, stay in it 40 years, save your money and retire. The whole benes and a pension things doesn't exist much out there anymore and we live in a community where unemployment is almost double the nat'l average. Even worse, this place is a retirement resort - think golf courses and casinos - so the primary employers are healthcare, small business and tourism and the latter two barely pay minimum wage unless you're the owner.

Even worse, my folks are also completely deluded about the daycare situation. Here's a bit of math:

2 bedroom apt = $1000/month
daycare = $450/month
utilities, gas, groceries = $600/month
--------------------------------------
bare minimum = $2100/month after taxes

Sub pay = $95/day
There are 21 - 23 potential sub days in a given month, so best case scenario is that I will make about $2200/month subbing if I work *every single day* - and there's no guarantee of that. Take out taxes, health ins and union dues, and I'll be lucky if my check is $1700 - which won't pay for the daycare I'll need to do the job.

Now - that and 's just me venting, and mostly at my parents and the economy. Please don't think I'm being snarky at you or that I didn't appreciate the suggestion.