Folks, this is NEVER good way to start a conversation. It brings out the smartass.
Well, my plans are to win the lottery and never to work again.
My plans? *thinks* Is your life insurance paid up?
I think I’m going to join a hippie commune and love Mother Earth.
What was the purpose of the convo? Well, Mom’s employment with the Big Scareline is in jeopardy. She thinks they’re going to force her into early retirement before she can complete the real thing in December.
While it’s entirely reasonable for her to expect me to get a job, until she’s at home full time**, I can’t afford childcare. There’s not a person in this economy who will hire me for 25K after being home with kids for 4 years. Not when they can find other folks with more recent experience for less money. And I can’t take less money, pay rent AND childcare.
I considered going to work part-time right now, but that’s just not possible. After working at her regular job, Mom comes in, changes clothes, eats dinner, and watches TV for the rest of the night. Dad’s useless for childcare. He doesn’t do diapers, and his idea of “watching” the kids involves poking, prodding, and otherwise irritating the shit outta them. It’s gotten to the point where the kids don’t eat dinner at the same time as he does so they can eat uninterrupted. Alannah is old enough to watch the boys for a few hours a night, but she really can’t handle both of them for long. She’s gotta be a kid too, y’know?
[whine] I want to be able to stay home with my kids! They need me! [/whine]
**I’m really not crazy about leaving the kids with her at all, but I don’t have much choice in the matter.