I work full time and I am okay with the job I have now, but sometimes I wonder what else is out there that would be more satisfying. I have had people ask me this,"If you did not have to work what is it that you would want to do all day?" You are suppose to answer the question and pick a career based on your answer. For example if you like to read, you could be in editing. If you like to eat, maybe be a food critic or chef. If you like to shop, maybe a retail job is right for you. When I asked myself this question I could not answer. I dont have a passion! The only thing I would really want to do is stay at home with my kids. Maybe that means I should be in childcare. So I ask you this. What is your passion? Is there anyone else that still does not really know what they want to do for a career?
Yep there's me. Don't get me
Yep there's me. Don't get me wrong I love my job and I appreciate the flexibility it offers but I have been here for 9 years and have worked here since I was a teenager. I have been promoted a few times but sometimes I still feel blah. I have considered watching kids from home but I already have 4 of my own so I am not sure. Ideally I would love to be a party and event planner.
Jennifer is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com and mommy to four beautiful girls who range from 9 to 4 years of age.
Unfortuantely, a lot of
Unfortuantely, a lot of "dream jobs" don't pay the bills. Sometimes I think your dreams and ideals change the more you know. I write from home, and I love it--I don beleive it's my passion; however, it doesn't make 3 kids crying and a deadline in one hour any more pleasant. It's still work, but I am grateful to do what I love.
Brooke Romney is an unbalanced mom of three young boys who constantly has too much to do, and too little time. She writes the Mom Beat column for The Gilbert Republic.
I found my passion after my
I found my passion after my son was born and I picked up a camera. It wasn't the first time I had taken a photo, of course, but it was as if I were seeing for the first time! Although I am currently a SAHM that has to go back to work until this stinkin house sells, I am working toward opening a children's photography business, but just do a little freelance work here and there by word of mouth for now. i don't know if I will ever make the kind of money I can in sales, but I will be happy doing it. I LOVE capturing children at their most beautiful when they are just being themselves.
My passion has always been
My passion has always been writing. I left my career 15 years ago to raise kids, and now that my 'baby' is 11 I think I'm ready to go back. It's just so hard to 'find my way' back in --- like I've lost the map or forgotten the secret password to open that door.
It's ironic because now I have TIME to promote a book --- which I didn't when my kids were little --- but no book to promote! When I sit at the keyboard my mind just wanders to the laundry needing to be done, the unfinished shopping, the messy rooms, etc. I think I have to 're-train' my brain because it's stuck in "Mommy mode!"
I know you didn't post this
I know you didn't post this as advertising, but I would be interested in talking with you about the possibility of photographing my two boys. I have one tyke who hasn't smiled for a professional photographer since he was 5 months old (he turns 2 next week). He gets shy, I think, and uncomfortable with new people, and needs an unconventional photographer who's not trying to get us in and out in 10 minutes. He needs time to warm up, so I was hoping to find a free-lancer. If you're interested, let me know how best to reach you.
GopherGirl is a discussion follower. She lives in the West Valley with her husband and two boys, ages 4 and 2.
Hi GopherGirl! I would love
Hi GopherGirl! I would love to talk with you more about that. You can email me at apeyer@hotmail.com and we can exchange contact info! Hope to hear from you soon!
I am usually envious of
I am usually envious of people that actually have a passion and have the drive to pursue it as a career. It can be a big financial risk, as Brooke mentions. I'm not sure what mine is. Writing? Scrapbooking? Organizing? Drinking well-made coffee?
I think the ideal situation would be to be able to do what you love only when you feel like doing it, and still being able to pay the bills! The drag of any job, to me, is having to meet others' expectations and timelines. An example would be the deadline Brooke mentions above. Authors have deadlines, singers have rehearsals, athletes have to practice or train, movie stars have shooting schedules and promotional tours. These kinds of obligations can make your passion a drag! Take today's retirement of Justine Henin, the world's top-ranked tennis player. At 25, it sounds like she's just burned out from something you would imagine she once loved to do.
I'm not trying to be negative Nelly, but it kind of helps me realize that the grass is not always greener, as it may appear. There will always be a downside to every job, and I just need to do my best, get through the day, and support my family.
GopherGirl is a discussion follower. She lives in the West Valley with her husband and two boys, ages 4 and 2.
I think it's perfectly OK
I think it's perfectly OK not to have a work passion in your life right now. I had one when I was single, then had kids and continued working in my field though my work passion definately started to wane.
I'm 41 now and have a whole new passion for a completely different second career that I'm going to pursue once my youngest son gets a little older.
If you've got a passion right now for raising the kiddos, go with that and take a job that can help make ends meet. There's always going to be time later in life for the dream job/career.
Susie is a discussion leader in the east valley for arizonamoms.com. She has two sons, ages 6 and 2.
That's good advice. I saw an
That's good advice. I saw an interview with Maria Schriver and she said
"You CAN have it all, just not all at once!"
and her point was that women shouldn't get discouraged about career vs. SAHM because the key is finding balance.
Oh, boy I have lots of
Oh, boy I have lots of passions.....
I work full time as well in accounting.Never in a million years would I see myself at a desk...with numbers.Come to find out I do enjoy it......I do like problem solving....from time to time I do drift into a day dream...of one of my passions....
And Miriam I hear you about the book, I have been writting a book for the last three years...and I don't know when I will finish it....I get frustrated...and then I think...it just isn't the time yet...
Well don't give up on that
Well don't give up on that book! You're right, there will be time, some time!
A book idea doesn't 'expire' and some great works of literature took years to complete! Just keep at it when you can!
I think it's hard to realize
I think it's hard to realize your passions when you're so busy raising a family. I also believe that you can have several "passions" that might change at different times in your life. If you're passionate about your kids right now - that's fine. Maybe you need a job that doesn't take a lot of emotional energy or creativity so you can give that to your kids when you're home. Possibly later, when the kids are older, you might feel drawn into another direction, or career, that you feel "passionate" about.
Lattemom is the mother of three energetic kids ages 6, 8 & 11 and a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com.
miriam.. Thanks for the
miriam..
Thanks for the words of encouragement.I hope you take a liking to your words as well.
Who knows maybe someday we will be reading each other books! Stranger things have happened... :)
I think our passion changes
I think our passion changes as we move through life. Clearly, you are thinking about raising kids. Agreeing with the earlier posts, even the most wonderful, perfect career will require something of you at some time that will feel like an outright obligation. In fact, right now I am feeling passionate about getting some sleep. I have had major insomnia for weeks on end. Once I do get some sleep, I will refocus on my passion for educating children. It just goes to show you that YOUR passion may just involve the right now passion, and it changes as we change:)
I am constantly asking
I am constantly asking myself the same thing. I worked for fifteen years as a teacher and technology coordinator for an independent school while having my three children. While balancing work and motherhood, it seemed like I was constantly overwhelmed and I would often think about other things I could be doing. I longed at times to be a stay at home mom.
I got the opportunity while working to write articles on education and I found that also to be quite fulfilling.
The last year and a half, I have been a stay at home and it has been quite an adjustment. My being a stay at home mom had certainly helped our family to adjust to a major move across the country, and with recent family events it has been a necessity, but there are definitely times that I long to focus on determining what I have a passion for and putting and action plan in place. I have never been a particularly patient person and so that is something I am working on. I feel fortunate that I have the support system in place to give me the time needed for me to find my passion. Have you found your passion yet? I am still looking!
JuneSlager is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com, raising three children (ages 15, 14, & 11) in Northeast Phoenix.