Some sort of clerical or receptionist work might be good. Maybe somewhere with puppies or interesting people or in a field you might like to work in one day.

I have looked into this, but sadly most of them want too many hours and pay too much per hour for me to take them.

sj - have you tried checking with a temp agency about doing short term clerical assignments?

sj - have you tried checking with a temp agency about doing short term clerical assignments?

That's a good idea. I checked the temp agencies in RI a while back, but only wanted full time people. I haven't checked any temp agencies here yet.

You know, I once got a short part-time gig doing research for an author. That kinda just fell in my lap, but is there anything you do really well that you could offer at a bargain?

I guessing there's more of a demand for P/T temps around the holidays. Or at least it stands to reason there would be.

If it's important to you, it's not crazy. Just don't get too rigid about what and how much and for who.

If it's important to you, it's not crazy.

This!

is there anything you do really well that you could offer at a bargain?

I'm pretty much convinced I suck at everything right now.

If it's important to you, it's not crazy. Just don't get too rigid about what and how much and for who.

I'm pretty flexible where I can be. I just have to be very careful not to make enough to frell with my benifits.

sj, I would look for light manufacturing of products that are in high demand this time of year or have high catalog sales. Around here a lot of people go to work for American Girl and Land's End during the holiday season. They don't need full-time, just part-time for a couple of months. You might even hear them advertising for seasonal help on the radio.

{{JZ}} I know it all sucks no matter how it shakes out--both the expense and the fact that you have to put Matilda in daycare at 4 months. When I had Owen, I didn't realize the lack of real, paid maternity leave at my company. They sort of lead me on that I'd get "short term disability" for up to 12 weeks--only they only certify you off for a vaginal delivery for six weeks. And you have to be off for a month before you can collect this short term disability. So, in fact, their maternity leave consists of 2 weeks at 60% pay. Which is shit. I actually cried in my doctor's office when I found that out. And the cost of daycare is what ultimately led me to stay home.

Lack of adequate PAID maternity (and paternity) leave in this country is criminal to me, as is affordable daycare. I know a woman that had to go back to work at six weeks and I felt so bad for her.

I hope you can work through the stress and enjoy the time you have at home with Matilda.

I could get 12 weeks unpaid (thank you, Bill Clinton, because you're the only one who cut me a break), and take whatever earned time (sick + vacation) I had in the bank, for those twelve weeks, but could not tap into any disability insurance, and there was no such thing as paid maternity leave. At a hospital.

I didn't have 12 weeks of time, but my doctor had made me cut down to 20 hours per week, the last couple of weeks I worked, so I kept getting my check at 20 hours, rather than 40, which stretched it out a little longer. It was no more money, but the opportunity to spend it was restricted by getting less at once. I was leaving though, so it didn't matter.