Raq, is working part time an option at all? Not a solution, exactly, but might alleviate some of the stress?

Raq, I go back and forth between working at home and working at the office. I find that when I work home there is less incentive to get dressed, or even shower some days. Going outside to work gives a bit more structure to my day. That whole adult contact is good too.

We did without an outside office for several years. Everyone enjoyed it for a while. Then even my most non-social programmer said he felt a bit like a hermit. We have more of a flexible system now. We mostly go to the office, but stay home when we need to for whatever reason.

Nanny sharing is good for the kids. Don't hesitate to bring up the subject with other families.

{{Emily}} I don't envy you. For the record, whenever I visited Brendon's classroom it appeared to me to be wildly out of control. Kids laughing and talking and walking around. The gifted team seemed to strive for a balance. Most of the time they gave the class a lot of freedom, but when they were lecturing or testing they cracked the whip. A time for being more relaxed and a time for being serious.

You will find your own way. There is no shortcut to experience. What works for one teacher won't work for another. How lucky we all are to have our support system here.

I treasured my 1st real math teacher. 7th grade. Sister Miriam Anthony. She made the mystery fun. I tried without success to contact her as an adult. Teachers rock.

School sucks.

The Bursar's office "changed" their system this year on paying excess checks. It used to be that on the first day of classes you'd get a $750 check to put towards books and living expenses till the excess checks were cut several weeks later. Well, they're not doing that anymore. Now you just have to wait till excess checks are cut. Oh, but you can go pick up a "book card" that you can use in the school bookstore to buy your books. That's not helpful if you're trying to save money by buying your books elsewhere. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

I mean, it's fine. I'll get all the money eventually. But, it's a good thing I wasn't counting on that money.

My nanny makes $11/hour.

Two bucks an hour more caring for ONE child than I get being responsible for two to four developmentally disabled adults whose mental ages range from 3ish to teenaged (one with New! Added Dementia!), some of whom have serious behavior challenges including program plans to restrain them when necessary, and mental illnesses. Do nannies get paid this much in the States, cuz I think I need a new career.

bounce

The massage I had last night has helped my back TREMENDOUSLY. It's not 100% but it's improved enough so that I can once again see a reason for living.

Also, we are going to Vermont next week! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Woo! I'm so glad to read the massage helped you Nora.

I think also not being in an office chair all day for most of next week (I'm taking an extra long weekend, out till Thursday) will speed the healing as well.

Do nannies get paid this much in the States, cuz I think I need a new career.

Doubt it, and believe me I've been thinking about hiring myself out as a nanny here.

The only thing that part-time helps is that I'd have time to make meals on more days. Otherwise it actually reduces the discrepancy between my salary and the nanny's.

I think the psychic income and other intangibles are worth too much to me to quit, but the whole thing is making me want to revisit the Motherhood Manifesto.

Nora, I hear you about the office chair. Glad the massage helped though!

vw, school does suck in entirely new ways once you hit college.

I have 36 million things to do and instead of doing any of them, I'm faffing about on the interbunny. Help?

Raq, I think those conservative types are always happy to save their own money, so they won't think of it as socialism. I think, however, you should charge them a percentage for "administrative fees" for bringing the idea to them.

I came in early enough to be at my desk for an 8 a.m. conference call. I still suspect that there's only a 50-50 chance it will happen. And if it doesn't, I'm still on the hook for a 1500 word article by Sept 21st.

Nora, I'm glad you're feeling better!