to not understand capitalism

[IceBeing]

Some people work hard (say 60 hours a week all year) and get paid about £20000 a year...and some people work hard and get paid 10 or even 100 times as much a year.

How can 60 hours a week of work from 1 person be worth 100 times as much as 60 hours a week of work from another person?

theboss gosh I certainly didn't in any sense mean to imply that you weren't a good mother. There are very many ways to skin that particular cat and I am sure yours is perfectly valid.

The thing I don't understand about your described job is this. You work a 19-20 hour day and get paid a heap because hardly anyone is willing to do that....fair enough. But why not get two people and pay them 20 k each to do a good job and have an easier life?

Why does your job need to be done by one person with no support?

Also (if you don't mind the relentless prying questions) do you wish you could work less hours? Would you accept a pay cut in order to work fewer hours if it meant you could still keep your job?

In my role people get paid the same no matter how committed they are, or how many hours they put in. As far as I can tell the range on hours is from 35 to 70ish. People are not working harder to get more cash...they are working harder to make progress faster.

The majority of your story sounds like this is what you are doing...working harder to make more progress. So I find it confusing that you would ditch it all and go work as a shelf stacker if the pay wasn't right....

xpost...I was slow writing....you already answered some questions.

Hmm, I would like to work less hours, and sometimes I manage it. Right now, it's bad because of the slowdown in the Chinese economy, which is impacting on our business globally. So everyone is working hard. But there have been some blissful years in my career, including some as a CEO, when it has been fine. Fine for me is no weekend working and maybe no more than 10 weeks a year travelling. And being able to work from home a day or two a week.

But it's also very flexible in some ways - if DD has a play, or a parents day, providing I get more than 4 weeks notice, I can take time to attend without losing holiday. I can sometimes get to her school and take her out for lunch, which she loves. I supervise her piano practise, even if I'm away, help with her homework, I taught her to ice skate recently, play tennis, lots of really fun stuff she enjoys.

Today I'm home already, and am about to go any join her play date (ie catch up with friends!). Not worrying about day to day money is a huge relief - my parents almost lost their house in a financial crisis when I was in my teens, so that tends to shape me chasing financial security.

It really is a hugely specialised role, and there are very few people with my skills set, not just in the UK, but in the world. And continuity of decision making is key - so a job share like you suggest isn't really practical.

I whinge a lot sometimes, and sometimes I want a simpler life, but in reality, what we have works for us. Everyone is happy most of the time, which, ultimately is what we are striving for.

Oh, and no I wouldn't accept a paycut to work fewer hours - because that would move me further away from my early retirement goal. Just a few more years.......

The big sacrifice is actually me-time - although I run in the mornings, with the sparrows, and I read on flights, watch movies, go to the theatre when I can. Family balance gets achieved, but sometimes I long for more time to, you know, just potter. I love pottering.

That's just whinging, though! No life is perfect, IMO, we all make trade offs.