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Original poster

Anyone lost interest in their career

96 replies

kizzie · 06/01/2004 18:54

Hi everyone
Ive always been ambitious, loved my job and been lucky to carry on working part time in a fairly senior position after my children were born.

They are four now but recently I really seem to have lost interest in my job.

I suffered from PND which I got over although Ive had a difficult time recently because unfortunately I became addicted to seroxat and have been trying to come off for 2 years.

Anyway only reason to mention that is because Ive carried on working throughout yet recently its really starting to get to me.

Im finding the work load more and more demanding and increasingly resent the extra work I need to do at home. i have fewer ideas while im there and find the every day problems that crop up really irritating.

Not sure if its linked with the PND or whether after working somewhere for 10 years Ive just got bored (or that as a mum Im simply just not as interested in it anymore.)

Anyone else felt similar?
Kizziex

OP posts:
bossykate · 07/01/2004 11:12

pupuce, this is such a cheeky question, but how have you managed financially? presumably your mortgage (if nothing else) was based on your higher salary? how have you managed to cut your household costs in order to accommodate your reduced salary?

tbh, it can't be done in our house until we solve the mortgage conundrum - and we actually have quite a modest mortgage compared to our household income.

traceyshep · 07/01/2004 11:28

I am due back at work next week and was always a dedicated career girl, now I am not so sure. It somehow doesn't seem as important as before. I think I will still like my actual job but a couple of my colleagues are complete idiots... I was v tolerant and professional with them before but I am not looking forward to dealing with them again! At least I will only be working 3 days a week...

dinosaur · 07/01/2004 11:29

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oliveoil · 07/01/2004 11:58

What career? I used to have one that was stressful, well paid but I had to work with music industry egomaniacs and now do menial office work, ok pay but work with lovely people.

Know what I prefer.

Roll on 4pm. Tick tock.

Northerner · 07/01/2004 12:08

This makes me wonder if every female I come accross who has kids and works feels the same? My boss, My GP, my dentist, my hairdresser, the woman who served me in ASDA this morning. Are we a nation of job hating working mums? Is this what 'feminisim' has done for us ladies?

dinosaur · 07/01/2004 12:10

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Mo2 · 07/01/2004 12:20

I thought I'd lost interest in my career after having 2 kids and was thinking about asking to go part time, and then just this morning my boss told me he's moving on, and I got all excited thinking "I WANT HIS JOB, I KNOW I COULD DO IT ETC ETC"
But I don't know if that's really the 'now' me speaking or just a habitual reaction from when all I thought about was work and career?

It doesn't help that DH has just quit his last job to set up his own business, so I will be sole breadwinner for quite a while.

I think where I net out is that I haven't lost interest, but I'm just realistic and know that I haven't got the hours or desire to compete with childless bullshitting twenty-somethings who are intent on playing all the 'politics' - and that's inevitable the higher up you go....

But I don't want to work for a pratt either, thinking all the time "I could do that job"

bossykate · 07/01/2004 12:22

how would zoe williams know? isn't she the one who writes "things you only know if you don't work in an office" - or whatever it's called...

dinosaur · 07/01/2004 12:23

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pamina3 · 07/01/2004 13:47

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Gumdrop · 07/01/2004 13:56

I was very much driven, dedicated, "company woman", until I had one of those "its possible that you might have something terminal" health scares (false alarm, phew). Just never got back on the band wagon after that, and having DD's just confirmed my revised opinion that there was more to life.

Maybe its not only becoming a parent that makes you question your career, but also other events which shock you out of your prior focus?

Makes appraisals a B***R though, feel like that chap on The Office - only I try a bit hard to hide the fact that I don't give a whotsit.

Luckymum · 07/01/2004 16:58

I kicked my 'career' into touch about three years ago. Luckily got offered a redundancy package or the option to reapply for my own job under restructuring. Took about 10 seconds to make my mind up. Went back to college for a bit and now pratting about doing a few hours casual clerical and also a few hours (paid) volunteer support. I've never looked back. Fits round the kids, holidays etc.

It was a big decision finance wise but the lump sum helped and I agree with Gumdrop 'life's too short' to be stuck doing something you're fed up with. My kids aren't babies anymore (15, 12 and 10) yet somehow I feel they need me around even more than before.

I think part of the problem is having the confidence to do something else.....I thought that after 20 years for the same employer (since school in case you think I'm ancient!) no one would want me. Well its just not the case. Go for it!

dinosaur · 07/01/2004 16:59

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StressyHead · 07/01/2004 17:08

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dinosaur · 07/01/2004 17:09

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KatieMac · 07/01/2004 17:58

Dumped job in april - now childminding and loving it.
I make a difference to peoples lives - before if I was away sick (which I was a lot) no-one did my work - and no-one noticed that it hadn't been done!
Now I have worked for 8 months with no time off and wish I'd left work when DD was little,

twiglett · 07/01/2004 18:15

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nearlymybeetrootday · 07/01/2004 18:31

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jac34 · 07/01/2004 18:43

I've been with the same employer for 15 years,I've had promotion in that time and not felt the need to leave.I used to be very ambitious but that sort of "went" when I had the boys 5 years ago. Since,then I've been doing 3 days a week, and get pretty well paid for it.

I've no real desire to leave as I still enjoy my work, and enjoy the company of my collegues, it's "comfortable". However,I do feel I'd like to do something interesting with my days off, money isn't really an issue, so I've been helping out with Arts and Craft activities in my son's school.

This has been great fun in the run up to Christmas, and the boys love me beeing in their class, but I'm still looking around for somthing, I can get my teeth into !!!

lorne · 07/01/2004 18:56

I have worked since leaving school nearly 22 years ago with the same employer. Since having ds nearly 4.5 years ago I have certainly lost interest. I have only done 3 days a week since having ds but I would love to stay at home but the money is good and I get company car which saves us having to buy one etc. I laugh now when I look back. I remember the day I went on maternity leave I thought what will I do without my job as I have always loved it but then when I had my ds I completely fell in love with him and couldn't care if I went back to work ever again.
Unfortunately I had to go back but then I think to myself I am lucky it is only for 3 days as I know lots of people have to work full time.

Fennel · 07/01/2004 19:22

No it's not everyone who feels like that. I know lots of women who still like working since having kids. I can quite understand why people do lose momentum it can be so tiring and childcare can be so difficult but I like going to work for the mental stimulation, socialising with interesting adults, not talking about children all day long, getting away from toddler life. It feels like "me time". And I'm sure I'm keener to spend time with Dds because we're not together all day every day.

Lamin · 07/01/2004 19:34

My eyes pricked up when I saw this thread! I have just started back to work this week after 8 months maternity leave. I hate it! I just can't be bothered with it all. I was really ambitious and kept going on and on to anyone who would listen whilst I was pregnant about how committed I would be when I returned .... pah!

The only saving grace is that ds seems very happy with his nanny share. I hate it though - bathtime was my favourite time with him and now he is so tired by the time we get home he just sits there rubbing his eyes.

Mo2 your comment about jumped up twentysomethings playing the politics couldn't be more spot on - I had two trying to steal my job while I was off!

Original poster
kizzie · 07/01/2004 20:12

Agree about the jumped up 20 somethings. Cant really complain though - I used to be one of them!

Kizziex

OP posts:
clairabelle · 07/01/2004 20:19

Yep I've lost interest and I'm on mat leave Only benefits I can think of are financial and being able to go to the loo in peace

pupuce · 07/01/2004 20:48

Bossykate - I earn 1/4 of what I use to earn. But we had a manageable mortgage... i.e. we never went above our means and yes I did get the mortgage on the assumtion of what I earned (which I don't anymore) but I have no problem paying my monthly repayment. Also I pay FAR less tax now and gets LOADS of tax credit! So all in all we actually are not that far worse. OK I don't go out as often (but I still do) and I don't shop for clothes as often (and now always during sales) but again I am not depriving myself....

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