I feel like a failure today.
Why can't I just get it together?
I keep disappointing.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
I think I am officially done Christmas shopping and only have a handful more left to wrap.
I braved Target yesterday to replenish the wrapping paper supply one last time.
My mom always got tired of us shaking and trying to guess what our presents were. She got sneaky one year and replaced our names with animal names. Presents for "Cow" from mom and dad or "Horse" etc. littered the tree skirt. My brother and sisters and I got so mad and begged mom to tell us who was what animal but it was only ever revealed on Christmas eve. She then took to wrapping fake gifts and bringing out the real ones when it was time to open presents as a family. How funny and mean. I don't have that kind of self-control with gifts this time of year. I want everyone to open their presents immediately so I can see their reaction.
I'm a total regifter and so all of the useless things I've been getting from people with the management company (boxes of chocolate, trays of crap, etc.) has been getting regifted to the mailman, maintenance people, trash man, etc. It ends up working out fairly well and then we don't gain the traditional 5lbs that all of those tasty treats seem to bring.
The countdown to cruise has begun and I am pumped to get away for a whole week where nobody can call me or find me to ask me stupid questions. Yeahhhoooo.
Ellen is on tv right now. She makes me laugh outloud. That doesn't happen very easily.
I braved Target yesterday to replenish the wrapping paper supply one last time.
My mom always got tired of us shaking and trying to guess what our presents were. She got sneaky one year and replaced our names with animal names. Presents for "Cow" from mom and dad or "Horse" etc. littered the tree skirt. My brother and sisters and I got so mad and begged mom to tell us who was what animal but it was only ever revealed on Christmas eve. She then took to wrapping fake gifts and bringing out the real ones when it was time to open presents as a family. How funny and mean. I don't have that kind of self-control with gifts this time of year. I want everyone to open their presents immediately so I can see their reaction.
I'm a total regifter and so all of the useless things I've been getting from people with the management company (boxes of chocolate, trays of crap, etc.) has been getting regifted to the mailman, maintenance people, trash man, etc. It ends up working out fairly well and then we don't gain the traditional 5lbs that all of those tasty treats seem to bring.
The countdown to cruise has begun and I am pumped to get away for a whole week where nobody can call me or find me to ask me stupid questions. Yeahhhoooo.
Ellen is on tv right now. She makes me laugh outloud. That doesn't happen very easily.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Number One Professional Development Killer: Workaholism
By Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.
What is the biggest threat to a working woman's professional development? Surprisingly, it is not necessarily about raising children. Nor is the biggest threat being caught in the "sandwich generation" and thus taking care of aging parents as well as one's own children. Instead, what some studies have found is that the biggest threat to women's professional development via courses and/or the pursuit of a degree is the very job one wishes to develop and build upon.
How is that possible? How can one's job also be one's pitfall and career barrier? In many cases, it has to do with workload and work responsibilities. The sheer magnitude of the workload causes one to have to neglect one's life, and to focus on just doing the bare minimum in terms of family and personal life.
While one might assume that the workload has to do with the rate of change in the workplace and the unwillingness of corporations to take on new employees, the reality is something else. The fact is, that researchers have found ridiculously onerous workloads tend to be a gender thing. Women, who have traditionally held roles of facilitators, moms, and superwomen, are unconsciously being cast in the same role today. Women, who are culturally conditioned to be accommodating, are easily converted into workaholics who will do whatever it takes to avoid conflict at the workplace, no matter what the personal cost or sacrifice.
The sacrifice can be very large, indeed.
The expectation of workaholism on the part of female employees, particularly supervisors and managers, means that, long-term, while their male counterparts are networking, taking courses, obtaining certificates and degrees, and generally getting ahead, the dutiful workaholic female manager is burning the candle at both ends, often arriving at work hours before the workday officially starts, and leaving long after the workday ends.
A recent study of women managers of university programs in British "modern" universities found the expectation of workaholism, 60-hour work weeks, and tensions between work and life. In addition, the author, D. Woodward, found uncovered several additional findings that could be useful to individuals. First, in this study, all the participants reported unmanageably large workloads, with some seasonal variability. The seasonal variability is a critical element because it could provide a starting point starting to require time for professional development and coursework.
Second, the study found that women were willing to take work home. This seems to be a universal in programs and with women managers. The main problem reported by women is that unanticipated urgent items would arise and would interrupt the normal flow, which would require work to be done at home, presumably because there was no one to offload or delegate work to. Lunch breaks were a rarity. Many women arrive early and stay late. They did so to avoid rush-hour traffic and to give themselves some quiet time before the majority of workers arrived. All the women interviewed worked in excess of contracted hours, and usually ended up with 50 to 60-hour weeks. Few women took all their annual leave, and when they did take leave, it was often used for childcare purposes.
Finally, the study found that women tended to have attitudes about work that were not commonly found in men. Women had different attitudes about work, which ranged from finding work enjoyable to seeing work as an all-consuming malign force.
Interestingly, flex-time and work-from-home schemes would not necessarily solve the problem except in cases when it might help with childcare issues.
For Woodward, the most useful finding was in organizational culture with respect to gender. Women are expected to be workaholics, concludes Woodward. For women to be able to dedicate time to family and continuing education, organizations must find ways to discourage negative work habits and workaholism. A woman who is mired in a culture that requires 60-hour work weeks just to manage the work flow is not given the opportunity to keep current with skills or knowledge, and will start to lose currency.
Reference:
Woodward, D. (2007) Work-life balancing strategies used by women managers in British "modern" universities. Equal Opportunities International. 26:1, pp. 6-17.
By Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.
What is the biggest threat to a working woman's professional development? Surprisingly, it is not necessarily about raising children. Nor is the biggest threat being caught in the "sandwich generation" and thus taking care of aging parents as well as one's own children. Instead, what some studies have found is that the biggest threat to women's professional development via courses and/or the pursuit of a degree is the very job one wishes to develop and build upon.
How is that possible? How can one's job also be one's pitfall and career barrier? In many cases, it has to do with workload and work responsibilities. The sheer magnitude of the workload causes one to have to neglect one's life, and to focus on just doing the bare minimum in terms of family and personal life.
While one might assume that the workload has to do with the rate of change in the workplace and the unwillingness of corporations to take on new employees, the reality is something else. The fact is, that researchers have found ridiculously onerous workloads tend to be a gender thing. Women, who have traditionally held roles of facilitators, moms, and superwomen, are unconsciously being cast in the same role today. Women, who are culturally conditioned to be accommodating, are easily converted into workaholics who will do whatever it takes to avoid conflict at the workplace, no matter what the personal cost or sacrifice.
The sacrifice can be very large, indeed.
The expectation of workaholism on the part of female employees, particularly supervisors and managers, means that, long-term, while their male counterparts are networking, taking courses, obtaining certificates and degrees, and generally getting ahead, the dutiful workaholic female manager is burning the candle at both ends, often arriving at work hours before the workday officially starts, and leaving long after the workday ends.
A recent study of women managers of university programs in British "modern" universities found the expectation of workaholism, 60-hour work weeks, and tensions between work and life. In addition, the author, D. Woodward, found uncovered several additional findings that could be useful to individuals. First, in this study, all the participants reported unmanageably large workloads, with some seasonal variability. The seasonal variability is a critical element because it could provide a starting point starting to require time for professional development and coursework.
Second, the study found that women were willing to take work home. This seems to be a universal in programs and with women managers. The main problem reported by women is that unanticipated urgent items would arise and would interrupt the normal flow, which would require work to be done at home, presumably because there was no one to offload or delegate work to. Lunch breaks were a rarity. Many women arrive early and stay late. They did so to avoid rush-hour traffic and to give themselves some quiet time before the majority of workers arrived. All the women interviewed worked in excess of contracted hours, and usually ended up with 50 to 60-hour weeks. Few women took all their annual leave, and when they did take leave, it was often used for childcare purposes.
Finally, the study found that women tended to have attitudes about work that were not commonly found in men. Women had different attitudes about work, which ranged from finding work enjoyable to seeing work as an all-consuming malign force.
Interestingly, flex-time and work-from-home schemes would not necessarily solve the problem except in cases when it might help with childcare issues.
For Woodward, the most useful finding was in organizational culture with respect to gender. Women are expected to be workaholics, concludes Woodward. For women to be able to dedicate time to family and continuing education, organizations must find ways to discourage negative work habits and workaholism. A woman who is mired in a culture that requires 60-hour work weeks just to manage the work flow is not given the opportunity to keep current with skills or knowledge, and will start to lose currency.
Reference:
Woodward, D. (2007) Work-life balancing strategies used by women managers in British "modern" universities. Equal Opportunities International. 26:1, pp. 6-17.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Boost Minnesota's Economy during the holiday season and find some fabulous and unique gifts!
While searching for toys made in Minnesota I found a list that MN2020.org compiled.
Enjoy as I have and finish up your shopping fools!
While searching for toys made in Minnesota I found a list that MN2020.org compiled.
Enjoy as I have and finish up your shopping fools!
Monday, December 10, 2007
'Tis the Season?
My daughter has a big head. At her 12 mth pediatric appointment her head was still measuring in the 100th percentile so a CT scan was scheduled for last Monday. Madeline was fairly distressed and of course wouldn't hold still so her head had to be taped down in this horrible styrofoam thing. Wednesday we rec'd a call that there were some issues and we had an appt scheduled to see a neurosurgeon in Minneapolis for a second opinion.
I was a little freaked out; Justin was more freaked out. When I was a child I had similar issues with having a big head and Justin has always had a large head as well. This eased my worry a little.
Today we had the meeting with the neurosurgeon. Doc had amazing credentials--Harvard grad. I felt like we were in great hands. He greeted us himself in the waiting room and escorted the 3 of us back to his office. Madeline's scans were up on his computer and after he completed introductions he said, "well, I see where she gets her big head! It appears that the 2 people in the world with the biggest heads fell in love, got married, and had a baby with an even bigger head."
Is that your professional opinion?
Long story short, everything is totally fine and we enjoyed a long-ass drive back up North.
Hopefully Madeline and I can just be home for a while or even a week or something. I'm way tired and have Maddie's awesome cold.
My daughter has a big head. At her 12 mth pediatric appointment her head was still measuring in the 100th percentile so a CT scan was scheduled for last Monday. Madeline was fairly distressed and of course wouldn't hold still so her head had to be taped down in this horrible styrofoam thing. Wednesday we rec'd a call that there were some issues and we had an appt scheduled to see a neurosurgeon in Minneapolis for a second opinion.
I was a little freaked out; Justin was more freaked out. When I was a child I had similar issues with having a big head and Justin has always had a large head as well. This eased my worry a little.
Today we had the meeting with the neurosurgeon. Doc had amazing credentials--Harvard grad. I felt like we were in great hands. He greeted us himself in the waiting room and escorted the 3 of us back to his office. Madeline's scans were up on his computer and after he completed introductions he said, "well, I see where she gets her big head! It appears that the 2 people in the world with the biggest heads fell in love, got married, and had a baby with an even bigger head."
Is that your professional opinion?
Long story short, everything is totally fine and we enjoyed a long-ass drive back up North.
Hopefully Madeline and I can just be home for a while or even a week or something. I'm way tired and have Maddie's awesome cold.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
HOLY fucking snow!
I'm sitting here with my chicklet, sharing a snack of rice cake and string cheese, watching the neighborhood disappear under the white stuff.
We got 15" of snow on Saturday. Thankfully (?) we were in St. Cloud for Justin's office holiday party and had 4 lane driving from Wadena (where we drove on Friday night). Madeline had her first overnight away with my parents for Saturday. I drank too much and didn't get to bed until after 3 o'clock in the morning. As soon as I get the pictures off the camera I'll upload a handful for fun.
Now, back to the daily routine, which I'm actually thankful to have for a couple weeks before the holidays.
There are many of you that I need to take time to write to and I'm sorry for my procrastination. I think of you and really WILL get caught up one of these days.
Be in touch.
I'm sitting here with my chicklet, sharing a snack of rice cake and string cheese, watching the neighborhood disappear under the white stuff.
We got 15" of snow on Saturday. Thankfully (?) we were in St. Cloud for Justin's office holiday party and had 4 lane driving from Wadena (where we drove on Friday night). Madeline had her first overnight away with my parents for Saturday. I drank too much and didn't get to bed until after 3 o'clock in the morning. As soon as I get the pictures off the camera I'll upload a handful for fun.
Now, back to the daily routine, which I'm actually thankful to have for a couple weeks before the holidays.
There are many of you that I need to take time to write to and I'm sorry for my procrastination. I think of you and really WILL get caught up one of these days.
Be in touch.
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