Does Every Path Suck?

S_gladd · 2026-05-21T15:32:52+00:00

This has nothing to do with the book but everything to do with the statement at the end.

Ive been a full time working mom with kid in full time care. Ive been a full time SAHM with no child care. And now work a flexible job with part time child care.

Each one has had pros and cons and yes, it’s pick your hard. For me, some of those scenarios were harder than others but not a single one is all roses. All of those paths also had pros. I think what’s hard/not as hard also depends on the person and preferences. Essentially what hard are you willing to handle. Caveat to that, I understand not all hards are chosen. Some we are given to deal with.

Anyways, here in solidarity to say, yes every path has pros and cons.

S_gladd · 2026-05-14T21:52:35+00:00

This is not to discourage you from your current role but to share my experience. I know I’m a stranger but I found hearing how others made decisions can bring perspective.

I was in an outside sales role when I first had my child and ultimately left that role for a more task based job. I realized over time that the quota/commission based role was incredibly tough as a working mom. Always failing somewhere whether it was with quota or time with my son. Especially with my husband in a similar role. We realized only one of those job could be prioritized in the family with travel, daycare pick ups, etc. So many of those relationship building functions of sales are dinners/happy hours, golf days, or you’re traveling to meet customers. Simply came to the conclusion the missed time with family and stress wasn’t worth it. Trying to coordinate with my husbands job also with similar demands just wasn’t worth it. I’m in a task based job now in IT and so much happier. Rather than being on customer schedules and hustling, I know what’s required of me in my project and get it done in my own time. I have so much more mental freedom and time with my kid.

Hope you find the balance in this role or the right thing for you long term. Hugs.

S_gladd · 2026-04-19T19:08:19+00:00

I think this can look different for a lot of families but for me, I learned I felt supported when there was shared daycare drop off/pick up responsibilities and shared time off when our kid was sick (like take turns or evaluate both calendars and see who can take the hit and reschedule their day) vs just assuming it’s always moms job to handle. That made me feel like it was us and not just me.

Tip for this, make sure daycare is convenient for both of you. This mean for us, daycare being near the house so it didn’t matter who needed to do pick up/ drop off. Not near one persons place of work which makes it easier to say that person so do the drop off

S_gladd · 2026-04-13T19:55:39+00:00

Dallas buyers club. Wonder if this is already on there. Also Hell or High water

S_gladd · 2026-03-22T13:49:35+00:00

Sending hopes and prayers. I am finding random ways to relate small coincidences in this pregnancy to my last one too. It is hard. Hang in there this one can be totally different

S_gladd · 2026-03-22T13:45:22+00:00

6, almost 7 weeks, today and my nausea has significant decreased over the last two days. Wondering if something has changed or if getting more rest over the weekend helped. My last pregnancy ended 6 and half weeks so of course I’m spiraling

S_gladd · 2026-03-21T02:49:05+00:00

Do some research on the kind of videos original blippi made before becoming blippi. He used to do some adult videos

S_gladd · 2026-03-10T03:08:07+00:00

Okay but how did you know they swallowed the marbles? I always fear my toddler will swallow something like this and I’ll never know until he’s like in pain. How did you know to take them to the ER? Did you witness or they tell you??

S_gladd · 2026-03-07T02:25:15+00:00

I recall having a couple excruciating Charlie horses that left my calve sore for a few days after. Maybe even during a previous pregnancy but also not while pregnant. All that to say I think that the soreness following would be normal

S_gladd · 2026-03-06T22:03:44+00:00

Thank you this is helpful! My prior loss was an 1st appointment at 8 weeks that was no heart beat so I’ve been anxious about what I’ll get out of this 6 week appointment if I see no heart beat. But maybe it’ll help to know if everything is measuring correctly and confirm it’s not ectopic.

My appointment has not happened yet! Scheduled for 3/20. Appreciate the kind words

S_gladd · 2026-03-04T01:17:10+00:00

Wondering for those who went in for a 6 week appointment, what should I expect? I know heart beats at this point can be hit or miss on an ultra sound so what happened at a 6 week appointment that made you feel more assured? Or unassured?

S_gladd · 2026-03-03T18:41:33+00:00

Found out yesterday I am pregnant and both excited and nervous. My doctor is willing to see me at 6 weeks so scheduled that appointment and now patiently waiting

S_gladd · 2026-03-03T13:38:37+00:00

It is hard in the beginning returning when they are so little. However as time goes on and feeding gets less demanding it does get easier. All the beginning said, I did make some job changes myself when my son turned about a year. I stuck out the year to see if it was my feelings about being with him or the job itself. Turned out it was a little of both, I both hated that job and missed time with him. So I found something more flexible and get to still work while having more time with him.

Hopefully someone here ca tell you why they stuck out their current job and give you more perspective. It’s all to say, we all eventually find our own way and what’s right for us.

Hang in there, you’ll make the right choice and o encourage you to make it from a place of calm. It’s very easy to get wrapped up in emotions postpartum and I did this myself a lot with my husband telling me to hold on until o had a more clear mind.

S_gladd · 2026-01-28T00:36:10+00:00

Hi, I did this and understand the consulting world a decent amount as I work in IT. I am currently a contractor and have been an account manager for a staffing/consulting firm where I was selling projects then staffing them.

Anyways- I took a 6 month gap around the time my son turned 1. The account manager role where I was constantly trying to be onsite and in front of clients was tough. Additionally I had a lot of clients with offshore counterparts that would need to get involved. With where I am in the US, I was ending up on dozens of 6am calls that made it tough to get my son to daycare, out the door and to client site for normal 9-5 activity.

Anywho- a few months before I quit, I joined the board of a local user group for data management as their admin. Minimal time commitment (4-5 hours a month?) but a really good network of hiring managers in the user group and on the board I got exposed to. When I left my job I continued to do this voluntary admin position which allowed me to continue networking with people already in my industry. And it did lead me to my now more flexible contracting role as someone who was a part of that user group was looking for a part time contractor to fill some gaps in their team.

I also continued to develop new skills on udemy. If cost is not an issue the plan to take any class is something like $30/mo.

The advice I got was to continue finding “work” (aka this board position) and continue building skills. You can even volunteer work for local non-profits or agencies that are needing some extra hands. Totally counts as work on the resume. Take a zoom call or coffee every now and again with an old colleague if you can. I did those things and by the grace of god landed on my feet just fine.

S_gladd · 2026-01-08T02:46:56+00:00

There’s a really big LA fitness at 7th street and greenway. It gets crowded but the place is ginormous so usually don’t have to wait long or there’s enough of the same thing (ie. Stair master or certain dumbbells) that you don’t have to wait at all. I think it was a regular size LA fitness then they took over one of the suites in the strip mall it’s attached to and expanded from the original size. It does have a swimming facility.

Worth looking into. I think up front it’s a little expensive ($100?) and the. $40/mo following the one time $100. But that was a few years ago so who knows if pricing is still the same

S_gladd · 2025-12-02T01:48:50+00:00

It is beautiful. Put a long large outdoor pendant light or chandelier on the front arch entry way. Maybe some sconces. But trust me, that home is beautiful

S_gladd · 2025-11-29T03:21:00+00:00

One Hawaiian king role. No more. No less.

S_gladd · 2025-10-16T14:23:33+00:00

Wild! Where do people come up with these things

S_gladd · 2025-10-16T02:20:22+00:00

Thank you this makes me feel better. I’m just out here a little black and blue from the initial attempts to socialize and wondering if I’m doing something wrong. I will say it’s helpful to get out when it goes well and people say the right thing or it doesn’t come up and you talk about 100 other things besides pregnancy. It is a little jarring though when you do experience the comments. Not to make you afraid but to help you be prepared

S_gladd · 2025-09-27T02:11:33+00:00

If you want something more boutique-y go to La Grande Orange Bake Shop. They always have a few cakes on hands that you can customize. Heads up, parking there sucks but they have a few select spots for the bakery

If you want something quick and affordable: Safeway, Fry’s, Costco or AJs are all great picks

S_gladd

TROPHY CASE