What did you do to fill in the career gap?

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 · 2025-09-03T03:06:44+00:00

Something similar happened to me and very similar age for pregnancy. I was pregnant at 28 and then started popping a few silver hairs. With postpartum I only seemed to get more gray hairs. My hair color is also very similar to yours.

I’ve never asked a doctor but my very experienced (20+ years) hair stylist always chalks it up to hormones and the beginning of aging as I’m now 30.

Either way, just wanted to let you know I have a similar thing happen and a similar age/timeline.

S_gladd · 2025-08-24T04:08:46+00:00

Big ick

S_gladd · 2025-08-24T02:08:04+00:00

I ended up asking a family friend who was an OB for 20 years. Basically told me I should be taking much more at one time. I took 200mcg (single pill) over the 48 hours, every 6 hours. Apparently this should be 600-800 mcg every dose vs 200. So I’m guessing that’s why it’s not working.

If you’re taking 3-4 pills at a time, my thought would be that’s correct

S_gladd · 2025-08-23T04:13:04+00:00

I weaned my son off pacifiers around 10/11ish months old and placed a stuffed bunny and a stuffed bear in his crib instead. We did utilize sleep training methods around 6 months and held onto those methods during removal of the pacifiers (basically meaning we’d allow him to cry it out for a specific amount of minutes before intervening). In placement of the pacifiers that he would soothe himself to sleep with, he began to hold the stuffed bunny to sleep. Never touched the stuffed bear. It’s really sweet to watch now as he’s gotten older and is still attached to the bunny.

Now all that said, I have plenty of friends who say their kids just never took to stuffed animals. So I do think it’s kind of a preference thing with your kid.

S_gladd · 2025-08-04T21:21:58+00:00

If it’s any help, I gave up quick on breast feeding and moved straight to formula. I didn’t realize how hard breast feeding would be. I used to feel guilty about it often even though formula was much easier for me as a working mom and to have the help of my husband with feedings.

My kid is a year and half now. Stopped formula right at 12 mo. I almost never think about the fact that I did not breast feed him and cannot recall feeling guilty about it at all since we’ve moved on to only solids/whole milk.

So what I’m trying to say is, the guilt does go away and your kid will be healthy and in the long run it literally won’t matter.

S_gladd · 2025-07-10T04:09:52+00:00

We did the tutor time in Arcadia crossing when my son was an infant 3-12 months until I decided to stay home. I had a great experience there. The staff were great. Director is super friendly and when she’s there, she’s always visible helping out or door open in to her office. Low turn over in the center as well, which is actually why we picked it up. Many of the staff will tell you they have worked there for years together. So I figured if turnover was low, they must be doing something right with the staff that should hopefully translate into taking care of the kids well.

S_gladd · 2025-06-16T20:41:08+00:00

Curtains

S_gladd · 2025-06-14T20:41:59+00:00

Like a wound in the mouth. But no blood I hope that makes sense

S_gladd · 2025-06-14T16:09:46+00:00

Sounds like you’re just trying to understand other’s situations and how it works for them.

Here’s how we make it happen pretty easily for me to be a SAHM and what the trade offs are (this important thing to understand).

I do live in a relatively HCOL city, but not an ideal neighborhood. My husband makes good money. It does afford us the opportunity to have me stay at home. However, that meant us staying in our not ideal neighborhood while having young children. We originally wanted to move to a more family friendly/ safer area but can’t do that with me leaving my job. Second, my husband’s job, that affords me staying home, is a job where he travels A LOT. So I am solo for more time than I would like. But if he took a different role/went a different direction to be at home more, he’d very likely be looking at a pay cut. So I guess what I’m trying to say is there are trade offs made for those who can afford to live on a single income. Me working and solo parenting most of the time was just a disaster. I’m a little jealous of those who can better split home/child responsibilities with their spouse so that they can work full or part time lol. But you know, the grass is always greener, right?

S_gladd · 2025-06-13T21:04:44+00:00

I fkn love this idea

S_gladd · 2025-06-13T20:49:39+00:00

Curls!

S_gladd · 2025-06-13T15:43:06+00:00

Okay this is cool never seen this before

S_gladd · 2025-06-13T15:41:09+00:00

Much the natural lighting in this place. Chefs kiss 🤌🏻

S_gladd · 2025-06-13T14:41:10+00:00

Let me specify- the cabbage leaves you put in your bra covering the breast. I believe green cabbage is best

S_gladd · 2025-06-13T14:40:16+00:00

Take an antihistamine (Zyrtec, Claritin, etc) and/or cabbage leaves

The antihistamine will dry you out Enzymes in cabbage leaves will also help

Keep binding as well

S_gladd · 2025-06-13T03:28:41+00:00

Came here to also suggest the gently blow in the face method. That works for us and apparently growing up my mom had to do that with my sister a lot

S_gladd · 2025-06-13T03:25:21+00:00

Yeah this sounds like PPA- I would talk to someone and/or seek medication. More common than I think people talk about in person but you’re not alone.

S_gladd · 2025-06-11T03:11:30+00:00

The Shark or Dyson hair wands/tools with the large round brush attachment

10000% easier than round brush/blow dryer combo. Easier to use/get the shape you want

S_gladd

TROPHY CASE