Thursday, January 7, 2010

Having a Life

So - there is something that I want to get off my chest...
I've made no bones to you guys about the fact that I have a certain priority ranking in my life...
  1. God
  2. John
  3. Any children we will be blessed with
  4. Family
  5. Friends/Church Family
  6. Job
I apparently am a rarity out there these days - although, I believe that a lot of my readers have similar ideals. I have boundaries, and I take pride in that...I'm sorry if others don't, or if they don't get it. It makes me sad for them... and really most of all for their families. I think it's sad that in today's society so many base their identity on their job.

Twice today, I was the subject of some snide remarks about the fact that I leave work on time. I'm sorry, but I don't think that makes me any less of a quality employee - I just don't. I do what I need to do, and I work pretty hard during those 9 hours that I am at the office... I actually RARELY take a lunch hour - so I do work a full 9 hours.

I also carpool - so it's not like I just pick up and do whatever I want... yes, my carpool partner is my husband. However, he doesn't particularly like being stuck at his office waiting on me to do something because of their lack of good planning.

In the end, it irks really does - because it's not right. I do my job, and I do a good job at it. I take pride in my work, and I do the best job I can do... that translates into the other priorities as well though - I do quite a bit in the few hours that I am not working during the week... and right now - I've got obligations that are incredibly important to me.

We are in the process of adopting a baby and that takes a lot of time and dedication to work through the process. There is a lot of stuff to prepare and get done... but I do it on my own time as much as I possibly can, so show a little respect people.

There isn't a need to walk by my office when I'm working 20 minutes over my normal departure time and tell me that it is a Kodak moment. As if I would just shirk my responsibility because it hit quitting time... that's not right, and it's not the type of person I am. It isn't true and it is just plain mean.

I know some of you that are pretty close to me will say "consider the source" and "be the bigger person"... I am doing both, but I needed to vent a little bit.


  1. Venting can be good. It keeps you from going off on innocent parties or saying something inappropriate.

    That said, I like to imagine the rude things that I could say back to them. Things like, "is it my fault that you are so uneffecient as to need extra time to do the work that should be done in 8-9 hours?" Snarky things that I wouldn't actually say but it makes me feel better to imagine saying them.

  2. That is seriously one of my pet peeves--the idea that "better" employees work longer. One day, I said "if you can't finish your work in 38 hours, you're not very good at your job." I believe that!

  3. I encountered this A LOT when I was a teacher. A "good" teacher was expected to arrive at work 30, 45 minutes before teachers were to arrive, and stay at least an hour past the time we could leave. This is in addition to coming in on weekends and during holidays. I'll admit that I was one of those teachers who was at the school all the time. However, at the time, I had no kids. The other teachers did. Now that I see how much work there is to do with a child, I don't see how the teachers were able to be at school 50+ hours a week and still get things done at home.

  4. You're right...I will tell you to consider the source. :) But I will also tell you that the people who make these comments might be intimidated by the job you do and how well you do it. They may be threatened. Or they may just be generally unhappy and thrive off of taking others down with them. Because you know some people, making other people smaller and inferior makes them feel bigger and better. It's not right, but that's how some people operate.

    I am reminded of Colossians 3:23-24.


    Ultimately, it should be about working to the pleasure of the King .

    Don't let them make you feel like you aren't doing your job or living up to their expectations. You are exceeding them. They are trying to have you lower your standards of business and you shouldn't do that for anyone or any job!

  5. oh babe. people are idiots. we have work hours and if you do a good job, you dont have to explain yourself for working within the hours that were created for you.
    you owe these people nothing, ok?

  6. I've encountered this, but then I realize that people who spend a lot of time at work are missing that quality home life. I used to be a workaholic. Now I'm a mom. Once you get that baby, Kim, you won't care a bit what they say. What's more important-- 30 minutes more paperwork or 30 minutes of making a difference in someone's life. Pray for them, don't get angry with them. They want what you have.

