metro mama

Friday, October 13, 2006

How My Training in the Corporate World Has Served Me Well

* clarification below

Before I became a mother, I worked in IT, first for a non-profit, then a record company. I did computer support, helpdesk, and network administration. Many of the skills I learned at work have served me well for my current job as a stay-at-home mom:

I gained valuable insight into how to manage the needs of unreasonable, capricious tyrants;

I learned how not to get bored by doing the same things over and over again;

I was on call all the time and often worked evenings and weekends;

I learned how to explain things slowly, simply, and clearly, with patience;

I learned what to do when someone is having a temper tantrum (stand back, keep quiet and let them work it out);

I learned how to manage stress;

I learned there are some problems I cannot fix;

I learned not to take it personally when someone was having a bad day and taking it out on me;

I crawled under furniture*;

I got used to doing a hell of a lot of work for far too little remuneration;

I learned how to make a stiff gin and tonic at the end of the day.

***

* To plug things in, you pervs.

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21 Comments:

Blogger Her Bad Mother said...

'I crawled under furniture.'

Thanks for my morning laugh.

10:02 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

THAT is very funny!!!!!

10:19 AM  
Blogger kittenpie said...

Heh - libraries are the same... including the climbing under furniture to plug and unplug computers.

And when Misterpie was at home and my day was crap, I'd call him as I left work, "put the gin in the fridge. I'm on my way home."

1:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

sure, sure...
we believe you!! :)

1:35 PM  
Blogger crazymumma said...

hmmmmmmm

sounds strangely familiar.

3:06 PM  
Blogger Sandra said...

Love this. So perfect. Not sure I totally buy the under the furniture explanation ... but whatever you say :)

4:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh yes! To add a couple:

I learned how to say same things in many different ways and that it is necessary to repeat myself time and time again.

I learned that sometimes the best place in the world is to escape to the washroom.

5:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I learned how not to get bored by doing the same things over and over again"

HOW? Share your secret - share, share, share?

10:47 PM  
Blogger Lady M said...

>>managing the needs of tyrants

LOL!

12:10 AM  
Blogger j.sterling said...

lmfao- this is awesome!!!! you are far more patient than i ever could be. lol

12:22 AM  
Blogger Cristina said...

LOL. Great list. I could have used a job in the corporate world before I started having kids!

10:48 AM  
Blogger sc@vp said...

I knew there was a reason I had a 'real' job ...

2:22 PM  
Blogger Girlplustwo said...

talk about transferable skills..especially in being able to get under furniture. To chase your kid, you perv.

3:11 PM  
Blogger moplans said...

I crawl under the furniture to hide from on-calls and annoying co-workers. No shame either way.

6:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I, too, was immersed in corporate before becoming a loony mommy. I learned all the stuff you learned plus one more: I learned to clean up unnecessary messes. :p

I am glad to have unearthed your blog. Now, I'm hooked! c",)

1:39 AM  
Blogger petite gourmand said...

too funny...
this has nothing to do with this post, but I watched Pride and Prejudice the other night, and couldn't help but think of you. (being the great Jane Austen fan that you are)
great chick flick. Sadly I haven't read the book.
But I really enjoyed Clara Callan, not exactly a classic but a great story nonetheless.

11:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

HA! My husband works in IT, and now I know why he is so much more patient with our kids than I am. Especially the "explaining things slowly, simply and clearly". Just like explaining to the umpteenth user how to reinstall Lotus Notes.

11:21 PM  
Blogger Lisa said...

AMEN sister! You are SO right! And good for you in knowing how to fix yourself a stiff drink when you need one. heehee

1:00 AM  
Blogger knitrovert said...

Temper trantrums? at work? Who on earth would be having those?

If it wasn't thick enough, note:
SARCASM....

12:08 PM  
Blogger Blog said...

you've always been a good self-soother--like my monkey.... You with your vino/gin and tonic, and the monkey with her thumb (and a little, well a lot, of breastfeeling). ;)

5:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great post -- I can totally relate! (I work in IT as well.)

In fact, I feel like I need to make this into a needlepoint and post it in my cubicle.

One more to add, though: Forever picking up other people's messes.

9:31 PM  

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