O Employed full time
O Employed part time
O Unemployed
O Homemaker
O Student
It seems like a simple enough question, right? Yet I always struggle with what to answer. (I'm on a number of consumer survey panels and just about every survey starts this way.) I do not work full-time. I am not unemployed. I am not a student. That leaves two choices.
First and foremost, I consider myself a stay-at-home mom. My main job is taking care of Trevor, which currently includes volunteering in his classroom, serving on School Site Council, taking a leadership role with Cub Scouts, and managing homework and extra-curricular activities. I do the cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, and bill-paying for the household.
But checking 'homemaker' means not acknowledging the other work that takes a significant part of my time. Let me share my creative commitments in a typical month:
Scrapjazz Contributer
I write 1-3 articles per month for Scrapjazz.com. The topics are assigned to me and I typically have to make at least one project (often more) to feature in my article. (Here's more about my job and a link to my first published article.)
Scrapjazz Contributer
I write 1-3 articles per month for Scrapjazz.com. The topics are assigned to me and I typically have to make at least one project (often more) to feature in my article. (Here's more about my job and a link to my first published article.)
Contributing Artist at Ideas for Scrapbookers
I write 2-3 blog posts a month for Ideas for Scrapbookers. I submit projects to most of the weekly Designer Showcase posts.
Flamingo Scraps Design Team
I make projects using products from the Flamingo Scraps store, then write several posts a month for their blog.
The Scrapping Stamper Sketch Design Team
I complete one project a month using a sketch from The Scrapping Stamper.
Macaroni Kid Contributor
I design one kids craft a month, which is featured in our local Macaroni Kid newsletter.
Scrap for Hire
I have one Scrap-for-Hire client. I'm waiting for her to send me more photos to scrap. When I do get pictures from her, I aim to have the pages completed within two weeks.
......
So what do you think? Do I work part-time or am I a 'homemaker'? How many hours a week does one have to work for something to be considered part-time work? Is it part-time work if a person only spends a few hours a month on each of five different jobs? What about the fact that some of these jobs pay in product rather than cash- does that make a difference? What about the money I make doing the very surveys that ask me whether or not I work? It's all so confusing!
I should add- blogging five days a week is a part-time job in itself. Except for that I don't get paid to do it. Blogging is absolutely a labor of love. Maybe I should start checking the box that I'm employed part-time... I'm certainly busy enough!
In my company ... less than 30 hours a week is Part time -- I guess I would have to say I work a part time and a FULL time job! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteI say you work "fulltime".
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sepcify what working fulltime means to them but as far as I am concerned, you work full time! Being a mother alone is a full time job!! You do so many other things as well so I think it should actually be work "overtime"! LOL!
Have a good day!
I think you are a mom. You work 24/7 no vacations, holidays or sick time plus you work on the side. Sometimes I tell people about my other job but most the time I say I'm a mommy to my two wonderful girls.
ReplyDeleteThis was fun to read. I totally say Part Time, because I know how busy you can be with DT's. Then if you throw in being a mom...100% you are full time! :)
ReplyDeleteWow. You have a packed schedule. I would say you work full-time. :)
ReplyDelete