Back into the Frying Pan (Warning: angst)

[pegkerr]

Rob got a call from someone who asked him to start a new job on Sunday and he has accepted it. When he lost his job last November, he knew he absolutely had to find something by next week when school lets out, because that's when our day care costs really shoot up. So you'd think I'd be ecstatic.

Okay, I'm not. I admit it. Why not, Peg?

Because he's going back to work for the same company he was working for when he lost his job in November. He's going back to exactly the same job he had before, except it's at a different store (with a longer commute). With all the same problems (night and weekend work, not exactly stellar compensation).

Okay, true honesty: during these last difficult agonizing months, one of the things that I kept telling myself to keep myself going was "At least whatever he finds next will be better than the last job." There's no denying, however, that we're not in a position to be very fussy at this point.

Look, I'm trying to be grateful. I'm trying to be. Rob has worked with this manager before and has liked him very much. It will be nice to have another paycheck start to come in again. He intends to continue looking for something better. And yes, I do feel relieved, but at the same time I also feel trapped and furious: it feels like we're just shoe-horning ourselves back into the same situation we were in last fall.

Except the only difference is that we don't have any savings anymore.

Peg, who's working really hard at trying to see the bright side and not quite sure that she's managing it. Sigh. Maybe it will all seem better tomorrow. Maybe.

Comments

[aome.livejournal.com]

It's interesting to hear the other side of a situation we might find ourselves in. My husband works for a company that is constantly downsizing. So far, he's been lucky. But we never know if *this* might be the round where he's not. Last night we heard that a position at his old firm has opened up, and that he's welcome to apply if he wants. On the one hand, it would drop his commute time from 75 minutes (1-way) back to 10 minutes, but it would also be a huge cut in salary - enough to live on, but not thrive on, especially with the adoption. And his whole skill set has moved in a different direction from when he last worked there. On the one hand, he liked the company and the commute was great, but I think he'd feel stifled to go back. When I heard the news about the position being open, I was ecstatic - I hate the hours he works now, and I worry about him on the road. But seeing your situation is making me reconsider -- probably best he stay where he is, as long as he can, so he's not miserable. But, in the current economy, as with your husband, he might have to take it if there isn't anything else, if he lost his current position.

Sigh. Where's our promised economic recovery? I'm sorry your family is in such a tough position. What does he do for a living?

Debbie
Who hopes she's not being a pest, posting so often to your LJ