Featured Post
Posted by Lizzie on Sep-5-2008
There’s a lot of talk about women’s issues this election cycle. Thanks to Hillary Clinton, and now Sarah Palin, we’re back in the spotlight. In that vein, Congress is pressing for a revote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which failed to pass previously. McCain has come out again it:
“I am all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what’s being proposed by my friends on the other side of the aisle, opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems,” the expected GOP presidential nominee told reporters. “This is government playing a much, much greater role in the business of a private enterprise system.”
I’ve recently engaged in a half-hearted IT job search - in anticipation of my eventual graduation from the Tech program. There seems to be a little available, but I’ve heard that women are not treated favorably in the IT industry. It would please me, and thousands of other women, tremendously if this actually became law. Would I know that my male counterparts were making more than me? Probably not. But this act would give me recourse should I find out about a pay discrepancy after the fact. As a woman hoping to work in a male-dominated field, I would feel just a little better knowing I had a safety net.
There was some talk that this law isn’t necessary. I beg to differ. I worked with a company (unrelated to the tech field) that cut me a mystery check. When I inquired to what the purpose of the check was, I was told that it was to make up for a pay difference between me and my male counterparts. I had no idea that the men were making that much more per hour than I was, but there was a lawsuit and the settlement agreement was that this company would pay the hourly difference to each female for whatever period of time they agreed to (I think it was 3 months, even though I’d been there for over a year at that point). I left that company not long afterward, but my eyes had been opened. The reasoning for the lower pay was that women are mothers and so are prone to miss work because of their sick children. Men, on the other hand, are more reliable and should be rewarded. Really?
At a time when a major political party has nominated a self-proclaimed “hockey mom” to be vice president, there should be no more “she should get less because she’s a mom”. This woman is seeking a job while parenting 5 children (and potentially helping parent a grandchild) so the reason listed above would apply to her and her pay should be cut significantly. Right? No. Wrong. Her husband will be able to tend to the children while she runs for office and he can tend to the children while she continues to govern Alaska (except that he’s got a full-time job plus an extra job on the side in the summer, but that’s not this issue). It’s only fair that the rest of American women enjoy the same equality in pay as the women who govern them.
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Archive for July, 2008
Jul
31
Posted by Lizzie
I am so tired. Last night Mags was up and up some more and still up again. She was having really vivid dreams and driving her parents straight up the wall.
She went to bed fine. Then, sometime around 3, she starting kicking the crap out of my back. She was sideways in her bed for the best possible angle for the kicking. As she was giving me the beating, her little arms were flailing and she was yelling that she didn’t want to go. Usually when she gets like this I am able to calm her pretty quick. I would just tell her something like “That’s fine, honey, you can stay home” and she’d fall peacefully back to sleep. This time it didn’t work.
I tried rubbing her, singing to her, giving her water, begging her to please stop kicking me. She’d fall back to sleep for a little while and then I’d feel the kicks again. Then the yelling and the arm thrashing. It was so very frustrating. It’d take a while to get her back to sleep and then she didn’t stay asleep. Grump was not very happy with it. He didn’t get home until after 1am and wanted to sleep. Mags figured if she couldn’t sleep then neither could we. I don’t blame her. Insomnia is quite lonely. I just wish she could’ve found another way of waking me up.
With my FM, those little kicks were extremely painful. She’s got some power in her legs, my little angel. She seemed to hit all of my backside tender points. It was excruciating. At one point I got up and went outside for a little while. I think that was around 5am. Already my legs were aching and my feet were stiff. Because when I don’t get adequate amounts of sleep I go into full episode mode. This means the fatigue and the debilitating pain. I’ll be miserable for the entire day. Thankfully Pee Wee doesn’t have to work so I won’t have to watch KJ. Miserably, Pee Wee doesn’t have the wherewithal to help care for Mags.
We’re leaving in an hour to take Mags to the doctor for her yearly checkup. I’m going to mention these dream states she goes into. I’d like to know what’s causing them and how we can help her get more sleep. As long as it doesn’t involve needles- which would probably make her sleeping issues that much worse. We’ve got to figure something out because she starts school soon and not getting enough sleep really isn’t a good thing for her.
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Jul
28
Posted by Lizzie
I am so beyond tired. I don’t think the best Starbucks coffee in town could keep my weary eyes open and my yawns suppressed. I’ve been given a lot of extra responsibility lately and I’ve still not adjusted.
Pee Wee has another job (I’ve mentioned this?) and as an effort to help her be more responsible as far as money is concerned, I’ve agreed to watch KJ while she’s working. This does not include when she wants to go hang out. I think for that she can pay and I don’t think that’s at all unreasonable. Lately though she’s been handing him off to me more and more. She’s having some trouble coping with his increased activity, but limited mobility. Children his age can get really frustrated sometimes and they need a certain amount of “in your face” entertainment. Then, of course, there are the evening fussy periods. I’ve tried to explain different ways of dealing with the stressful situations, but I don’t think it’s working. When he won’t calm down for her she almost immediately yells “Mom!”
I urge her to work on her parenting skills, because parenting as a teenager isn’t all cute clothes and adoring coos. Shoot, it’s not all that when you’re an adult with a partner who can help with the workload! But somewhere between being pregnant and now she’s finally come to the realization that babies really aren’t cute all the time and, honestly, I think she resents her life choice.
Grump and I were thinking of taking custody of him for a while when she graduates high school. She’s making some decisions regarding her future and it might just be better for them both if she did that alone. I don’t want to take away her parenting rights, but if he’s with us- two people that are already settled and have some stability in our lives- they’ll both be better off. She’ll be able to mature into a person that won’t resent her child and he’ll be in a nurturing environment without going from sitter to sitter as his mom struggles to feed him.
Some people, of course, think this is the wrong choice for us. They think that we’re giving her too much leeway and that we should just throw her to the wolves. The “she made her bed” crap. I thought about that and you know what? The only person that will really suffer is KJ. I know how long it took me to get my bearings as a young, single mother. And Pee Wee suffered for it (she won’t admit it, of course, but I live with the guilt of what my choices wrought on her). I don’t want that cycle to continue.
Add all of this to classes starting soon along with my responsibility to Mags and, well, I’m worn out right now. Luckily I’ve found momentary release online from time to time, but when I’m not at the computer there are so many other things to deal with. I’ll be glad when I’ve adjusted to the new routine.
Speaking of routines and classes, I’ll be taking a full course load this fall. That means 4 classes instead of 3. For a minute I was stressing out because of the potential for epic fail, but then I realized it’s just one more class. I’m pretty sure I can handle it. Hopefully not only will I be able to handle it, but I’ll be able to use my lessons as jumping off points for future posts.
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Jul
21
Posted by Lizzie
I’ve officially gone from part-time college kid to full-time. I’m a little worried that I won’t be able to take care of all of my obligations. So once again I’m pruning my online “jobs” and sticking with only those that are proven to help my income. I’m hoping I’ll be able to maintain my 3.5 GPA. I can’t go below 3.3 or I lose my scholarship and place in the Honors program. I really, really want to graduate with honors. That would be such an accomplishment for me.
After graduation, I’m going to get some travel insurance and go on a long vacation. I have a few years to plan and save, so I can do it well. Oh, and I can work while on vacation. Hopefully.
Grump and I decided that when I graduate, and if I make enough money, he’s going to be the one to stay home. A house-husband! He’s better at the day-to-day stuff around the house, hates to go out to work, and would be perfect for the position. 
I like getting out of the house every so often- even if that means locking myself in a room at home. I’ve decided that when I do get gainful employment, I’m building an office, padding the wally, and installing locks. I wish them luck getting past all that. 
I’ve only got a couple more weeks until fall semester, so I’m gearing up. I may stress out a lot over the coming months. Please be patient with me. This will take a little adjustment for me. And I’m a little frightened. I mean, I know I’m pretty smart (mostly) but I’m not very organized.
Wish me luck.
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