| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Translation and little kids Thread poster: Nadja Balogh
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wonita (X)
China
Local time: 08:46
| Family has priority | Nov 7, 2007 |
Nadja Balogh wrote: Hi everybody, Though I don't have kids yet, this is bound to change sooner or later, and I'm very curious to hear about the experiences of those of you working at home with small kids or babies around. How do you manage to maintain your concentration? What are your typical working hours? Is it possible at all to find time and energy for translation right after a baby was born? Though your answers are not going to influence my decision to have kids  I'd appreciate it to hear your opinion on this.
In order to have a gemütlich family life, it is highly advisable to consider my following suggestions:
1. Work under the motto: I work to keep me on the ball. Because as a part-time translator in Germany, you won't be able to make significant contribution to your family financially.
2. Don't try to please all clients, say "no" to tough deadlines and jobs coming in unfavorable time.
3. Don't try to be outstanding. "Good" is enough. An ambitious translator and a good mom do conflict with each other.
I am a mother of 2 girls, 7 and 11. I am happy with translation jobs because they broaden my horizon constantly, as if I were still at school. That's all.
Bin aus Regensburg
[Edited at 2007-11-07 10:20]
| | | | | Another option: stay-at-home dad | Nov 7, 2007 |
I am a full-time translator with 2 girls ages 4 and 8. I took 3 mos. maternity leave each time and then my husband stayed home to take care of them. This was an opportunity that arose due to our work situations at the time, but it has turned out to be a great choice. I have been able to support the family, and during these last few years he has gone back to school to become a teacher.
I would not have been able to work at home and be responsible for the kids all day, at least not i... See more I am a full-time translator with 2 girls ages 4 and 8. I took 3 mos. maternity leave each time and then my husband stayed home to take care of them. This was an opportunity that arose due to our work situations at the time, but it has turned out to be a great choice. I have been able to support the family, and during these last few years he has gone back to school to become a teacher.
I would not have been able to work at home and be responsible for the kids all day, at least not if I had to make any significant amount of money. We also had one calm, quiet baby, and one constantly on the move. As it was, the active one managed to turn off my computer in the middle of a job a few times!
It's nice that we have both been available to the children when they needed us. We did have them participate in preschool programs, too, so that they could make friends (in the process, we also made good friends) and have time with other children.
It'll be interesting to see how our arrangement changes next year when my husband is working full-time - I will be the one taking on more childcare responsibilities than I ever have, so I'm more thankful than ever to have this flexible job. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Grateful to sit down! | Nov 8, 2007 |
My work is the only time I get to sit down (except for any time I spend driving). I'm grateful most days to close that door and switch gears!
My son is 28 months old and extremely active. He's now in preschool from 8:30 to 2:30. After that, if I'm on deadline, his dad (who also works part-time) is Chief Caretaker. If not, I try to plan an Adventure for our afternoon together.
It can be quite difficult to explain to a two-year-old who wants needs loves your undivided a... See more My work is the only time I get to sit down (except for any time I spend driving). I'm grateful most days to close that door and switch gears!
My son is 28 months old and extremely active. He's now in preschool from 8:30 to 2:30. After that, if I'm on deadline, his dad (who also works part-time) is Chief Caretaker. If not, I try to plan an Adventure for our afternoon together.
It can be quite difficult to explain to a two-year-old who wants needs loves your undivided attention that you're not just ignoring him. He doesn't care that your income makes his preschool, doctor visits, groceries, etc. a reality. He just knows that Mumma's home, but she won't open the door.
And I also waited almost three months before starting to work again. Boy, was I happy to get back to it. It was really good to get my frontal lobes working again!
Good luck to you!
[Edited at 2007-11-08 18:37] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | doable with persistence | Nov 16, 2007 |
Nadja Balogh wrote:
Thanks everybody for your stories. All in all it sounds like I've imagined it would (I have two brothers much younger than me, so I have some ideas about how kids are like).
In fact, one of the reasons I always wanted to be a translator was the possibilty to see my kids grow up around me without having to be "only" a housewife.
I've been translating for 8 years and have a 13-year old, 11-year old, and 6-year old so I've had small kids around me while working forever. What's more, my workstation was in the hall and then in the living room !
It is doable but I am infinitely more productive now with all three kids in school and a real office in our new home. As someone mentioned, concentration can be trained. I can work through just about any noise but my proofread has to be done with some semblance of quiet in the evening or early morning. I get up at least an hour before the kids wake up to get some quality quiet time, but the rest was catch as catch can and earplugs!
Good luck and don't despair!
Kelly
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