Hi Sunny
There's never a solution that one would be happy with.
If you do intend to stay in the workforce, think of it positively : how many mothers are allowed to go on a flexi-work arrangement by the companies?
Think of the company's position. They need to keep a physical place for you despite you being there 50%. They need to train you, provide benefits like insurance (your MC halved or full?), and accommodate in terms of salary payment, meeting hrs, etc. Honestly, I do not think many companies would do that. Same as the ones that take a step back on hiring potential mothers ... once they think of the maternity leave, they would rather hire those who need not go on this. Some projects can't accommodate to people schedule, unless you are the project manager. Are you expecting your boss to take some projects away from you to give to another colleague? Do you have in mind who has that bandwidth to take on the additional work from you so that you can work comfortably in the 22 hrs that you can? Would you be comfortable to watch your colleague fly in that project and not be green with envy?
I was once in your shoes 5 yrs ago. That works so ideally for us yah? But it does give the boss a headache if the position is not meant to be a PT one in the first place. I was in an MNC and everyone goes home on time ... you can see everyone packing up at 5.25pm just so that they can hop onto the company bus at 5.30pm... there are people who do stay back till 6 or 7 or 8 pm though. But everyone who leaves on the dot gets to do it everyday and those who choose to work hard can too. But when I opted for PT arrangements, I still gave my boss a headache coz the ladies around start to ask for that privilege as well. If you are questioning that you are not being appreciated by the workload that you are still undertaking, then there are the many others too who worked till 9 or 10, way past the hrs that they should on a fulltime basis too, and feeling similarly unappreciated. I am still very glad that my ex-boss gave me that opportunity to go on PT basis; I had given up on prime projects when I was on PT basis then but then again. my priorities and lifestyle changed when I had my #1 ... I had stopped going out for lunches since that happened 7 yrs ago. I too questioned what kind of work-home life I wanted to go on then ....
Well, people do not often openly show their appreciation ... even as SAHMs, many a times, your family do not show appreciation and you do not have other parties (unlike WOHM) that can help compensate any part of that. I remember that I could take half a day off just to relax and be all alone to enjoy some fresh air, or when I was sick, I could hide in my bed without any worry. Probably having your MIL helping out makes quitting and staying at home an option that you will not consider. Then you probably will have to ask yourself what you can let go at work, what you want to keep doing, and trash out with your boss. That's probably the best person to help u if you do intend to keep at this work.
I work at home ever since I left the workforce, but I chose to say no to things that I feel it's not worth chasing after. After 5 yrs of doing this, the team I work with do feel that we are not being appreciated by our current boss, and recently, we trashed out with her. We know a perfect solution would not arise, but at least we let it be known of what we are unhappy abt, and then we comfortably said no if the boss pushes us without feeling that guilt.
Life is never perfect. It really is how you manage it. And many a times, you'll find that you can't really manage it, but you just have to manage your own expectations.
.ky.