Since I was..what? 11? I’ve had a fascination with gadgets. Still have if I’m honest. This became I.T.. I’m 37 this year. Old enough to recall VIC-20′s, reel-to-reel tapes, audio coupler modems, PRESTEL, Minframes and WYSE terminals, 8 inch floppy discs and all that came after.
Since turning 18, I’ve worked in IT, usually in schools. Fascinating and fun stuff for sure. I’m now based in a state of the art Academy, with 600 PCs, plasma screens, top-notch kit, IP phones..a tech-geeks paradise.
Yet..since I’ve had kids (nearly 4 years now since Izz was born), and all the hellish times that went just before that, or possibly because of all that, it’s lost it’s appeal somewhat. I still enjoy it, I still tinker, but it’s not as fulfilling. The kids and staff are ace..that’s probably the bit I enjoy most, working with them.
I’ve fought this for a long time now..I can see we’re in a top notch place, it’s all brilliant and light years away from what most schools have..but I don’t feel as engaged. It’s an odd feeling. I think being in an office, not being subject to social interaction has been the main problem.
There have, in the last couple of months been changes in our department. Wide-ranging and ongoing, I think it’s going to be an interesting state of play. In fact, if I’m honest, on the whole I feel rather optimistic about how things may work. The interim may be a bit painful at times, but the end game will hopefully be worth it.
One of these changes has resulted in a sea-change for me..we need to cover the IT support system from 8am-5.15pm at least. Izz finishes nursery at 4. Spot the problem. As part of this revamp, and to resolve some issues underpinning it, it was suggested that I put in an official request to alter my hours.
So, after much debate with Jem, some soul-searching, figure wrangling and many hammerings out of historical issues, I did so. Last week, it was granted.
The Academy are looking to appoint another tech, which will allow the extended cover of the desk. It will help me enormously – I’ve said for a while we need another bod. My physical limitations are placing limits on what can be done and affecting things a bit. Shouldn’t have become such an issue, but that’s another story.
We will be able to ramp up what we do, work more effectively, offer a better service with better staffing..it’s good for the place. It’s also going to allow me to do 8am-1pm Mon-Thu, and 8am-3.30pm Fridays.
Some may say I’ll have an easy life – I know some think that. I disagree. The afternoons will be spent initially freeing Jem up to work, by wrangling Oliver. This will be a challenge, but a fun one. Once we’re “Bedded in” as it were, and things have settled for Jem load-wise, and some sanity return to the house, I’ll probably pull Izz down to just mornings and lunch at Nursery, and reunite the kids in the PM with me at home. Double trouble, triple work.
Jem will be able to do her work in the freed-up PM time, which should free up the currently silent and uncommunicative weekends and evenings, which would be good. It should allow her more “quality time” with the kiddos too, and lower the stress level.
No, it won’t be easy. I suspect it’ll be fun, fulfilling and worth it though. For all of us. Less money per month, but still enough. And the time with the kids is something beyond money..you can’t get back what you miss.
We may also be able to finish some house projects..heh.
This all starts from 15th April, just after we come back from a 3 day break in Wales…so all in all it’s looking like life is due to become interesting… :)