Admit it, you’re working at Area 51!! 
2 Likes
After my first time of parental leave was over and we started sending our oldest to kindergarten, I sat in the car and full on wept. It was a hard transition for everyone involved. Being home with your kid is a blessing! I’m glad you got to experience that!
3 Likes
I cannot confirm nor deny that statement 
Thank you and I totally agree! We have a VERY strong bond because of it. I’m probably the least lenient (lovingly) with my oldest son (who has autism and is non-verbal).
He will kick the whole family out of his room but I’m always excluded. He comes to me first to ask for something even though I’m the least likely to give in to his sometimes unreasonable demands. I love him dearly. He has a vibe that lights up a room. I feel like I wouldn’t know him as deeply as I do without the time we’ve had.
So I absolutely appreciated the time I’ve had with both my sons. Even when it’s been hard and I’ve been neglecting my own wants and needs often.
6 Likes
I’m still a full time parent. I had planned on returning to work this year but we just had a second child and so I decided to continue to be the parent at home. As others have said, it’s a very rewarding ‘job’ but not without its challenges. My interaction with other adults is at an all time minimum level, which can be tough. I also suspect my previous career is now over. I am well qualified (to PhD level) so hopefully I will still have options when I return to the workplace.
6 Likes
I don’t know where you’re from but here in Sweden we have these groups that the municipal arrange for at home parents. It’s a great way to interact with adults who are in the same state of life as one self…
Maybe you could see if your region have similar groups. I know it helped me when I was home with kids and had 0 adult interaction.
2 Likes
Sound designer and occasional composer for mobile games.
4 Likes
Good job, it takes hard work and dedication to connect with your children. It a gratifying endeavor though. I imagine it takes even more dedication with someone who has autism.
It’s a weird thing becoming a parent… everything that used to matter is completely pointless… for me it wasn’t like a switch that got turned off, it was rather a gradual change from seeing my kids develop into people.
Everything career and hobby wise feels kind of blasé, but seeing your kid sing in a choir or do math wrecks you (in a good sense)
3 Likes
I feel you. I’ve been basically isolated in our house for the last 4 years. We also had moved to a new state (Arizona) and I don’t really know anybody here. Without the opportunity to get out it’s just been the occasional friend passing through.
It’s very hard, like COVID lockdown started early and never ended for me.
Work took longer to find after being out of it for so long. But I also found something much better as well in the end. You have great education, someone will appreciate what you’ve sacrificed and see it as a strength. You’ll get hired again.
I think having kids is like this to some extent anyway. They are only super needy for so long. Someday our time will return slowly. There is an end to it too. I have to remind myself that sometimes when it gets very difficult.
1 Like
Consultant for Data Strategy
3 Likes
Definitely gradual for me as well. I still have passions and desires with work and music though.
The biggest change for me was that it forced me to fix all of my problems that I’d hidden from myself.
I had to grow up. I couldn’t whine and complain anymore. I had to be confident and be the best I can be. I had to let go of more of my ego than I ever could have known. I became calm. I stopped trying to control the world and changed myself instead. I didn’t do any of this gracefully 
When I only had to answer to myself I could accept my qualities that I disliked about myself. Live with them and be okay with them.
But now it’s not about me. It’s us, and they don’t get to choose, they get me. So I had to change.
Basically it changed what I want, for the better. It got my head out of the clouds. Now I make real things happen and I’m happier with what I have.
From the outside it could look like I don’t think as big, dream as big. Like I won’t achieve as much as I could. It might seem negative but it’s not. For me it’s a much needed grounding that will help me to do better than I would have. I can only see that now and from here.
6 Likes
Very similar here. We moved to Switzerland just after we had our first son, so I haven’t made work friends or anything like that. I also don’t speak German, so it’s been a bit tough going! Throw covid on top = no social life at all.
2 Likes
This thread makes me think of all those covert Elektronauts hiding in plain sight… Maybe the person at the office front desk loves flipping samples on Octatrack. Or maybe that shy team member who rarely speaks anything is thinking only about how to create the neuro bass sound on Digitone.
Seven months ago I started working at an university of applied sciences as a spatial experience specialist in a couple of projects. I’m really happy about the job title, but the work itself is fun, too. For the last 10 years I’ve been a freelance musician and sound designer and a couple of years ago I also started studying philosophy of religion. Spatial audio, ambient and site-specific art, philosophy of space and sacral acoustics are some of my connecting themes. What I do now at work is not as ambitious as I’d like my work to be, but having been a freelancer and independent artist for years, the stability my job offers feels quite a privilege.
9 Likes
Maybe even the CEO. Test the waters.
First day back on the job, “I went to a new bar over the weekend. What a Scene! There were so many Parts I liked about it! It was the one near so many Banks!”
You never know…the response might be, “you’re one of us? Follow me upstairs, there’s some people you should meet”
And then have a techno jam with the higher ups of your company. Networking
4 Likes
Hello friends!
I’m a psychotherapist working in private practice in Los Angeles. Music is my self care:raised_hands:
7 Likes
And I am your mailman.
8 Likes
My mother was a part of a local cooperative in the US back in the '80s, they certainly exist by necessity.
1 Like
I disconnected my computer from gear a long ago, I’m done being a nerd: I’m an artist
1 Like
I’ve thought about becoming a carrier a few times in my life. Interested to hear your take on it if you have one! Are you in the US?
Healthcare IT consulting. Soul-crushing work because everyone above me only cares about money and billable hours, but it pays decently well for my area.
4 Likes
This sounds fucking incredible, congratulations!
1 Like