It's the result of a really poor economy, all this hushed tones and asking about one's job at social events nowadays. Seems like no matter where we go or who we run into, there is a story of another job lost or one not found yet, in a long (too long) time.It used to be that we would see old friends and ask "How are the kids?" or "How is your wife/husband?" and instead, now we are asking "How is your job?". There are quiet discussions by the snack bar, whispers of imminent difficulties ahead, hoping the kids don't overhear. It's scary times for everyone, but still we whisper, afraid to say out loud that our financial fears might come true.
I watch our friends, one by one, talking of possible layoffs or firings. There is business lost or worse yet, closings of a job that has been there for years. Day after day, friend after friend, I hear more and more sad news. And it seems like there is no occupation immune and no end in sight.
We watch our money like we watch our kids--always hoping it is safe. We don't spend an extra dime, but then again, our kids are asking for things and we hate to turn them down. We don't want them to be scared or left wanting and we definitely don't want them to see us fail. So, we splurge here and there on them, hoping they don't notice that we are going without ourselves.
I hope things change soon in our economy. Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for our jobs and I pray it stays that way. Every bit of news affects the businesses we are in, and we watch like hawks to see if it will affect our companies to the point of layoffs. It is scary times, and I don't see the promise of recovery on the horizon just yet.
So, while we pretend we are fine and smile to the outside, the truth is that we are all worried. With every job loss and layoff of our friends, we cross our fingers and hope that the next one isn't us. We nod in sympathy and comfort those who are struggling, knowing how terrified they must be. But all we can do is hug them, cheer them on, and tell them to be strong. Lame encouragement for terrified folks, I'm afraid.
And while we go on with our lives and laugh in spite of tough times, that stinky economy has a way of sneaking in and making its presence known.
29 comments:
Our family is, hopefully, on the recovery part of the whole financial crisis. Our dad was laid off from his job of 25 years as a VP for a major bank. Back in December he started his new job with an even better company, but less salary. Our mom had to go back to work for the first time in over 3 years, and she just started her job back in January. Work is hard.
A close friend who was laid off over a year ago and has only worked for 6 months in a temp job since was asked by his son for the latest $400 phone. He said ok. He buys little to nothing for himself. How true your words are.
And now training the part time woman my boss hired for only tax season and has kept on, makes me wonder about my job as she wants a full time one and in my office.
They say the only thing certain is death and taxes so my accounting office is safe. However more and more the company owners we do the financials for come in and tell of mandatory Fridays off, having to lay off workers, slow work, less earnings for the company.
Somber words and sobering thoughts. Yes, we are all in this together, and it is scary.
I don't pretend to be a guru, but do wonder if perhaps the kids should be in on the realities?
Great post! We have actually been struggling with this very thing since 9/11. That is when the first fall out happened...Hubby had a good union job then, but after 9/11, it only took 3 months for the the sheetmetal union that he was a member of to basically crumble. Not even long-time union employees were safe. It wasn't until 2005 that he was able to get a full-time sheetmetal job again. This time around, though, it was non-union with way less money and no benefits. But, his company has so far weathered this horrible economic downfall and for that, I am thankful! Some of his union pals have no work and have had no work for MONTHS! What good are wonderful benefits and pay if there is no work?
We have put everything on hold...we were going to re-do some things in this house, but not right now. I tell everyone that they are more than welcome to come and visit me, but they have to ignore the 1/2 finished closet, 1/2done floors, etc. Eventually it will get done.
Such a cute photo!
The fear of job loss is always so stressful. While I don't think it's quite as bad in the West of Canada (where I live in Saskatchewan) as it is in the East, not a day goes by that you shouldn't be thankful for what you have and where you are. Things can change on a turn of a dime.
Good thoughts Lin!
Hope you have a good day!
xo Catherine
Great thoughts, Lin!!
There are signs of the economy recovering over here at the other side of the pond and this is forecasted in The Year Of The Tiger.
Every night, I thank God Hubby has a job to go to.
We see the same uncertainty and pain in this neighborhood as well.
Daisy--We are lucky for work these days, in spite of no raises or compromised pay. I'm with you, work is hard! And it gets in the way of fun too. But, at least they have jobs, there are so many without.
Helene--It is scary how you don't ever feel safe in your job anymore. I hope it works out for you, Helene. And all companies seem to be making compromises with their employees--no raises, less hours, etc. to keep folks in their jobs. Scary times. I would have had to tell the phone kid "no"--but that is just me.
Vanilla--In October 2008, Joe was losing his job, he was with the company for 20 years and was too expensive for them. We were very honest with the kids--something most people don't do. There was NO spending of any kind until we knew what was going to happen. Sure they were scared, but they learned how to prepare for bad times. I'm with you, hiding it doesn't help them, but not everyone agrees with us.
A. Marie--I'm glad he found something else, even if he had to compromise. I think everyone is making concessions these days just to work. You do what you have to do.
Catherine--I liked the photo too--that's Grace while we washed walls in the bedroom this weekend. Silly cat! I think you make a good point--we have to be thankful for what we have everyday. :) Right on, pally.
Veronica--I agree, there are some good signs, but that takes awhile to trickle down to jobs for people. I'm just hoping those jobs return as there is too much talk of a "Jobless recovery". I think that is what folks are scared of. Like you, I'm just really thankful Joe has a good job to go to each day.
I wish it wasn't a constant worry for so many of us. It's just a tough world. And I'm trying to sell a house in the middle of it....
I worry, like everyone else but for me business is booming and I am buying new equipment to expand! I hope I am doing the right thing! I think I am but these days ya never know!
yes... will write for pennies
There have been signs here in New England that things are starting to turn around. I have started getting more calls from clients and my husband had his first job interview in months (he is working, but is considering a change). I am hoping that these are signs that all of us are looking at a recovery.
Look at that stack of pillows Grace is napping on. Lap of luxury, that one.
It is scary, this constant threat of everyone losing their jobs. Every single person in my family is in a potentially unstable job and it stinks. Here's hoping better times are around the corner...
"How's your cats doing Lin?" :)
I think older children should be let in on the economic realities. Give them the opportunity to rise to the occasion.
I am thankful every day for our financial good luck - we are, oddly enough, in better shape now than we have ever been in our lives.
How did Gracie ever get on top of those pillows?
Tell me about it.
Fortunately we were retired when the big bad hit but it's still made things harder.
We went through a job loss last January when my husband's company transferred jobs to Austin, TX. About 150 employees in our town alone (there were 2 other locations too) were told to move to TX or quit. It was an effective way to get rid of people without making the news by announcing layoffs.
He went back to school so I see it as a blessing in disguise since we love it here in Oregon and things will work out. My job is secure in that taxes aren't going away anytime soon!
I can't name a single person I know who hasn't been affected, and badly, by all of this. Nearly every family we know has had issues with unemployment and the older you are (like over 40) the longer it lasts. Fingers are crossed.
Chuck--It is everywhere, sadly. Although there are signs of improvement, I'm afraid it is going to take a long time to fully recover--if it ever really does.
Violet--It's the conversation everywhere we go lately and it is hard to escape it. Even if you just want to meet up with friends, we are all just hanging out at someone's house nowadays, which is just as fun or more so. It's just a change that we have to think about it more.
Jo--Your business will never go away because people will always want special photos of their families and their kids. Joe just said the other day how glad he was to have you photograph all of us. :) I look at them all the time and enjoy them immensely. I'm grateful for your talent.
Sharky--And shop with pennies, and eat for pennies, etc. Except nothing is pennies anymore, sadly. I'm just making pennies!
Anne--You are right, there are some glimmers of hope on the horizon. But I still see some friends falling until the recovery is full blown.
Casey--I don't know a soul who is confident these days of their jobs or income. Even if you are working, there is some hesitation on every level. Don't you love Grace??! We were washing down our bedroom this weekend and she found the stack of pillows to balance on. :) She reminded me of the Princess and the Pea.
Vanilla7--Nobody asks me that in real life, Vanilla. :( Only the folks who read my blog. Hobbes is only really a star on the internet, unfortunately. Otherwise I'd be booking him for commercials and TV shows!
Grace--Isn't she silly??! We were washing down our bedroom this weekend and she found the pillows all stacked precariously. You should have seen her trying to settle in without knocking them over! Goofy cat. I'm with you, I believe kids should know that there are difficulties and how to get through these times AND be reassured that all will be okay in the process. My mom was always very honest with us and I do the same with my kids.
Pricilla--Every part of life is harder from bills to utilities to food costs. So, yes, we have a good income, but it isn't going as far and it is really hard to save in the process. I'm sorry about Pricilla's baby. :( I'm really sad today.
Beaded Tail--It's good that you have a good job and he could have a choice. Yes, sometimes things work out for the better. My husband was forced out of his job right before all of this happened and he landed on his feet in a better job with better pay. We were lucky too, but it sure was scary at the time. I did a LOT of crying--not that it helped. :)
You would think that working in a grocery store I wouldn't have to worry too much but even there business has been slow. People have to eat but when money is tight they even cut back on that. Thankfully I've been with the same store for quite some time so my job is more secure than others... but you never know
Thanks for writing what we are all feeling and thinking right now. I try to shelter my girls from our stress, but be honest at the same time that things are tight. Hopefully things will turn around SOON.
Lydia
Buggys--I've never seen it this bad before because like you, it seems like everyone we know is dealing with it in some fashion. Scary times.
Ann--I've noticed that there aren't as many workers in stores as they want to cut costs to keep prices low too. Target is crazy by our house--the lines are ridiculous!
Verge--It's the elephant in the room everywhere we go lately. It's funny how a lot of the parents want to shield their kids from this, but I don't think that's good either. I think a small dose of reality (which some comfort that you'll be fine) is okay if they are old enough to understand. How else will they learn to manage tough times in their lifetime as well? It is scary times, that's for sure.
Ugh. So true. It stinks to have to worry about things like this. Hopefully it all gets better very, very soon
I work in entertainment and media, as do the majority of my friends, so our lives are always a struggle, there's always lots of unemployment, and few people have kids, either because they can't afford it, or that's not part of their dream. And the truth is that in hard times, the entertainment industry usually does pretty well. So while everyone I know has been complaining (as usual), and some of those who are used to working day jobs have gotten laid off from them, Brian and I have done okay - better than okay, really. I really had no idea how bad it was, and continues to be until I went to the BlogPaws conference in Columbus and found out that whole NEIGHBORHOODS there are boarded up. It was sobering. It made our little whiny complaints look so petty. On the West Coast here, there is some economic recovery, even as screwed up as our state and city government is. I really wish there was a way I could push some of it eastwards.
Cute--There are signs, but it isn't coming fast enough for some.
Janiss--Wow, who knew??! I would have thought that the entertainment industry would be the first hit. I know the first thing to go in this house is going out and spending money--eating out, movies, ball games, etc. I don't hardly ever go to a movie anymore, we rent from Red Box if we do anything at all. Hmmmmm, interesting angle, Janiss. Maybe I'll put Hobbes into movies. ;)
True. It's all I got...
I certainly hope that your country pulls out of this downturn soon. I am fortunate to live in part of the world (western Canada) where things have returned pretty much to normal, people are spending again and there is a positive atmosphere, we managed to come out unscathed. However, I realize many countries are still struggling.
I hope the economy will rebound, but I tend to think that the long slow process (of globalism and outsourcing, all encouraged by government policy) that led us to such a dismal place will be slow in taking us back (IF policy changes, which doesn't look like it will).
It's a sad, embarrassing time for the American worker. We've been sold out from under us. I remember hearing the warning bells two decades ago!
Tracy--Me too. :)
Hot Rocks--It isn't right yet here and I think it may never be again. Too many people lived beyond their means in this country. I think they are surprised to find that you can't live that way. It is also really hurting those who didn't have a lot to begin with.
Rebecca--For too long, people didn't care about tomorrow and planning for a what-if scenario. Expensive pensions and unions who won't conceded are drowning the economy. It's time to rethink all the things that were done in the past.
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