You can't see through the phone

The job search is going much better than expected. So well, in fact, that I've switched modes from 'Oh no! I'm about to be an unemployed single mother, my life depends on finding someone, anyone, who will hire me!' to realising that I need to think a bit about where and how I want to work.

I have been thoroughly spoiled by several years of complete freedom in my job; no physical office, and no fixed hours. I've internalised this working culture so much that the idea of going to a place, most days, to do something I could most likely do equally effectively from home at midnight on a Tuesday, seems ludicrous. Not that I think every job in the world should decentralise; more that I'm not sure I'm psychologically ready for a normal office job.

I realised this well into the recruitment process for a couple of positions. Plus, while telephone interviews meant that the issue of pregnancy didn't come up at all, I also realised that I really wouldn't feel good going on maternity leave a couple months into a new position. It's nice to know that legal protection is in place to allow it....but it would also be very disruptive, to me and the organisation, and I can imagine it creating a lot of bad will on all sides.

There has to be a better solution...something that will allow flexibility to stay with the baby, prevent me from going broke, and not make anyone feel cheated. I suspect the solution will be back to school for a year of PhD progress, if I can scare up any money for it.

Bottom line: I think I might be nuts for not taking the first job I was offered.