Letters

Book offers way out of ‘rat race’

I’ve been enjoying Cindy Hval’s articles in the North Side Voice. This last one really got my attention (Vocal Point, March 15). I’m sure she meant it as a light note to our very busy and stressful lives, but it also struck me more seriously. Please let me share my thoughts.

Many women are stuck in the “rat race” of trying to do it all. You listed some of your responsibilities in the article, and I’m sure there are many more. I definitely know that some women must work, and others just plain enjoy their jobs. That’s a real plus.

A book I read, “Shattering the Two-Income Myth” by Andy Dappen, opened my eyes to a couple of things. The book includes an exercise you may want to do yourself:

How much in time and money does it cost you to work?

Under time, figure out how much time it really does cost you to work, including getting ready, commuting, lunch hour, overtime hours, working at home on job-related stuff, etc.

Under money, figure out the tax bracket that working puts you and your husband in, the cost of clothing, shoes, gasoline, lattes, lunches out, convenience food you have for dinner, lunches maybe your children buy because they don’t have time to make one, dry-cleaning charges for work clothes and laundering (include husband’s shirts), personal concierge services, day care or after-school supervision, etc., etc., etc.

It really is revealing.

In your article, whether subconciously or not, you used the words: “stressed, panicked, overworked, disillusioned and distracted.” Who wants that?

Cheryl Fleming