Your son will be proud of you whether you freelance or not because you are his mother and a really god mother. In a way, motherhood is like a long long PAYE job with so many perks and no pay.
Well said. Freelancing is exhausting and the journalism industry is particularly tough to work in right now. You've done a great job and I've always loved your writing. I'm actually in a similar position of looking for PAYE work so solidarity and best of luck with this new chapter, Marisa!
thank you for all the support and kind words, Jessie! You've been doing such fantastic work lately. Good luck with the search. You'll be brilliant whereever you land x
I’ve been freelance since I was 24 (there are no PAYE jobs for photographers, which was what I did for almost 2 decades) and I STILL fantasise about getting a job some days. It is not an option for me now because of the intense flexibility needed to meet my disabled teen’s needs - but I get so tired…. And jealous of my boyfriend whose work just arrives on his desk (just like his salary arrives each month in his bank account!). I still regularly panic about having to rely on anyone else - which is insane because feminist or not, since when were humans built to survive alone in the world? Especially humans raising other small humans. Freelance works when it works (or when there are no other options). But it’s definitely not the be all and end all. You’re making the bold choice ❤️.
Thank you for the kind words and for reading. I often think about you, Penny. You've built a brilliant freelance career because you've had to. And I can't imagine how that feels. Some days, I'm sure, it must feel very exhusating and very unfair (The work arriving at your desk is the bit I miss the most). But it is extremely impressive and I'm full of admiration for you and how you're meeting your sons needs as a single parent and still finding a way to make money from creative work. It's astonshing xxx
Ohh Marisa I felt this deeply! Craving that PAYE life myself but don’t even know what I’m fit for anymore. Good luck with the new chapter and well done on having the strength it takes to leave the hustle behind x
Not knowing what I'm fit for is EXACTLY it!! (that's the next post!) I I have a CV but no idea where to send it or who will have me or what I can do! Feeling very much like I'm starting at the bottom of the pile again... Thank you for the kind words of encouragment, and for reading. Hope you're enjoing Brighton xxx
Thank you for putting this into words, Marisa! I know you say, when "freelance life suits the most - living outside of London with a two-year-old" - but I suspect that no matter what stage of life you're in, freelance life IS hard, and has its pros and cons. I've just had my first kid and have been so jealous of those (inc my husband) who have a structured work life, structured leave, structured work plan with a manager and a broader set of organisation goals etc. Wishing you all the best with the new chapter - it takes a lot of courage to switch paths, and a lot of self-awareness to know when to call time. And freelancing will always be there in the future if you choose to return to it.
Your son will be proud of you whether you freelance or not because you are his mother and a really god mother. In a way, motherhood is like a long long PAYE job with so many perks and no pay.
very true, Maureen!
As a fellow drifting freelancer....thank you. xxx
Well said. Freelancing is exhausting and the journalism industry is particularly tough to work in right now. You've done a great job and I've always loved your writing. I'm actually in a similar position of looking for PAYE work so solidarity and best of luck with this new chapter, Marisa!
thank you for all the support and kind words, Jessie! You've been doing such fantastic work lately. Good luck with the search. You'll be brilliant whereever you land x
Honestly, just thank you for this.
Thank you for reading 🙏
I love your writing so much and this piece especially.
Thank you so much & thank you for reading 🙏
Good luck for the next chapter. Your beautiful storytelling will shine through whatever you do!
Thank you so much, Anita!
Very hard relate Xx
sending solidarity xx
I’ve been freelance since I was 24 (there are no PAYE jobs for photographers, which was what I did for almost 2 decades) and I STILL fantasise about getting a job some days. It is not an option for me now because of the intense flexibility needed to meet my disabled teen’s needs - but I get so tired…. And jealous of my boyfriend whose work just arrives on his desk (just like his salary arrives each month in his bank account!). I still regularly panic about having to rely on anyone else - which is insane because feminist or not, since when were humans built to survive alone in the world? Especially humans raising other small humans. Freelance works when it works (or when there are no other options). But it’s definitely not the be all and end all. You’re making the bold choice ❤️.
Thank you for the kind words and for reading. I often think about you, Penny. You've built a brilliant freelance career because you've had to. And I can't imagine how that feels. Some days, I'm sure, it must feel very exhusating and very unfair (The work arriving at your desk is the bit I miss the most). But it is extremely impressive and I'm full of admiration for you and how you're meeting your sons needs as a single parent and still finding a way to make money from creative work. It's astonshing xxx
Ohh Marisa I felt this deeply! Craving that PAYE life myself but don’t even know what I’m fit for anymore. Good luck with the new chapter and well done on having the strength it takes to leave the hustle behind x
Absolutely this.
Not knowing what I'm fit for is EXACTLY it!! (that's the next post!) I I have a CV but no idea where to send it or who will have me or what I can do! Feeling very much like I'm starting at the bottom of the pile again... Thank you for the kind words of encouragment, and for reading. Hope you're enjoing Brighton xxx
Thank you for this piece! By the way, I'm Italian perhaps I can help with the form?
Thank you for putting this into words, Marisa! I know you say, when "freelance life suits the most - living outside of London with a two-year-old" - but I suspect that no matter what stage of life you're in, freelance life IS hard, and has its pros and cons. I've just had my first kid and have been so jealous of those (inc my husband) who have a structured work life, structured leave, structured work plan with a manager and a broader set of organisation goals etc. Wishing you all the best with the new chapter - it takes a lot of courage to switch paths, and a lot of self-awareness to know when to call time. And freelancing will always be there in the future if you choose to return to it.