I`m the head of an organization called FEMALE (Formerly Employed Mothers at Loose Ends),” says Joanne Brundage. ”As our name implies, we are women who have chosen or been forced to take time out from paid employment to take care of our children-but have not done so without reservations.”
Brundage, who has three children, says her group has a national membership of 300. All the members plan to return to work in the future.
”But what if, through death, divorce or financial crisis, the time to return is not of our choosing?” asks Brundage, who is concerned about one day being a displaced homemaker. ”Just because we worked before doesn`t mean re- entry will be easy: Marketable skills change over time and some skills are not transferable.
”Do working women dare to take a few years off to be home with their children, or is the risk too great of ending up losing ground permanently and putting themselves and their families in financial jeopardy?”
PILAR BAUTISTA
Age 31, coordinator of community and urban affairs, Amoco Corporation
”I was married young and had my baby at age 18-and I`ve always worked,” says Bautista, who was a public service director for Hispanic broadcasting stations.
Bautista is married to Luis Bautista, a labor inspector. They have a son, Luis G., 13. ”I definitely believe you risk your career when you take time off from work to raise a family,” says Pilar, who has a degree in
communications from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is on the board of HACE, a Hispanic career alliance.
When her son was born, Bautista enrolled in college to get her degree.
”I worked in Evanston, lived in the city and attended school downtown,”
she says. ”I always ran like a maniac back and forth. I`ve been very lucky because my family is so supportive. I`ve also had managers who understand my obligations as mother and professional.
”I would find it difficult to stay home,” she says. ”I`ve been a good professional and hopefully a good parent, too.”
She points out that women today have to make a choice: ”What`s first in your life, your children or your career? My decision was both. But it`s very stressful because when I get home I put in another eight hours. You have to keep your gymshoes on and keep trucking.”
BOBBIE M. GREGG
Age 33, attorney and full-time homemaker
”I loved my work,” says Gregg, who was an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Illinois for nine years. ”Initially, when my daughter, Emily, was born in May, 1988, I planned to go back full time. I even worked part time and taught at Northwestern University Law School two days a week.
”But I didn`t anticipate the attachment I`d have to my daughter. As much as I love my work, that`s what it is-work. I love my family more.”
Gregg is married to David Gregg, also an attorney. The couple`s second child, Mary Elizabeth, was born last month.
”I`m fortunate in that I`m not concerned about finances, and with a law degree, I have the flexibility to go in and out of the marketplace and switch from one aspect of the profession to another,” says Gregg, a graduate of Northwestern`s law school.
She agrees that ”women probably lose some ground permanently when they take time out. Often they`re not taken as seriously as someone who has always been there. But it`s unrealistic for women to think they can have it all. Men don`t have it all either. I think I have a better life than my husband, because I have lots of hours with my daughters.”
”I`m thrilled to have children, and I didn`t want a crazy family life,” she says.
JOANNE BRUNDAGE
Age 37, full-time homemaker, Elmhurst
”In my you do lose ground,” says Brundage, who worked as a letter carrier for 10 years in Elmhurst before retiring to stay home with her children. ”When I left, I was earning $28,000, but if I went back, I`d have to start all over again at $19,700.”
She is married to Richard Brundage and they have three children. ”I would have stayed because the money was so good, but I was forced out by the lack of child care,” says Brundage, who has a degree in anthropology from Northern Illinois University.
”I was not able to find good child care when my third child was born, so I had to quit in 1986.”
Once at home, however, ”I looked for something to do,” she says. ”I had to use my brain. I had to do other things than diapers and dishes. I needed stimulation, and when I couldn`t find it, I made my own by creating FEMALE in 1987.”
In organizing her group, she found many of the women had left work for similar reasons. ”It disturbs me that there`s supposed to be a movement for employed women to go back home,” Brundage says. ”Our members don`t agree with that. More than half are not home by choice. Women do want to spend more time with their children but not by sacrificing their careers.”
Choices are limited, she says, if you are not affluent. ”It`s difficult living on one salary. We have monthly discussions about how long we can hold out.”
For a woman planning to go back to work someday, Brundage advises keeping up membership in professional associations, reading business publications and doing volunteer work in their former professional field.
”Just staying involved outside the home is important for your mental health,” she says, ”but what really is necessary is for the workplace to change to accommodate families.”
For more information about FEMALE, write P.O. Box 31, Elmhurst, Il. 60126.
