mommylawyer Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 If you weren't a parent, what would you be doing - career-wise? I would probably be a full-time attorney ... or if I had my "dream-lawyer" job - being a law school librarian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I'm getting too old for my dream job, thank goodness I've had a few years to pursue it anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in Orlando Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I cannot even begin to imagine. I would be an entirely different person than I am now. I imagine I'd be living in a large city - New York, maybe Boston - doing some kind of writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would probably be an engineering professor. By the time I graduated with my BS, I realized that I really didn't want to work in the industry. But, I loved school! I probably would have just stayed in school forever, getting my MS, and my PhD, and eventually teaching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would be singing on Broadway:lol:.....probably teaching music to grade schoolers, dreaming of singing on Broadway:tongue_smilie: This life is so much better:001_smile: eta: my kids are easy critics:lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philothea Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I'd be a Spanish teacher, living with my 10 cats and travelling abroad in the summer-- and probably looking for a husband so I could have kids :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebeccaC Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would be an archaeology prof digging in the dirt in the summer and looking at bones. At least that was the grand plan in my late 20s and early 30s before service in Gulf War I interrupted life and helped me hear my ticking bio clock :D Never regretted hearing that clock and have gotten more out of hsing than I ever did doing anything else. I'm near 50 now and still have 4 more years of hsing and I do not think I will try and finish up that old dream. I'll find something new and easier on the knees ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdWTMer Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Be a workaholic! :D I would probably do something in the biology field. Maybe an entomologist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I have a bs in education and taught for 4 years. But I'm not sure I'd still be teaching. I know I'd be sad, cuz I always wanted to have kids! Hmmmm, not sure....welllll, I always wanted to take ASL and interpret for people. I always wanted to learn another language. So maybe I'd be an interpretor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plucky Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I'd be a private investigator. I love research and am incredibly curious. I'd love to get paid for what I already do in my spare time. I used to be an editor/journalist (although I do stink at grammar). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMindy Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 A teacher. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I think I would be someone promoting new urbanism (living locally, pushing for multi use zoning, creating great neighborhoods, designing walkable living places, etc.). DH and I love living "in town" and love having a strong, vibrant city that we live in. We thought we'd build in the country but have changed our minds. Or I would be doing Uppercase Living like I am now, only full time instead of part time, because I really love this business that I've gotten into! I've had the opportunity many times to do direct marketing (home party type businesses) but *nothing* has ever said YES to me like UL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Teaching definitely! Now the question is what!! I would want to teach high school math in a small, Christian school...or...math for GED programs. I think I would really enjoy helping adults finally "get math". I have a BS in math, but no teaching credentials. I would not want to do the TAPP program here in GA. It is for degreed professionals coming into the teaching field. You have to teach full time and attend classes practically full time. It's very draining from what my dh has observed. He teaches public high school, so I'd be inclined to want a school with the same schedule as him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would have pursued a degree in linguistics where hopefully spelling doesn't count and then beg the company to work for them even if I had to pay them. Next to the Bible and of course WTM it is my favorite book/s.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaik76 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Am I allowed to choose homemaker?:D I've always wanted to stay home. I had my "dream job" before having children...and I hated it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglei Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Librarian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in MO Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would be either a university professor, teaching an obscure subject like Old or Middle High German (with the study of ancient manuscripts); or, I would love to be the Latin and English teacher at a classical Christian school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would probably be living on a spiritual commune somewhere, maybe India, at least part of the year :) Maybe I would have a naturopathic practice here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I'd probably still be a cop and firefighter. I had to pick dh up from the montly fire meeting last week. The chief asked me if I wanted an application. I was torn, but after 24 hours decided that we made the best decision years ago to keep one parent out of the line of fire. At any time dh could go to work or go answer a fire call and not come home. So it is for the best that I have the "safe" job of being a SAHM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaid Dad Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would be either a university professor, teaching an obscure subject like Old or Middle High German (with the study of ancient manuscripts); or, I would love to be the Latin and English teacher at a classical Christian school. Michelle, sometimes I think you really must be my long lost sister! :D I decided not to pursue a career in academia (teaching...Middle High German) because I looked around me and saw that the successful profs were single - often divorced - or spent almost no time with their families. I wanted my family, not my work, to be the center of my life. I also had no stomach for university politics. If I hadn't wanted a family, though, I probably would have stuck it out and have tenure by now. In a month I'll be teaching Latin, Greek, and literature three days a week at a classical school. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyThreeSons Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 but I now know that I would really like to be a tech teacher -- teaching drafting and other pre-engineering type courses at either the middle school or high school level. The gal who teaches the engineering classes at our co-op has this degree from Virginia Tech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Good question! When I had kids I left a great job in Human Resources. I LOVED it!!!! I kinda' fell into the position when I was looking for a job. I probably would still be in that field. I also would've gone back to school for a Master's Degree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I'd be sitting with Rebecca as an archaeologist digging in the dirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB in NJ Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I'd be either a paralegal or a nurse. I was a paralegal for years (LOVE it!) and started nursing school but never finished (loved that too). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I have still to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Maybe a nurse or a midwife or something with natural diet and nutrition. But all of those things were influenced by my life so far. Had I not had children, I probably would have gone a totally different route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTanya Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 and may have gone back for my doctorate in English. Or maybe I would have gone into educational administration. Or maybe I would have opened my own bookstore that would almost certainly have closed given the competition from the big guys. Something in education or books, that's all I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTanya Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I'd be a Spanish teacher, living with my 10 cats and travelling abroad in the summer-- and probably looking for a husband so I could have kids :) You and I could have been traveling buddies! But who would care for our cats while we were gone? Lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixmeadows Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 or I would be involved in education, it is so much fun and I just love learning. Cheri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in MO Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Michelle, sometimes I think you really must be my long lost sister! :D I decided not to pursue a career in academia (teaching...Middle High German) because I looked around me and saw that the successful profs were single - often divorced - or spent almost no time with their families. I wanted my family, not my work, to be the center of my life. I also had no stomach for university politics. If I hadn't wanted a family, though, I probably would have stuck it out and have tenure by now. In a month I'll be teaching Latin, Greek, and literature three days a week at a classical school. :) I thought the same things about universities. Although I love to learn, I'm not sure I could handle the university politics or the pressure that I sensed where I went to school to conform to a certain line of thinking. Still, it's nice to dream! Here's what one fellow student I knew is doing now. And, I love the old manuscript to the left! I could spend hours studying the signatures on that page. Notice the Christian cross, the many signatures which look to be in German, accompanied by "Ego" before the name. Perhaps early German converts to Christianity? At any rate, I'm content doing what I'm doing now, which will soon include going back to school! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I have a degree in Geology and always wanted to be a scientist in Antartica. at least until I saw a special on being a scientist there. Each person is only allowed 2 showers per week and each can only be 90 SECONDS. My dd said "Why don't they just melt some snow to shower with?" My second goal was to be a lighthouse keeper! Well, at least we do live on an island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I have a degree in Geology and always wanted to be a scientist in Antartica. at least until I saw a special on being a scientist there. Each person is only allowed 2 showers per week and each can only be 90 SECONDS. My dd said "Why don't they just melt some snow to shower with?" My second goal was to be a lighthouse keeper! Well, at least we do live on an island. Oh, a friend of mine who homeschools is an atmospheric physicist and she spent a winter, pre kids, in Antarctica, and more in Alaska. In fact right now she has taken off with her hubbie and two kids and is spending 3 months in Alaska. She wrote a book called Frost Bytes, with another woman, about her experience: (my friend is Gina, the one on the left) http://coolcontinent.com.au/frostbytes/SINGLE/about.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I'd be practicing Ob/Gyn, probably in a large city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soph the vet Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would be living in Kentucky and working for Rood and Riddle as a world-renowned equine internist. OR I would be the drummer for Jars of Clay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would be an entirely different person than I am now. I wonder if this isn't true for myself, as well. If eldest hadn't precipitated his father's going conservative and mad, I might still be with him, working part-time as his booking agent (he's a Celtic harpist and composer of Pythagorean music). Either way, I'd still be working full time as a tutor, and living in the Rocky Mountains or Dakotas somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Teaching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I'd be hiding in a film archive restoring films made on nitrate stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Well...I was a professional portrait photographer before kids and during their early childhood. I quit to be a stay at home mom. I'd probably still be doing that, along with writing fiction and traveling to teach photography seminars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMomof4 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I said when I was in school I either wanted to be a doctor or a mom. God definately gave me what I wanted. When the kids are grown, if I end up going back to work I'll probably go for nursing. I had just been accepted when we found out I was pregnant with dd1. Decided I would rather just be a mom and DH worked hard to make sure it was and is a reality. What a man he is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusPair Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Cab driver.:auto: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Lynx Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I originally wanted to be a recording engineer/record producer. OTOH, I started out in PR. Which I hated. I moved to publishing, which was better. I probably would have stayed in that field if we had never gotten pregnant. I might have eventually moved into teaching. I might have started a band ;-) I got rid of my guitars and keyboard after the 3rd child was born. I had a lot of dreams as a teen, and then early on in college. By the end of college those dreams were being eclipsed by reality, and the desire to get married and raise a family. Who knows? I do think that I would have ended up remarkably self-centered if I hadn't had children. This is not to say that all people without children are self-centered, but I certainly would have been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milseain Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Massage Therapist. I keep my license up to date and I have clients every so often. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdie Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I am a CPA, so I would be working 60+ hours a week for some corporation whose sole purpose, dispite their jolly mission statement, is to make money for their shareholders. I would spend way too many lunch breaks with co-workers who discuss nothing but sports, sports and more sports. I would take business trips where I would try to cram my extremely tall body into a too small airplane seat. And every month, at month end, I would have the joy of staying up until the wee hours of the night to close out the monthly financial statements and write variance reports which nobody reads. Even in my worst stay-at-home mom moments, homemaking and homeschooling my kids is a cake walk compared to my working days. Can you tell I don't miss my "career" at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Hood Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 If I weren't a parent? That's unconcievable. That was my career choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Even in my worst stay-at-home mom moments, homemaking and homeschooling my kids is a cake walk compared to my working days. Can you tell I don't miss my "career" at all? I argue this point with myself often. On the one hand, I really miss getting those reports back from teachers, "Wow! What are you doing? He's like a different kid!" I miss lunch breaks, going home at night and feeling justified in doing nothing, the camraderie in the office. Very often I miss the various long term securities that a decent hourly wage grants a person, you know, the stuff we talk about using capital letters: IRA, 401K, SSI. I miss knowing exactly what to do with a kid. Is it nostalgia, or was it actually easier to handle other people's kids than my own? On the other hand, those kids were crazy. I taught learning strategies to LD kids. ODD was big when I was working, and I decided it shouldn't be considered a learning disability. It's more of a social disability. There were many sessions, maybe even most, that I walked away feeling all I'd done was keep a lunatic from injuring himself or anyone else for an hour. I remember being frustrated that I didn't have the ability to change those things which would really make a difference for my students: giving them more sleep, less preservatives, less television, more opportunities to climb trees. So I go round and round. Raising my kids is better, of course, but which is harder? I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would probably be looking for a job in this economy. Unemployed business/politcal science majors are a dime a dozen right now unfortunately. If I had my dream job, I'd be a mariane biologist which is why I'm heading back to school. :) Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 A librarian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanamom Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would be a veterinarian. I had the choice of going to vet school or getting married and moving to a state with no vet school. I chose, of course, the love of my life. Then came the kids, and homeschooling... We have plenty animals right here at home, and very cool vets who totally don't mind letting me do most of the tech work with my own critters. Hee hee hee. I did work as a vet tech in another life, so I'm familiar with what I'm doing. I get to do almost all of the routine vaccinations and nursing care. (When needed- nursing them back to health is never very fun because it means one of my own is sick.) I also do all my own farrier work... it's physically demanding, but I think it's neat!! I love learning about hoof structure and all the internal workings, the latest theories... of course one of my horses HAS to be insulin resistant which makes him prone to laminitis... which keeps me on my toes. My horse vet reminded me that I would hardly ever get to spend time with my own horses and family if I was practicing... so I think I'm pretty darn lucky as things are. :001_smile: Still... there is a vet school just 2 hours from where we live now... as the kids get older, school for myself gets more and more tempting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Hen Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I would not be as happy as I am right now, working as an engineer chasing the $$$$$$ Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberleigh Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I can't imagine not being a parent. Even if I hadn't gotten married, I'd most likely have adopted, either internationally or a special needs child. Career-wise, though, if I didn't have kids, I'd probably just be doing more of what I do now. I'd write more books a year and travel a lot more to do research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Realistically, I would be a teacher. Elementary Education. Fantasy, I would be working in Forensics of some sort. With no kids, I would be pursueing a degree in Criminology at our local college, and (REAL fantasy now!) do an internship at the Body Farm and study at Quantico. I would love to do Profiling. I know it's not super glamorous, but psychology and the criminal mind fascinate me. Why do people turn evil? Why are they killing brown eyed, brown haired girls? What kind of person would do THIS particular crime? Notice that the crimes occur at the same time. It's a full moon, or it's the Ides of March. Whatever...it's like a puzzle to me. And I *LOVE* puzzles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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