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new roles of editor and writer however, I must be thrifty with my time management, as I remain the full-time caregiver for my children. is off-site, part-time work is not unusual today, as the frowned upon part-time employees a decade ago, are often now happy to give well trained and talented mothers a part-time opportunity. Of course, the down side to this transformation will mean minimal or no benefits, such as health insurance. e upside is flexibility for family commitments. I would counsel that if you want to leave the work force to have a family, it would be prudent to always maintain a Plan B, C and even D. Life is long and realities, both financial and emotional, are ever changing. In fact, adaptability is perhaps the most important life skill necessary today. Currently one in three American women leave the labor force when they start a family. It is unknown how many women are "pushed" out of the workforce by long hours, inflexible work environments, unwilling or unavailable partners, as well as by the specific needs of their children. It is also unclear how many of these women resume work in their prior professions at an equivalent level, take less demanding roles, or curtail their hours to compensate for the demands of parenting. However, the opt-out generation has contributed much knowledge to the ongoing struggle of women to find place and purpose, at home and at work. ese women may not have known what was in store for them when they left their desks to stay at home, but the revolution continues if we make sure that the next generation of women, spouses and employers will have learned something from their experiences. Don't quit. Many career advisers counsel that if you want to return to work after having children, stay on part-time, or use a flex-time arrangement. Follow your passion. Evaluate your innate abilities by starting a small business out of your home. Some of the most successful women of our day started their businesses in their kitchen. Have you heard of Martha Stewart or Paula Dean? Dean's empire began when she was desperate for money raising her boys as a single mother. She sent her sons down to the street corner to sell her delicious brownies and the rest is history. Work freelance or consult. With websites such as Guru.com, women are able to compete for projects around the world, make an acceptable hourly rate and work from home. Keep your portfolio and resume fresh without a single commuter mile on the road and nap time meetings. Maintain relationships with colleagues. Staying connected within your professional circle is extremely important in many fields. Even if it's just meeting for coffee or cocktails occasionally, maintaining those relationships can be the key to standing out in a crowd of applicants someday. Volunteer wisely. Use your volunteer hours in industries or organizations that can provide you with valuable contacts and relevant experience which can be translated into marketable skills on a resume. Utilize social media. Valuable contacts are closer than you think. If you have been out of the work environment for the past few years, you may be unaware that LinkedIn is the Facebook of business. It is widely used today as a networking and recruiting tool. Update your resume, take a new professional headshot and start connecting with old colleagues and friends. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Practical ideas to contemplate if you are considering opting out or in. GravitasMag.com | 33

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