And I agree that most people probably aren’t trying to be insulting! Enjoy your time back in your own home.

Yes, almost all of my work is related to educational assessment. You need a BEd to even be considered in most cases. I love that response! I feel like I get so flustered when people ask what I do that I rarely think of anything that good!

A waste? Are they serious? Seems to me the degree gave you the background to do what you’re doing, Krista. I might have responded “Yes, on the surface that may seem to be the case. But I earn a full-time salary working part time, so I’m okay with that misconception.”

In your case (as in mine — used to live in a rural setting), it is mostly that they don’t get it. The tradition is you left the house to work. It’s a perception issue more than anything. Few people intend to be insulting — they’re just not used to it.

Truth is it’s not much different here in the suburbs. I had a man — a working writer, no less — who’d been on TV a number of times — nearly drop over when he learned my hourly rate.

I think you’re right — not caring is the better approach. 🙂

Oh! I’m sure you guys get this one, too: “You’re a writer? I am, too!” Only they’ve never been published or sold a thing, and probably haven’t even written more than a title page.

I like that response, Anne. It’s more affirming than to challenge them to a duel using bank statements. 😉

I had a relative at a party once say “So I hear you write books.” He’d heard it secondhand. When I told him what I actually did, he was even more impressed — he worked in finance, so he “got” my specialty. That made for a really nice conversation as I got what he did, too.

Sometimes the conversation just goes in nice places, so I think we’re smart not to assume too much by one question.

Oh, the free-time myth! Isn’t that one cute? I’d love to have the free time I’m assumed to have. I can take off, but I have to make it up. What they don’t see is how we bust our butts to get work in ahead of time and done (and hopefully paid for) before any vacation happens. It’s either that or we’re toting tablets or laptops on vacation — no thank you.

I have been known to say something like ‘yeah, I love it. I make a nice income and have real control over my time.’

No. I work regular business hours like anyone else. And this times when I take a day or part of a day off mid-week? I tend to make up for those by working on weekends to make sure I don’t get behind.

The funny thing was two people seemed to think writing about the TV industry meant I was paid like someone who works in it. I wish! Who wouldn’t love a multi-million dollar contract?

Enjoy your time at home, however brief it may be. You could probably use the normalcy.