When my third child was born, like many other young mothers, I
considered how to stay connected professionally, how to maintain my
standard of living, and how to balance the joy of parenting with
the fulfillment of a career. In those days, I hadn't heard of
the gig economy, but I certainly dreamed of something like it. I
wanted to work on my own terms that matched my new family's
schedule. I could demand my own price and take care of my own
savings plans, I thought.
But as a person on the tail end of the baby boomer generation, I
fell into a familiar pattern. I was making a good salary and had
traditional benefits. How could I take such a risk when I had a
sure thing? Instead, I hunkered down with my golden handcuffs, back
to work after a six-week hiatus, juggling day care and executive
meetings, dinner and project timelines, all in the same day, week
after week.
