I have to constantly remind myself I’m not at my job to build a career and I will not allow them to take advantage of me.

I’m expecting July 2025 and since I found out my husband gave me the choice to be a SAHM. Living in CA with the economy, seeing the cost living, and all it will take to be in a comfortable place made me realize being a SAHM wasn’t the smartest choice right now. Especially with a baby coming. I have a FT remote job too which should be taken advantage of. I get paid barely $30 an hour. I have a masters degree. I do my job and have helped out when asked to take extra load of work. However I don’t feel appreciated. In fact the director told me to stand out more if I wanted any raise or promotion. I was recently asked to take extra workload and asked what goals I had in the team. My only goal was to move up on position since it is basically the same as mine. I wanted a raise also. I believe I deserve a raise since I am not a person who declines extra work, I don’t take time off unless it’s an emergency which has not been often at all, I have even worked a few hours in the weekends or holidays to do extra work that I was asked to do. This topic was completely brushed off and it seemed like that answer was no. Since then I have felt unappreciated and my view of my work has changed to only doing what I’m getting paid for. Once 5pm hits I’m immediately off. My view has also changed that I’m not going to be there forever nor build a career with a child. I rather work until my child needs my full attention (we plan to homeschool) than to sacrifice my child and family for a job that doesn’t appreciate me and instead wants me to put them first by working harder and longer for a $1-$3 raise.

It is a hard thing to do because I do enjoy my job but i have to remind myself that my marriage and future child is what is going to mater most. I’ll be here till I can’t but I’m not going to overwork myself during this pregnancy, stress myself, sacrifice time with my husband, etc just for the sake of tiny raise and that’s if I ever get it. There is no reassurance whatever I do will get me there. I’m not going to one of those people who get taken advantage of.