Yes, the rumors are true.
The notion that I have somehow lowered the quality of journalism in America is hogwash. I must address several points:
First, I filed my new address with h.r. as soon as I moved but I didn't tell my bosses because I didn't want them to freak out and think I wasn't coming back. At the time, I thought I might work part time on the copy desk and I wanted to make that decision after I had the baby. The fact that I moved to Gainesville didn't determine that I would resign.
Second, my husband has the best job he's ever had in his life and the three of us have been using his health insurance for several months.
It is true that Sentinel executives didn't discover my new address until they sent flowers to my old address but frankly I just didn't have the time to deal with that because I was in the midst of recovering from a 26-hour labor. And when my boss called to ask where I was, I said "I moved to Gainesville."
Anyway, I resigned today. I hope that when I return to the industry from an extended maternity leave, I do not face a tragic struggle to keep up.
posted by le @ 9:31 PM
9 Comments:
"I didn't tell my bosses because I didn't want them to freak out and think I wasn't coming back."
...as most reasonable bosses would think if you announce you are moving two hours away from work.
"At the time, I thought I might work part time on the copy desk and I wanted to make that decision after I had the baby."
Yeah, right. I can definitely see you driving two hours to work, working a few hours, then driving home two hours in the middle of the night. With gas and tolls factored in, you'd make a whopping $3.00.
"The fact that I moved to Gainesville didn't determine that I would resign."
Sure. Any way you want to rationalize it.
"It is true that Sentinel executives didn't discover my new address until they sent flowers to my old address...I hope that when I return to the industry from an extended maternity leave, I do not face a tragic struggle to keep up."
You should hope that when you return to the industry you didn't burn every bridge in Madison county.
give me a break...
and get a life. If you did, you would realize that the most important things in life are not what one does to earn a paycheck.
And they wonder why women are leaving journalism in droves...
Oh my goodness... "anonymous" ~ You seriously must be obsessed with L and her life .. A job is no where near as important as being a mother and a wife...
No paycheck can ever compare...
wow anonymous, you must be a very unhappy person to spend so much time letting l's decisions upset you. you're miserable. i'm with desertjade - GET A LIFE. and soon, please.
I wasn't going to comment -- thinking that the last thing I need to do is stick my nose into something that is so obviously not my business. But, whatever, anyone who knows me knows that I rarely keep my mouth shut. So, a few points:
1. I'm dissapointed in the editor who continues to ridicule L. on her blog (of all places) rather than call and discuss questions/concerns on the phone. I left the Sentinel with such high regards of EVERYONE there. And, while I still respect my former colleagues, I'm disheartened by the lack of compassion demonstrated here. That said, I've racked my brain to figure out the identity of the anonymous poster(s). I know of a couple of editors who read this blog (because I've heard). And, I *think* I know who Anonymous is. I'm just disappointed, that's all. If I'm wrong in my assumption, I'll stand corrected.
2. I'm disappointed too for L. in how she'll be remembered at the Sentinel -- not for her two years of hard work and great stories, but for something stupid like this. I just hope that the editors there (especially the women, the mothers) can think back to what it was like when they became new parents, and give L. a break. The uncertainty, the fear, the guilt, the stress, the overwhelming sense of love and protection you feel for your child. New mothers are emotional messes much of the time. And, they aren't the same women -- with the same goals, priorities, etc. -- that they were prior to delivery.
3. As L.'s friend, I know first hand of her intentions to return to the Sentinel -- even after moving to Gainesville. When she says that she seriously considered joining the part-time copy pool, she's not lying. She had discussions about logistics with at least one Sentinel higher-up. She also toyed with job sharing -- hoping to even stay in the same bureau or just work weekends. She was willing to commute (likely on Saturdays/Sundays) and had the support of her Husband. Yes, she knew she probably wouldn't return as a full-time reporter. But, at that point, she did not owe the Sentinel an explanation. And, by law, they weren't entitled to one. She did not know how she was going to feel after the baby was born. In fact, she made no promises to her immediate editors about her future at the Sentinel. To criticize her for changing her mind and shifting her priorites, isn't fair. OK, so she didn't handle things as you (anonymous poster) would. Whatever. OK, so she should have turned in her resignation sooner. Fine, I agree. But, don't put words in her mouth (as your comment here suggests) and assume you know the whole situation.
4. I'm thinking about little Sasha, and her adorable face. Wishing, so badly, that I could meet her in person and hold her. No matter what you think of L. -- or how she handled things at work -- you should respect her for her new role as Mother and for making an ultimate sacrifice. As I'm sure you know, Anonymous, choosing between family and career is a tough decision. Some women choose one over the other, others juggle both. Whether or not you agree or disagree with L's decision to become a SAHM, doesn't matter. It wasn't your decision to make. That said, it is your responsibility as a person to show others respect -- no matter if you and the other editors feel somehow wronged. I understand that you too are disappointed and angry. L. was a good reporter and the paper benefited from having her. That said, why not just wish her well and move on? Don't leave idle threats -- such as the "burned bridges" one. By including that comment you show that you purposely want to hurt her.
5. L.-- I'm sorry this comment is so long. Feel free to delete it if you don't want it up here. That said, I wish you would keep your blog here. Don't move it. Eventually all of this will pass, and things will settle down. Move on, figuratively. I guess. No more posts about work, maternity leave, etc. Just posts about Sasha and the daily rants. That's what I want to read about, and I'm sure others would agree.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
What a cowardly place and fashion to post your rants about someone on their own blog. It's like walking into their home and insulting them and running out...and in your case, with a mask on your face. Why aren't you dealing with these issues in a more mature way, or maybe in therapy, it sounds like a good place to start for you. But I for one, want to hear about the baby. Sorry L. I know nothing of your personal situation except what I've read here, but I just had to say something. This "annonymous" person goes way too far and it's hard for us readers not to say something!
Just a gestating-baby-crazy woman here, missing having peeks at the adorable pictures of your baby!
L, I had an anonymous poster who did the exact same thing to me. It truly is amazing that some people have so much time on their hands. And there is so much cowardice in the anonymity of the comment - grow the balls and say it to her face. And realize that your time could (and should) be better spent on more productive, less negatives passtimes.
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