My Tryst with a Part time job

At the very outset, I would like to say I am an outdoors person. Job, going to the office to work had a very special attraction for me as a kid. It still does. I am passionate about it. I feel liberated and satisfied, too, as I can put my knowledge to good use. I admired my teachers in school and lecturers in college. I was in awe of the ladies who attended the offices. I just admired the way the ladies multitasked. I liked to see them walk importantly, talk knowledgeably, and hold their own in this fiercely competitive world. I liked the quiet dignity with which they carried themselves. Money did not motivate me as much as these. These inspired me, and a desire arose to be a part of the working force. I lived my dream before marriage, but the scenario changed post-marriage and kids. After six years of marriage and a sabbatical from work, I decided to take the plunge again.
This narrative goes back to the year 2009, though it seems like yesterday to me. My younger kid was two and a half years old then, and I decided to apply to jobs that came with a work-from-home option. I was successful but had a tough time balancing home and work fronts. I struggled with the job for six months, and a break came in the form of a job as a Subject Matter Expert in a company. The company permitted part-time work from home four days a week (of my choice), and I was expected to be in the office for the remaining two days and work for four hours each day. The work hours were flexible, too. I was very happy. I used to drop off my younger one at a daycare center and go to the office.
Though I met my colleagues only rarely, as all of them had similar flexible work hours, I used to enjoy the time I spent in the office. The camaraderie I had with my co-workers was perhaps the most attractive part of the job. We used to share jokes, recipes, problems, and used to step in to share the workload as well. We used to have informal brainstorming sessions where we solved the issues bothering us at work, and even beyond it, too. I felt more at home in the office; it felt like my college days were back. The ladies were of my age group, and we shared similar situations in life.
Attending the office made me pull those clothes from my wardrobe that had not seen sunlight for years, and I wore those to work. Apart from other benefits, attending the office boosted my self-worth. It made me more disciplined with my time. I planned a schedule to fit all the tasks that I needed to attend to, and this kept me on track.
Later, the company changed its rules, and the privileges to work-from-home and part-time office hours were withdrawn. Like many others, I had to quit. I was sad. I remained idle for two to three months and found a work-from-home job. This suited me, though I missed my colleagues. I am still in touch with them, and someday, when we find time, we will certainly get together and spend a few joyful hours.
My kids are older now, and I am still looking forward to a job that would give me similar flexibility and maybe similar enjoyment.