Thank you ellasdevil.
Actually, I am not married to a Greek man, but I know why you would think that. I cannot say that everything has been bad here. I have had a great adventure in this country. A big reason for staying has been that I am raising a child in relatively non-violent place. London (where I lived before) had become increasingly tense and bringing up a child in the neighbourhoods I lived in was unthikable. Of course, there are very nice places to live but really out of our league financially. We are also in a band here and have become steadily more successful so I stay, for now, to see where that takes us. Now that my kid is older though, I feel he needs more opportunities than the ones we have here. As for me, I want to get back to my career or go to college. So, we will be leaving at some point in the next couple of years. I will be sad to leave but find myself excited about future possibilties. Something that is lacking here at the moment.

I think the reason you (and SeaWitch) feel the way you do is because you come from more progressed countries. You know the situation isn’t ideal in Greece for women in your situation.

Thank you so much, SeaWitch, “Typing your thoughts”, to someone you don’t know, is a wonderful thing. You have taken the time to read someone elses rambling and to respond. Knowing there are people out there who are looking out for you is just a great feeling. You know how it is with this blogging thing. I look forward to the comments I get, even the not so nice ones. Thanks for your kind words.

Uh oh. I definitely don’t want you to misunderstand my previous post. I re-read it and I think I came off as some modern June Cleaver type woman with all the crap advice from the Self Help section in your local bookstore. The main thing I wanted to get across to you (and I see that I probably did it very clumsily) is that I truly DO understand how difficult it is for you. I felt (and still feel) those very same feelings and frustration you’re going through right now.

Thanks SeaWitch, Please don’t get me wrong, though. I am not regretting the time and patience I have put into “the best of both worlds”. I have been actively raising my son and I am glad for that. I have been here a long time now. I have worked in and out of my field. I am raising a son. But he is not my whole life ( as precious as he is). It isn’t about the “good job”. It’s about me. As selfish as that sounds.

I’m somewhat in the same situation as you Diva. I left a good-paying, challenging job to come to live in Greece mistakenly thinking that since it was a member of the EU, I’d get a comparative salary and the same opportunities. So much for that pie-in-the-sky dream. I spent the first year in Athens griping about my limited possibilities as a woman in this country and then came to the realization that, so often in my life, the things I want are usually not the things I need. That the best way from point a to point b is not always a straight line. Maybe my life has taken some odd turns I hadn’t planned on since arriving here, but I have managed to work (albeit not in the field I want) and be actively involved in raising my son. It’s not easy. But then again, it never was. I remember bitching about not having a ‘good’ job like I had before, but then I concluded that my ‘good’ job meant too many hours away from my son. My son is my most important job. If I raise him right then I will die a very happy woman. I will not be on my deathbed wishing I spent more hours at the office putting the finishing touches on the latest ad campaign. I will wish that I’d have left earlier to watch my son swim or to listen to his political diatribes at the age of 9. I really hope that somehow you will find some balance between the best of both worlds…you might just have to be a little more creative and patient to find it.

I know. I’ve talked to quite a few people here who looked at me bewildered, as if to say “but why would you want to do anything besides be a housewife”.
You know what would make it easier… if we got the recognition, the respect and the WAGES for raising the next generation.

I didn’t know the situation in England is similar. I remember my parents, and especially my mother, forgot about themselves until I was in my late teens. Women in previous generations didn’t particularly mind this situation, and unfortunately a lot don’t mind even now. But people have gained many liberties in Greece over the last twenty years, so this establishment was expected to change but, alas, no.

Thanks Melusina,
I have looked into studying but, as I said “If you have money, you have options.” If, like me you don’t, forget about it. It’s expensive. I’ve done some free online courses but miss the interaction with people. I’m not disciplined.
I did a lot of looking around at the situation in other countries. It’s pretty much the same in England too and the States. Maybe Sweden has a better plan? They seem to manage to have a good social system there. Not sure though about this issue though.
It doesn’t help that I work in the Theatre. Very inflexible and very long hours for very little money. My parents told me I should have a back up plan, learn to type or something sensible. Did I listen? Nope.
I just wish it wasn’t a choice between a latchkey kid or no life outside the house.

Isn’t it possible for you to take some classes while your son is at school? I don’t really know what the university situation is here, so I don’t know how possible/affordable that is. I am still working on my MA at my old university in Nashville, but doing it online. Maybe you can find some online universities at the very least?