while we’re on the topic of low-paying jobs, let’s talk about being self-employed and what that means.

being your own boss means you set your own schedule. people think “that sounds great!” until you understand how hard that can be. you have to juggle other obligations (school, children, pets, cleaning, etc.) and still manage to find the time and motivation to work. you have to remind yourself (and leave time) to cook, to eat, to do something fun so you don’t burn out. when someone else is telling you when to come to work and when you’ve got “free time,” you don’t have the added stress of trying to learn how to manage your own time.

being your own boss means you have to set your own prices, and no one seems to respect them. you get to hear how you’re “charging too much” (even if you’re making less than minimum hourly wage) because you’re “not a professional,” even if you have years of experience (and in some cases, degrees) under your belt. you get people who “try to get a deal” or somehow pay you less than you are owed. constantly.

being your own boss means no one respects your (self-made) schedule because everyone thinks, “you can just do that later,” when your schedule is actually packed full and even the slightest change can throw it into chaos. family thinks you’re just sitting on your ass, and you get a constant flow of invalidating comments from strangers like, “oh you must have it made!” or “oh i wish* i* could sit at home and do what i wanted all day.”

being your own boss means forcing yourself to work when you feel like doing nothing more than lying face-down in the rain, because deadlines must be met.

being your own boss means irregular pay schedules and having money but being unable to spend it because you have to buy supplies for the next big project.

being your own boss isn’t a permanent vacation. it’s hard. it’s work. stop treating me like my occupation is invalid or illegitimate because i don’t have a supervisor other than myself.