Keeping the "Work Fires Burning"

Ask the boss if you can start a small social committee. If she/he agrees, implement some of the things Michelle S. suggested.

Please try to remember that everyone goes through periods where the grass looks greener. A 40 hour a week job where my boss didn't expect me to respond to emails instantaneously, 24/7 sounds like a dream to me, even if the actual work isn't exciting...

Just remember that you work to live, not vice versa.

I go through what you're going through every once in a while. I have to constantly remind myself of the pros. Some pros for you to think about: not having to work more than 40 hours per week, an understanding boss, relatively flexible lunch hours, and having a job at all. Do you get benefits? That would be another pro. A bit of change in your perspective will get you from "dissatisfied" to at least a neutral on the satisfaction spectrum.

Since you know it is temporary, that is most of the battle! Be the change you want to see. Maybe you could get in a routine to bring up morale--yours and everyone else's. Keep in mind, most of your co-workers aren't going to get out of there in a year. For you, just write down one thing each day that is positive about the job--your boss is great, you don't take it home with you,etc. As for helping everyone else, you could be the year round secret Santa. Set some flowers on someone's desk one day, the next day focus on compliments, give someone a small box of candy the next, plan a potluck day each month, take surprise or goofy pictures of people and put them on a bulletin board. If someone is going through a rough time, pass around a card to sign. Get a group to do habitat for humanity. Have fun with it and use your imagination. Just do little things that make coming in to work not so bad.

Look at it this way. It is an ends to a means and not means to an end. You know that you will not be there forever but you need to find a small spot to make it go better. Put a positive spin on what that small spot is and make it better/bigger.

When you work office work, every day is not roses and sunshine it is drudgery and mundane and repetitive but you find a way to make it go and do it. It may mean that you think of a beach with warm water and the sound of the surf pounding the shoreline or a place to ski and hit the slopes and hear the skis go through the snow. If you have a boss that is understanding then two thirds of your problem is gone. You have flexibility and can change up lunch and school time. Perhaps put a time frame to your school class and know that in 18 months you will be done with it and you can then move on to bigger and better things.

Do write down what you do and see if there is any way you can tweak an area to make it better and do it. Once you have that area working well present it to your boss so that it can be implemented in other areas.

Since your company has been sold and you are all wondering what is next, do do the best you can do so that if they decide to cut people you won't be one of those looking for a job when you can't put your whole 100% in it. And there are many companies out there that have not given raises in a few years and the devoted workers will benefit from that when times get better. This lean time will make you a better person in the future as you will know who you are and how to cope better in many odd situations.

Good luck to you. Do keep us posted.

the other S.

I would be thankful for the job you have - because so many of my friends don't have work people they care for, or understanding bosses, or any kind of flexibility ... and until you've been in that situation, it's hard to know that it can be much worse. I get it - but what you have is pretty rare these days. And being able to do one's passion, being able to change things up as a mom, that's a blessing. So just keep hanging in there :) Maybe focus on what you love and that will get you through the rest.

A family-friendly job? Please count your blessings there. I have been out of work since November and can't tell you how many jobs I see out there that are NOT family-friendly (PR/marketing jobs that clearly state you need to be available nights and weekends when necessary). There are a boatload of employers that do not want to deal with working parents. That's been my biggest obstacle to finding a new job ... finding something that's even feasible as a parent so that I'll even apply.

I don't know anyone working for a company with high morale, honestly. I know people dealing with backstabbing colleagues, cuckoo bosses, low pay/terrible benefits, you name it. If things are at an OK level at your company, that's a good thing.

If you think about how quickly your kids have grown, you'll realize a year will fly by. It really will. Hang in there!

I think most people don't live to work - they work to live - the 'fun' happens when you leave the office and go home.
Drudgery smudgery - you fulfill your function, collect your check and the rest of your time is yours!
Some jobs really don't like their employees having a personal life.
I suppose you need to change your head space and think along the lines of
"I'm so lucky! And things could be a lot worse!".

Google "Bosses from hell stories" - and you'll get lots of hits that will greatly increase the feeling of well being you have at your current job.

It's kind of a count your blessings exercise - and it works!

In the mean time, if you want to be nice - take the time at work to document your procedures (write down everything you do and how you do it) so when you eventually DO leave, your replacement will be able to pick up where you left off.

Lots of good ideas already in the other answers. I'll just share this saying with you: "You can do anything for 24 hours, even something which would drive you insane if you thought you had to do it for a lifetime." Think of the current job is just one day at a time, as you keep taking little steps towards moving into more rewarding work.