Separation of Church and Work Place

Years ago I came to the conclusion that religion and the work place just do not mix. I came to that conclusion because one of my co-workers was spreading lies about me and my beliefs. He almost got us both fired. So from then on I just refused to speak of religious beliefs (Neither my own nor anyone elses) in the work place. I also added politics on there for good measure.

Some of you know that I started a new job recently. I work at the local hospital in the medical records dept. The atmosphere of the office is not the greatest, and that is in part due to one lady whose whole life seems to revolve around her spiritual beliefs. Now I'm all for devotion, but if you must refer to your beliefs in almost every conversation, then it's a bit too much.

I recently asked members of my Pagan Fellowship Group how they deal with co-workers who can't seem to separate their spirituality from their workplace. Here are a few quotes.

I would quote my dad "never talk about sex, drugs, politics, or religion in mixed company its just rude". That usually shuts them up... ~ Chastity

I can be pretty ruthless, but I have a right to peace as much as anyone else. Sometimes you have to play hardball in order for people to get it that it's not okay to bully someone over their beliefs. ~ Kristy

It's best to just work and help each other, and then share beliefs while we break bread with people off-site or at their homes when invited, and try to make friends who care about the person more than their spiritual beliefs.  ~ULC Inter-tribal

 For myself, I have avoided speaking of religion, and that is what I will continue to do for now. But there will come a time when she will ask me a direct question about my beliefs. So, how do you deal with coworkers preaching at work?

Update on Am I wrong...

So I wrote about wanting to stay home longer with DS and making DH do the work hours for TANF. We arrived at our appointment at 9 am and basically she told DH he has to do the hours. He will be doing volunteer work at the dog shelter which I think he will enjoy. He loves animals so I can't see that as being a bad thing! So yay for me being able to take care of the kids. I know this isn't a permanent situation and I will eventually need to go to work. But for now, I think its very important that I am the one taking care of our children.

I feel like we've missed so much of Sierras childhood because we were both working 10 hour days. I know she is a lot happier when we are home too. Thanks everyone for your advice.

Am I wrong in wanting to stay home?

To understand my story you need a little background information.
With my first child I was working as a Printer for a pet products company. Both DH and I worked together. After having my daughter I spent 4 weeks home but was forced to return to work because of money. I breast fed DD until I went back to work because the job required I work with chemicals that enters the blood through skin contact and therefore also milk.
Fast forward 10 years later and I feel like my husband has a better relationship with our daughter than I do. We really missed that bonding time. Yes you can bond in other ways but that didn't happen because DH was always the one to do most of the "work". Leaving me to do other household chores.

So now that our son is here, I've breast fed him for 3 months and its been wonderful. He and I are really bonded and I love it. He prefers me. My husband can't hold him long because Wyatt always cries. And Dh has arthritis now which makes it painful for him to hold Wyatt for a long time. Wyatt isn't happy most of the time unless he's getting attention or being held.

Because we are on government assistance right now, we are required to do a job requirement to recieve our benefits. I stayed in KY with my mother (Under horrible conditions while pregnant) and DH was suppose to get a job before I came to Ohio. That didn't happen. I finally had enough of those bad conditions and came to Ohio when I was 32 weeks pregnant. We are still living with MIL.

Dh has done "some" job searching. But most of the time he sits around the house and plays on the computer or watches tv or sleeps. He hasn't been doing the job search because he's bipolar and they are afraid he will "snap". He's been bipolar for a very long time. Now, he did freak out one time and he has some anxiety over finding a new job because of the way he was fired from his last job. However he's on medication now and it seems to be a little better. IMO he's just fine to go to work.

Wouldn't it make more sense for him to go so I can stay home and care for our children? He can't take care of the baby. Yet I'm about to be forced to satisfy the job requirement because Dh won't do it. I just want to scream. If I go to work I'd have to get someone else to babysit. I do NOT like strangers looking after my child. DH could take care of our daughter. She is 9 and basically can take care of herself. But he wouldn't be able to take care of Wyatt. And Wyatt refuses a bottle 99% of the time anyway. The only times he really will take a bottle is if he is absolutely starving!

I'm just really frustrated. I feel like DH just needs to man up and go get a job. Yet he thinks its better I do it. I've tried talking to him this morning. He didn't say anything though.