At times I feel overwhelmed, but when I am thinking more clearly, like today, I know I'll become a better person for persevering through it all.

This summer while I was still home with my son, I envisioned a relatively uneventful transition back to work. But that was not to be. Business at our parent-United Business Media-and in our industry has dropped significantly. The technology industry downturn meant fewer clients were buying ads. As a result, EE Times was forced to trim its work force last month.

As a result, the torch of TimesPeople has been passed to me.

I hope to make this a very readable and relevant section of EE Times.

In the meantime, I juggle responsibilities as a new parent with the new challenges at work. I wrestle with the anxiety of coming back to work after several weeks away and obsess about showing everyone I can do it with one hand behind my back.

At times I'm exhausted and not fun to be with (just ask my husband). But what I decided today is that if I can make it through this, things will get better.

Many of you face similar situations. Like me, you try to balance an increased workload as your companies downsize, and you still have the usual pressures of home and family. If you have a job, you've been made to feel lucky that you do, no matter the stress level. If you don't have one you're anxious about how long it will take to find a new job and about how you'll pay the bills when your severance runs out.

Granted, it's better to be in the first group than the second, but being in either demands flexibility, strength of character and a reaching down deep that engineers in this industry are famous for.

I know that these times are tough and that the good times seem far off, but I believe (call me corny) that living through this will make us stronger.

Don't get me wrong, I know it's difficult. There's a lot of work to be done and at times you don't feel like doing it, but what we must remember is that the good times will roll again. We've just got to persevere.

I invite you to share your experiences about how you cope with downsizing and balancing your family life by e-mailing me at mquan@cmp.com.