Working Mama

Before becoming a mom, I was a wife. As a wife I felt equally responsible to provide for our household as my husband. Jeremy has never made me work, it has always been a choice. I went to college, earned a degree and wanted to put it to good use and make a name for myself.

I thought I wanted to work in retail. I had a lot of experience working in retail in college during school breaks and during the summer. I even did my college internship as an MIT at a very well known, high end, women's fashion brand. I loved it. It was fun and challenging. After my internship I decided to change my degree. I was majoring in apparel merchandising and decided to change it to my minor and have my major be in communication. I am SO happy I did this. I feel this major has made me very well rounded and gave me experience I hadn't yet gotten while working.

After graduating from college I took a management position, in retail, at a high end mall for a well known, high end men's and women's apparel brand. The job was NOT what I expected. The culture and atmosphere were much different from my internship experience. I did learn a lot and established some great relationships. One of my very good friends who is getting married THIS week was actually made at this position.

Once I left this position I worked in a salon. It was not a long term career, but it was extremely fun and I was able to really get a lot of experience in managing a different type of business and working with all different types of personalities! I made another lifelong friend at this position. Our babies have play dates :)

I left the position at the salon because Jeremy had received a GREAT job offer in the city we met and went to college in. I wasn't thrilled to move back but this opportunity was amazing and I knew it was the next step for us. Shortly after Jeremy took this job, I moved back, we found an apartment, and we got married. In between all of that were many wedding events, planning, packing and MOVING (Uggh) it was a very busy time for us!!

After we settled into married life it was time for me to find a job, a choice that was mine, and something I was excited about. I knew retail was not the avenue I wanted to take. I had always been interested in human resources but had a small amount of experience from my internship, classes and my management position. There were not very many positions at the time in the area we lived in and it was a hard 5 months. FINALLY a job "fell into my lap." I had signed up for alerts from job search engines, and an opportunity was emailed to me.

I applied for the position that evening. It was for a part-time front office/receptionist. I knew I was over qualified but really wanted a job. The company called me the next morning. We set up an interview the next day. After interviewing I knew they would offer me the job. Jeremy and I had a vacation planned for that weekend, that Friday they offered me the job and on October 5, 2009 was my first day. The company, a well known staffing service, the company I have now been with almost 3 years, promoted within twice, and am leaving today.

Once starting with the company, I never thought I would last more then a couple months. Our office was poorly managed, had many personality conflicts, had high turnover, was extremely unorganized and was as laid back as it was stressful. After a coworker was fired I was offered her position, a promotion, but was unsure if I wanted her role. After much convincing from my boss I took it, trained myself and was promoted again to a "senior" level a little less then a year later.

That is the position I am in now. I am a senior staffing consultant. I perform every HR function you could probably think of and have met people with all different backgrounds and from all over the board. I have learned A LOT! A lot about myself as well. I enjoy what I do, MOST of the time. Most of all, I have enjoyed working with my "work mom" Christine. She honestly is the reason why I have stayed in my position this long. We both put up with a lot, and have a huge amount on our plates and shoulders. I wish I could say that the positive outweighed the negative, but I would be lying. It does feel bittersweet leaving my position. I have thought about this day a long time, like I said, I didn't ever picture myself staying with this company this long, but the time has come.

I have always found identity with my work I now realize that it shouldn't be that way. I work to live, not live to work. I don't like bringing my work "home with me." (I often find myself thinking about things I need to do the next day while at home.) Even though I work a 40 hour work week, my drive back and forth tacks on almost another 8 hours. Thats almost a full day of work!!

"For the first time in awhile its not about what's next...its just about now"

There have been a lot of factors that have brought me to this decision. After everything we have gone through as a family with Olivia, I have decided to leave my position so I can spend more time with Olivia. We are going to enjoy this summer together not in a hospital, surrounded by loud machines, nurses and doctors telling us about test results, next day appointments and "what is next." I am going to raise her, be there for her and not miss a thing. This is a decision that is right for my family. I am excited to turn in my high heels, and BCBG dresses for skinny jeans (mom jeans ewww) and flip flops! I don't think either working moms or stay at home moms have it easier. I think both have their challenges, you just have to find a balance.

I'm excited for the next chapter in our journey!

Tomorrow I turn 25 again (or 26 if you go by actual year) so expect another "reflection" post tomorrow! haha