Friday, August 31, 2012

Surprise Me!- BFF 218


     Lately I have experienced a certain level of unease which I think stems from all those pre-menopausal hormones swimming about.    After almost 12 years of being a stay at home mom, I got a notion to get a job. Both of my kids are away at school each day leaving me very much to my own devices.  After being out of the workforce for so long, I was literally scared $hitless to apply anywhere.  What if no one wanted me because I haven’t stuck my nose out of the house for 12 years?  What if they hold that against me?  With a husband on the road more than he is not, I had no prospects for a sitter.  I also didn’t have the money to pay anyone to watch my kids for a few hours.  Let’s face it, isn’t that exactly what I wanted to guard against when I quit work all those years ago?  Trusting a virtual stranger to raise my kid for me while I worked hard for the money?  Still I was compelled to try.  



       I took a real hard look at myself.  At 44 years old, what exactly do I have to show for myself?  Two well behaved, polite kids who are talented and smart, check.  A fairly successful website where I write all the crazy a$$ ideas that dart around in my noggin, check.  Well $hit the bed, that about sums me up.  Let us not forget the fact that I am always broke, always wishing I had money, and recently realizing that it wouldn’t kill me to venture out my front door and give getting a job a try.  Rejection would sting, but it wouldn’t kill me, and I had been pretty content for the last 12 years.  I knew continuing on as I had been wasn’t going to be that big of a hardship.



        One day I was on the school corporation’s website and seen that they had position’s open in food services.  Translation, they need help feeding the kids, cleaning, taking out the trash, and helping the little ones open ketchup packets.  I put two and two together and thought “That isn’t rocket science, hells bells!  I could do that!”  I threw the possibility out to my husband the next time he called me and he asked me “Do you really want to do that?”  I thought about it, and I thought well why not?  What would it hurt?  I have no experience in food service, but I have been cooking and cleaning round the clock for my own little household for almost 15 years.  What did I have to lose?  I filled out an application and turned it in.

         The waiting began.  Once school started and my phone had still refused to ring, I gave up hope.  I reasoned that if they didn’t hire me, I was no worse off than before.  The same ole same ole would continue.  I would write, read, wipe my kids noses and a$$es, catch vomit on occasion, and be mentor, companion, and personal tutor as I always have been.  Still it nagged the hell out of me that they hadn’t called.  So finally I called them and expressed my interest.  I WAS interested after all.  The hours were ideal; I would be home for my kids whenever they were and when they needed me most.  I reasoned that no matter what it paid it had to be more than what I was making sitting at home writing blogs, cleaning house, and keeping on top of the never ending mountain of laundry.  The kind lady on the line assured me that no, the position was still available; yes she did have my application, and then verified my phone number.  I found myself saying almost verbatim “You don’t me, and this is crazy, but here’s my number, call me maybe!!!” 

        The school surprised me.  Not only did they call me in for an interview, they hired me on the spot as a sub, someone they could call when someone needed a day off.  As a sub, they took my “call me maybe” literally!  They also assured me that if I decided that I liked the work, I could move into a permanent position.  Being a sub I could go to any of the seven schools in the district to do basically the same thing.  I would be flexible.  I could still write to my hearts content.  I would still be there for my kids whenever they were home.  For me, it is a win-win situation.  So opens a new exciting chapter of my life where I  still am a writer, still a mommy, and bonus…I have a real job until next time I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.


24 comments:

  1. Good for you! You did it the right way! You simply imagined it couldn't be that hard (after you got over the worrying part) and did it! Great!

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    1. Weissdorn, it still blows my mind how easy it actually was to get the job I wanted. It was like it was meant to be. Just hope the reality is as easy and great as the description sounded. Thank you for stopping in to read and for your comments. You can not imagine how much I look forward to this new adventure!

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  2. WOW this is AWESOME!!! and I'll have you know i NEVER heard that song before and SOOOOOO cracked up when he was gay at the end!! LOL So totally didn't expect that..and wow how the world has changed from when I grew up..bottom line; TRUST YOUR GUT!! AND stay kind! LOVED this blog! and YOU of course.."Well shit the bed that about sums me up" LOLOL luv you darlin

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    1. Brenda, I love this song and my daughter told me about it when we were cruising the YouTube. When I saw the video, I LOL. That would be about my luck. Funny thing is that both of my first boyfriends from grade school were gay in the end too. LOL A great couple of guys, but they prefer other guys. Oh well, you can't win them all. Oh yeah, I say shit the bed all the time. LOLOLOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments. ♥

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  3. That's perfect! Especially as its school hours. This my issue with going back to work, is I still want to be home for my kids when they get out of school.

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    1. Sandra, I have never worked in food services except in my own kitchen so it will be a new experience. I am looking forward to earning a little money, making new friends, and getting out from out of my rock a little. Should make for some interesting blogging material. That is exactly what I wanted too when looking for a job. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥

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  4. That's so GREAT! Congratulations!!!! And so funny b/c I'm about to turn in an application to do the same thing in the Wareham Schools. I need the money, and it would be a morning or early afternoon job. Wish me luck and good luck to you too!!!

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    1. JoJo, I wish you luck!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥

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  5. I'm so happy for you, Kathy. I hope it turns out good for you. Good luck!

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    1. Corinne, I hope that I like it and enjoy it. I am looking forward to the new adventure. It should make for some interesting blogs. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  6. My sister was a substitute teacher when her kids were small. It worked into a permanent sub job, meaning that she went to work every day, working in the office if no teachers were out. Back in 1969, I was cafeteria cashier at my kid's school. A school job is perfect when you have kids. I'm so glad you got the job. Congrats!

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    1. Darlene, I am too!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥

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  7. I am so glad for that things are going well for you. Best of luck on your new job. You'll be fabulous, darling! :)

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    1. KAT, I never dreamed they would consider me and was shocked and thrilled when I was hired on the spot. Friday I went and filled out all the necessary tax papers and paid my fee for the background check. When that returns in a couple days it will be official and I will go onto the call list. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!! ♥

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  8. Congratulations! And I think you sell yourself short Mizz K.. Being a stay at home mom means you're a "Jack of ALL trades." You know much more than you give yourself credit for. Each one of those skills you perfect as a stay at home mom are sooo needed in the work force. I know. I've hired stay at home mom's before and they are the best! Time management, organizational skills, phone skills.. Those are much needed in the work force. One draw back. You can't work all day in your p.j.s. :) Good for you! I'm happy for you.

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    1. Mimi, I always have but I went into that interview full of confidence knowing that I could do the work. I have been doing the same thing for 12 years with my own kids. I also knew that if it was meant to be, it would be and if I didn't get hired I would be no worse off than I was before. I was notorious to writing all day and then getting dressed in a mad dash before the bus came!! LOL My husband used to get so pi$$ed when he called me past 2 in the afternoon and I was still in my jammies. LOLOLOL
      Don't know what it was to him. After all, he wasn't home. LOLOLOLOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  9. Oh good! Good for you! Good for the community! Be careful driving when the bad weather hits though. I hate N. Indiana roads. I thought of you when I was driving from S.Bend to Columbia City this past month to find out about my brother from whom I had not heard in months. He's in a VA hospital and doing fine. But anyway, the next time I drive through there maybe we can have coffee? Let's figure it out through Twitter DMs sometime in the next few months. I love meeting other Hoosier writers when I can. I met a Kosciusko County genealogical writer when she passed through Tucson. You do live in Northern Indiana don't you? I'm sure you do. I think you commented on one of my Indiana posts over at ReasonCreek.com. Nancy/Nerthus

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    1. Nancy, I have been driving in bad weather all my life! :D Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!!

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  10. How did I miss this one? So glad you are excited. I am excited for you and I think it will def inspire you to write. :-)

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    1. Jo, I think you may be right!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  11. Good for you Kathy, this seems like the perfect arrangement. And, I'm so proud of your confidence and energy in the process.

    Like Jo, I think the experiences you encounter on the job and your new routine will inspire you in writing.

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    1. Betty, we shall see! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!

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  12. Cute video (and blog!) Good luck with the job.

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    1. Lee, thank you!! I start Monday and I can not wait!! ♥

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