Sunday, August 22, 2010

Mom's moving back home from the work place to the family

After being in the field of social work for almost 20 years, I didn't expect my job of nearly 11 years to end.  This was a job I loved, a program I had nurtured and coddled to excellent health.  I took care of my staff that way too.  Their shortcomings were not seen as a reason for immediate workplace discilpline, but as an opportunity to improve, and to work together as a team in the process.  How I loved those women!  (It's mostly women working in social work in rural Indiana right now.)  I shared life's moments with them, weddings, pregnancies and new babies, and times of grieving too. We were close.  Then new management came in, and I was out.  Those people I took such good care of, I rarely hear from any more.  There have been times when I feel sad about that.  But what were my options?  I could have not taken such good care of them while I was there, since apparently it was so quickly forgotten.  Or, I could have bought in to new management's philosophy of we don't like you, so you'll need to go.  Neither option leaves me being me.  And I like me a whole lot better than the other two choices.

So here I am home again, after 20 years in the work place; home with a husband, a 15 year old, 12 year old twins, and a 1 1/2 year old surprise baby.  I also have two wonderful stepsons, one off at college and one living with his mother.  

I'm not going to lie.  It was nice that first week or so of not having to go in to work.  Summer time, sleeping in a bit, hanging out with the kids on their summer break.  But now that all but one are back in school, I am finding time for all of those "homemaker" type things I considered doing as a new bride, even as a new mom with just Baby Zack to contend with.  All of those ideas flew out the window when the twins arrived. 

So now, I'm starting to think of those things again, considering what kinds of activities I would enjoy doing, which I must confess, so far have been only productive ones, like cooking, baking, cleaning, and painting. 
These things are fine; I'm a nurturer, have been all of my life, with my friends, my staff, and especially with my own children.  So I'm starting on a new part of the journey now, and will just have to see where it leads!