A few months ago, I went through the process of finding myself a job. It seems this SAHM thing has an actual expiration date.
Or so it felt like to me.
The Kids are mostly independent little beings who stay away from the house for at least six hours a day Monday thru Friday.
This left me a lot of time to realize that I was no longer needed.
Don't get me wrong, I know I'm needed. It's just that during those hours? Not so much.
Which is exactly the way it's supposed to be. That's how I know I've done a good job as a SAHM.
Isn't that the sign of a wonderful employee? One who works themselves out of a job? It seems that I do my best work at those kinds of jobs. Pre-The Kids, I worked with adults with Developmental Disabilities, Autism mostly. My most important job duty then, was helping adults, and some teenagers, to be able to live independently, to learn not to rely on people like me. To work myself out of a job.
As I was waiting for that perfect job to come to my doorstep, I thought several times about returning to the program I used to work for. Most likely, I could have walked right back in. Something kept me from doing so. My heart was no longer there. We did some wonderful things the years I spent working there. We helped support people who had no where else to go when California decided to close their institutions, not quite caring there were not enough places to support the people who still needed support. We, as an agency, closed down our group homes and moved to Supported Living.
The main thing I was looking for in a job was the ability to still be available for The Boy. He's only 10. He still needs me to be there for him when he gets home from school.
Then, TGFFMom called me.
The School District was hiring Paraeducators. Even better, they were hiring for substitute positions. This meant that if I needed to be home for The Boy, I could be.
I put together the old resume, which was quite dusty after 13 years of not working, making sure to include all that volunteer work I did at the school for the past 9 years. Don't ever undervalue your volunteer work. I'm convinced that beyond my experience with adults with Autism, being involved in almost every level of The Kids' school gave me that extra wide opening to the door.
The week before The Kids went out on their three week winter break, I received a phone call being offered a long term substitute position in a class for severely autistic children in grades K-3rd. The thing about long term substitute positions is that they don't really tell you how long is long term?
I nervously headed off for my first day of work and quickly fell in love with each and everyone of the 11 K-3rd graders that are in the class. The ladies I worked with are wonderful as well. It was a perfect situation. Which looked to last about 3 weeks. My job ends today.
As I spoke with the teacher the other day, letting her know that I would really appreciate staying in her class and just how much I've enjoyed my position, she was a little shocked that I may or may not be returning. She asked if I would like to stay. I made sure she knew exactly how much I would LOVE to stay.
Yesterday morning, I received another call, being offered the position permanently. After trying to sound ultra professional and cool as a cucumber, I hung up with the Human Resources person and did a happy dance around my kitchen.
I get to stay. Permanently.
Well, with The School District, that means at least until June. But the good news is, I will have a job next school year as well. I am now a full fledged working mom.
The best part is that after 13 years of sitting on my bum on the couch, watching Oprah, and eating bon bons, I get to gradually work myself back into the workforce.
The job is three hours in the afternoon, I don't work minimum days, and I'm off the same days as The Boy is.
Dreams do come true.
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