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I have not blogged since May. Here it is, November. So much has happened.
I have been working outside the home for over two years now. It started as a part time position as dispatcher at the little, local police department. I didn’t advertise about it because there can be some animosity about both, a homeschooling mother working away from home and working with police. (Isn't that sad?) As a homeschooling mother, it is definitely preferable to be home all the time. Our situation has changed though. Hubby is home more and we have two adult daughters to help. |
The children are older, the youngest was almost ten when I started. (I can hardly believe she's 12!) The police department was only eight miles away. It was part time shift work. All of which, made it much easier. It was a nice transition.
The family acclimated nicely to the change. I cried on the way to work for at least two weeks. At first it was only a day or two a week. If I worked days, I checked school in the afternoon. If I worked evenings, I helped with school before I left. If I worked night, we fit it in between naps.
I really enjoyed the job and the people I worked with. God blessed me with some amazing friendships and wonderful experience.
At the beginning of this year (2018) we had one dispatcher retire, one moved, another quit… and I found myself working overtime for minimal part-time wages. On top of political and safety issues, it was obviously time to move on.
A reporter friend suggested I consider correspondent reporting for the local paper she wrote for. The pay was nice and it sounded like something I could definitely do.
After a few months juggling both and a learning curve figuring out AP writing style, the children each came to me separately saying, “Mommy, you are so much happier when you are newspapering.”
My reporter friend left for another job, leaving an opening. After a few months of trying desperately to impress the editor and publisher, they finally decided to give me a chance.
I’m in my third week. I’m sure my delightful co-workers are convinced I’m crazy, but they seem to be deciding to put up with me. No one has demanded they get rid of me. (yet? LOL)
I am really, really enjoying it. The office has been wonderful and welcoming.
I do have to step out of my comfort zone, which is good for me. I have to approach and call strangers for information and interviews. I’m very shy, so it’s a stretch for me, but I’m getting it done and it’s getting a little bit easier each day.
It’s also a full time job a little over 30 miles away. It’s taking me a bit to get use to the schedule but it’s nice to know when I’m working and to have set hours instead of all hours of the day or night. There will never be a double shift and I’m getting paid more.
There will be benefits too, but right now the coffee and snacks are great. All office supplies are provided. I have my own desk, which I decorated to suit me. (with leftover things from the house and hand-me-down stuff…)
I get weekends off! >happy dance<
So, after all this craziness, hopefully I can get back to blogging. I’m also planning to get another book or two, or three… published. Hopefully I’ll get into a nice routine.
I am definitely learning more and more how our Creator works in truly mysterious ways. I would have definitely never, ever considered being a journalist. Now that I am, I wonder why. I think my perception of ‘news’ was quite different than reality. I’m really enjoying reporting on events and happenings in our community. I’m sure I will run into something, sometime that I won’t be happy to report, but for now, I’m having fun.
The family acclimated nicely to the change. I cried on the way to work for at least two weeks. At first it was only a day or two a week. If I worked days, I checked school in the afternoon. If I worked evenings, I helped with school before I left. If I worked night, we fit it in between naps.
I really enjoyed the job and the people I worked with. God blessed me with some amazing friendships and wonderful experience.
At the beginning of this year (2018) we had one dispatcher retire, one moved, another quit… and I found myself working overtime for minimal part-time wages. On top of political and safety issues, it was obviously time to move on.
A reporter friend suggested I consider correspondent reporting for the local paper she wrote for. The pay was nice and it sounded like something I could definitely do.
After a few months juggling both and a learning curve figuring out AP writing style, the children each came to me separately saying, “Mommy, you are so much happier when you are newspapering.”
My reporter friend left for another job, leaving an opening. After a few months of trying desperately to impress the editor and publisher, they finally decided to give me a chance.
I’m in my third week. I’m sure my delightful co-workers are convinced I’m crazy, but they seem to be deciding to put up with me. No one has demanded they get rid of me. (yet? LOL)
I am really, really enjoying it. The office has been wonderful and welcoming.
I do have to step out of my comfort zone, which is good for me. I have to approach and call strangers for information and interviews. I’m very shy, so it’s a stretch for me, but I’m getting it done and it’s getting a little bit easier each day.
It’s also a full time job a little over 30 miles away. It’s taking me a bit to get use to the schedule but it’s nice to know when I’m working and to have set hours instead of all hours of the day or night. There will never be a double shift and I’m getting paid more.
There will be benefits too, but right now the coffee and snacks are great. All office supplies are provided. I have my own desk, which I decorated to suit me. (with leftover things from the house and hand-me-down stuff…)
I get weekends off! >happy dance<
So, after all this craziness, hopefully I can get back to blogging. I’m also planning to get another book or two, or three… published. Hopefully I’ll get into a nice routine.
I am definitely learning more and more how our Creator works in truly mysterious ways. I would have definitely never, ever considered being a journalist. Now that I am, I wonder why. I think my perception of ‘news’ was quite different than reality. I’m really enjoying reporting on events and happenings in our community. I’m sure I will run into something, sometime that I won’t be happy to report, but for now, I’m having fun.
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