WElcome to my blog!
I’ve been doing the MFRW blog hop for a while, kind of hit or miss. I’ve tried to get back onto the WEWRIWA Sunday Snippets, mostly off. Things have been hectic and overwhelming lately, so of course, I decided to do a new thing!
For the month of June, I will be posting Definition.
The first week is defining moments.
de·fin·ing mo·ment
DAY 4 – Resignation/Retirement
For most of my young adult l had focused on career. Graduation from high school was briefly celebrated as I moved to the next stepping stone – college. College was a means to an end – a well-paying career.
I had already made the decision that the double major of forensic anthropology wasn’t going to work, and focusing on cartography. My father worked for Defense Mapping Agency and urged me to pursue cartography. It’s currently known as National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. Cartographers make good money – I mean, really good money.
Life was great. I was in a department that I enjoyed and had worked my way up to target expert in the digital productions division. I was a shoe-in for the position after working in points during Desert Storm. I liked what I was doing and I was good at it!
Then I delivered my second child. I returned to work after maternity leave, but my daughter caught RSV virus at the daycare that we had our children in and ended up in the hospital. My husband and I alternated who would take off work to stay with her. The opportunity came up to do a buyout, and essentially retire. We ran the numbers and I was shocked to see that despite my great salary, I was essentially working for 5 an hour after gas, auto maintenance, and daycare expenses. The decision was easier to make after seeing the numbers, and the nudge that made the decision final was another admission to the hospital for my baby. It’s hard to see your child under an oxygen tent, and that was the last straw. I had to stay home with my kids.
Before that, I identified myself as what I did in my job. I was identifying myself as a mom also, but when people say tell me about yourself, the government employment came first. I was proud of my job, proud of my work, and proud of who I was.
IT was quite a shock to only be a “mom” for a while. Don’t get me wrong please, I love my kids with everything I am. It’s just that I was a professional for ten years before kids. It took some adjustments.
I loved those years though, and so glad that we made the decision because I was able to raise my children, not someone at a daycare. Which of course means that anything they are screwed up about is on me!
I enjoyed the majority of those years. I would trade the vomit in a heartbeat, but everything else – priceless!
OUr kids have turned out to be amazing young adults that I am so very proud of, I guess maybe I did a few things right or I was just blessed with amazing kids.
Anyway, leave a comment and brag about your kids if you want!
WRite on my friends, write on!
quotidiandose 
I was a single mom most of the kids growing up life. They’ve turned out well and given me lovely grandkids.
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