Bliss Like This
My son and I were jamming children's tunes, knee-deep in toys when the phone rang. Caller ID alerted me it was my previous employer.
Should I. Or shouldn't I.
I answered.
Arriving directly out of left field, he curtly asked what it would take for me to return to the office.
Since quitting, there are days I do miss work, the social interaction, the traveling, wearing something other than yoga pants and the mental floss.
As he continued to talk and butter me up like toast, I felt my ego inflating like a Macy's day balloon.
What would it take for me to go back?
I drew a complete blank. I glanced at my son. He was dancing, giggling and signing 'Mama'. I wanted to reply with something (preferably semi-intelligent). But there was only 1 cognitive thought running circles in my head.
The wheels on the bus go round & round. Round & round. Round & round.
He asked if I needed some time to answer. I politely declined. Me thinks me and the office are not quite ready for a re-union.
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I remember thinking 20 plus years ago that the next generation would have an easier time of it, more choices and options......it's still just as difficult.
Best wishes
I love that post title. And I totally relate that your brain is stuck to children's rhymes. ALL. DAY. LONG.
I totally understand everything you just said....our current song is going to Alabama with a banjo on my knee!
I figured once they are in school, I can go back. But they are only little once. Yes, there are days I wish I were back in a classroom or doing admin...but it is not that often!
Best wishes trying to decide what is best for your family.
Good for you. Despite the fact that I think you're super cool for declining the offer, it's also pretty rad that they are practically on their knees begging for your return. Yay you!!
I so wish you would have just belted out the song by the way. Now that would be some answer!!!
Perfect post.
I love it love it love it.
I have a goodie up for you over at my place.
I got a phone call like this a few months ago from my old boss. She wanted to know I would consider covering her during her maternity leave...
I was flattered, especially since she wanted me to take over HER job, but I declined as well... and for the very same reason.
The other day I bought some new shoes for a party. There were the very first grown-up, real woman, sexy high heels that I've purchased in probably a year and I felt those same things about working- the people, the getting dressed up, the mental floss- so this post really hit me hard. Thanks!
i think you have made a great choice
What Serina said. This truly IS a perfect post. There's always tomorrow to change your mind. Life is short, play hard.
I know 'xactly how you feel. I got that call with the buttery sweetness about three months after SD arrived. Nope then. Nope now.
I'm emailing you a ? be ready.
Oh, and what wonders that does for the ego, no? Shows you how much you are 'preciated.
Hell yes.
Absolutely.
Now totally off your post.
Princess tore all those pretty pop up books to pieces until this year. She is in love and uber cautious with this one.
It's fabulous. Thanks for your visits and all your comments!
Good for them, for wanting you back...Good for you for sayin' no thanks! It's a tough decision. SAHMydom is a tough job, worth every bit of it, but tough just the same...
Mental floss. Mental floss. Brilliant image. The recent song for us is Ten little monkeys jumping on the bed...
Good for you for knowing. Sometimes the decision can feel so grey - not black or white. You've really captured the wavering, and yet surety of your decision. Kudos!
Perfect answer. I miss the professional satisfaction I received while working and knowing I was good at what I did. It was always nice to be appreciated. But, I don't want to go back to work at all. No way. It's taken me some time to get used to it, but I love being home now.
DIN_DING_DING
That's the right answer!
Magic!!!
For health reasons I was forced to leave my professional job back in 1998. Here I am...almost ten years later and I love, love, love not working. I got used to it immediately, but as I said, I had health issues. A couple of things I miss...my corporate wardrobe and power lunches! Free travel! But, I'm in better shape now and I can get my social interaction elsewhere. My daughter was 12 when I stopped working. We had some really good times!! You will see how incredibly fast the years fly by!
I so agree, different experiences but many of the same feelings have kept me at home and it's been a good thing.
Well, now you will not have to wonder if you made the right decision. You had the opportunity to go back and didn't after the Best Worst Week Ever!; enjoy your time with your son free of doubt and guilt. I don't think you'll regret your decision!!
I get what you are saying, but you really can't put a price and staying at home with them. It is priceless! How cool is it that they were begging to have you back!!!
I think you made a great choice, you can't get back those giggles with your son once he's grown and gone, cherish it! Says great things about you that they want you back! *pat on the back*
Ah....we sing the same song.
There isn't anything that I can be offered to go back to my old job either. Or even a new job. I love my current job.
Lucky you. Lucky family.
hooray for you! I probably would have just started singing out loud :) Although the ear worm of choice in our house is Wonderpets...
don't know what mental floss is but it sure sounds like something I could use...
I was offered a whole lot of money to stay working, but no money in the world can replace the time I get to spend with my little girl! I think that was a great decision on your part! Also... I couldn't sleep last night because all that kept going through my head was "Say Click... Take a Pic"
what a wonderful epiphany!
Enjoy your little guy!
Blessings,
K
I have a writing client who routinely offers me a full time job at his advertising agency. I always bask in the ego-boosting glow for a minute and then politely decline. I'm having to much fun here, yoga pants and all.
I love this post...
Your family are lucky to have you.
the right choice for you -- else you wouldn't have made it!
I'm impressed that you were able to make such a spit second decision. Even if I knew I was going to say no, I'd probably ask for a few days to think it over, just so I could revel in the thought of it for awhile before declining!
Good for you, mama!
What a great post. I do juggle work (4 days a week) and being a mama and it is hard.
Oh ... I hear you!!! And the longer you are away from it, the harder it gets - and that's not a bad thing! Enjoy every single moment. Take care. Kellan
You're a blessed lady! good for you. ;)
-HH
Good for you for declining! I had to laugh at the one cognitive thought in your head at the time!
My answer would be the same over and over again. I wouldn't give up being a sahm for anything. The years fly by much too quickly.
The wheels on the bus -- I love it. And when I finally get a job again, I think they're going to have to let me wear yoga pants -- I just don't think I can go back to real clothes.
If you can get away with staying at home.. do it! I would love to be a sahm, but unfortunately our little family couldn't afford it past the 6 month mark so I had to return.
It's always hard leaving our little ones at daycare and with a nanny, isn't it? I used to think I can just go back to work after I have my son and how naive I was.
I'm hoping to quit. Soon.
But nice for you that they like you - there's gratification there, yes?
Wow. Powerful post. It gave me chills.
And can I just say that I APPLAUD you for your decision. It's not easy staying at home full-time.
Lucky son. And lucky you. Bliss, bliss, bliss, pure bliss. I feel like that during my restdays. Makes me like not going to work.
Happy singing.
I LOVE this post! It truly is bliss having the opportunity to stay at home with our babies. I so can relate to the kiddie songs stuck in your head! lol
It does feel good to get that ego boost once in awhile, even if you do decline!
I am sure you made the right decision for yourself. You will know when it is time..or so they say :) After being home this long, I am beginning to wonder if I ever will want to return to work.
Wow. Talk about a call that's good for the ego!
:)
Heidi
I am soooo with you on this! I too have the same desires as you (sometimes...); but, I, personally, can't see it ever happening, ever. What a change of worlds and it's so important to be with family...to watch your little one sing and dance is the priority. Me thinks you made good choice. (My daily attire consists of black, cotton, work-out capris -- yoga? or something...) hahaha
You wanna hear freaky?
My boss called me this week...to see if he could convince me to come back at least part time.
Same page or what?!?
Oh wow!! My boss did something similar after my first maternity leave. I went into the restaurant to talk to him and said "I was thinking of coming back early" and his reply was "Oh thank god!" and he dropped his head on the table. I guess things weren't running so smoothly lmao.
Congrats on them begging for you and congrats for staying at home when that was what YOU were meant to do and want to do. Not everyone who wants to stay home can actually do so. *hugs*
Staying home is so much more fun anyway. :) Thanks for sharing this with the Carnival of SAHMs!
Hilarious...and perfect! Thanks for sharing! btw, I'm here via the SAHM Carnival...
"The wheels on the bus . . . " I'm convinced that was Freudian.
Thanks for submitting your post to the Carnival of Family Life which I am hosting this week for the first time!
Have you considered hosting? It is a great deal of fun . . . check out the schedule at Colloquium (http://www.jhsiess.com).
Thanks for participating and blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving weekend!
Now that my child's older and I get a few minutes here and there to think clearly, plus more sleep, I know what we should all start answering when asked this question:
Shorter work weeks, full benefits
Policies that support telecommuting
Job Sharing
Family-friendly leave policies
Work hour flexibility
Better child care options - or better yet, child care at work
Granted, when they're young and precious and if you can afford it, that may still not be enough. But these steps would help everybody (even men) enjoy more time with their children, make for a happier work force and allow employers to retain more talent.
wow, I would totally have gone back to work if I had gotten a call like that, and if they actually offered me what I wanted!
- I had a specific list of things... part time work, flexibility, work from home, full time benefits, private office where I could pump milk if needed ....
but my employer just went ahead and replaced me the minute my 12 week FMLA leave was over, in spite of the fact that I'd been there in that job for over 7 years!
Nah, I'm not bitter...
How awesome is that that they are calling you asking for your return? But I think it makes you even more awesome for declining at this point in time. They grow up much too quickly. There will be much time for work outside the home in the near future.
bleah. it would take enough money for Scout to be able to quit his job forever and take my place at home. I'm pretty sure a school system will never come up with that salary :)