What keeps me busy...

When I was 11 years old I started babysitting. When I was 14 I started working on a farm in the summer and during the harvest. When I was 16 I got my first year round, part time job in a movie theater. Next came waiting tables, working at two different hotels, selling tickets at a cowboy dinner show, working at the college newspaper (and delivering the papers at 4:30 a.m.), shuffling computers around Thiokol and administrative assisting at the school district office -- all before I got my first real-college-graduate job at Logan Regional Hospital in public relations. Then two and a half years ago I started working for the Florida West Coast Symphony in marketing and public relations. I've loved my jobs (at least most of them). I've enjoyed challenging my brain and interacting with professionals I respect.

After Eleanore was born I cut my hours to part time and have been stationed primarily at home. Still though, things have just gotten too busy. Last week, the Symphony launched a new brand and became the Sarasota Orchestra. We started the research that preceded this transistion on the very first day I reported to work. So last week, when we unveiled the our new image, I felt a lot of satisfaction from seeing all the hard work come together. But, on the other hand, the weeks leading up to this event had been chaotic. My bathrooms weren't getting cleaned very often, the laundry was piling up and we were eating on the fly. I was sleep deprived from working into the wee hours of the morning (in order to keep the daylight hours dedicated to Eleanore), and it felt like weeks since Bryan and I had had a conversation about something besides Eleanore or work.

Bryan, being the great husband that he is, has reassured me time and time again that he fully supports me staying home. I think it has been me that has felt nervous about quitting my job. I've questioned in the back of my head: will I feel self-fulfilled? will I still have an identity? will we make it financially? now instead of being too busy, will I be bored? what about all black pin-striped pants I own? will they ever be worn again? when will I ever work in a professional environment again? Bryan has been supportive all along -- and now, after the last crazy month, I think he is even eager to have one of us at home to keep our lives in kilter.

So, I took the plunge. As of October, I'll officially be a full-time, stay-at-home wife and mother. I have to admit I'm a little nervous, but I am also very excited. I hope to keep my toes a bit in the water with freelance work to keep my skills sharp and contribute a little to the piggy bank, but without the commitment of a certain amount of hours I'm obligated to each week and scheduled meetings to attend on a regular basis.

I've enjoyed my time in the professional world. The satisfaction of seeing this:

become this:
was great.

But the satisfaction I get from seeing this:

is the best.