So, I have given a lot of thought lately about why I work as opposed to staying home. I have stayed home for a number of years, and I have worked as we needed the income.
When I turned 42 I graduated from college with a bachelors in Elementary Education. After mostly being home for 20+ years, our youngest was in 1st grade and I was ready to enter the workforce. I was ready for my life to head in a different direction.
Right before I graduated, we were asked to foster 3 babies. they were 2, 1 and 4mths. They were also 50% Native American. We knew we weren’t going to be able to adopt them and they were only going to be “temporary” so we went ahead with school and our work plan.
I was hired to teach 6th grade at Bonneville Elementary as a mid year replacement. At that same time, the babies we had were gaining a sibling. We thought they were all on the path to be reunited with their birth family in a month or two so, I accepted the job. We knew we would have to juggle things for awhile but eventually they would leave our home.
I interviewed and was offered a job on the same day we were waiting to hear what the court and tribe were going to do. I turned the job down not knowing the outcome of court. The court date was postponed for another week, I had to give them an immediate decision on the job. We then discovered, the tribe was going to assume full custody of them.
I decided that i wasn’t going to be able to be home in an empty house. It would be devastating after having 4 little children 3 and under for the last year and a half.
An opportunity came open and I was rehired at Bonneville to teach 6th grade. I started around the second week after school had already began. I had a weekend to get my classroom organized and be prepared to teach.
I taught the whole year and the 4 children never left. We decided I would stay home with them for the following year and trust that if they left, I would find something to keep my mind occupied. So, I stayed home. We were informed we would be able to petition the court for adoption. Meanwhile, we found out baby #5 was coming. We were able to eventually adopt all 5 kids. We have been so blessed.
When 2016 came around, we decided I would need to work a few hours to help with finances for a little. I began working at WinCo foods on the night shift. I quickly went from 20 hours to 30+ hours a week. I decided if we could make this amount of time work, maybe we could make half day teaching work too. I would make more money and only be gone about 4 hours a day, with nights, weekends, holidays and summer off.
I started applying for teaching jobs and I was wholly unsuccessful. I mean, at one interview I even cried! Oh my gosh! Who does that?! I was feeling incredibly discouraged. I thought this was going to be a better opportunity for our family and it just wasn’t going the way I anticipated. the kids were starting to show the effects of being in a one parent environment. They were having worse behavior, I was tired, John was tired and there just weren’t enough hours in the day.
John and I decided I was just going to continue on at WinCo but maybe I could change my work hours a bit. Then, my kids started getting into some amor trouble and I needed to be home. It wasn’t a thought anymore but we also needed the additional income. So, I called John and told him I was applying for one more 1/2 time kindergarten job that was just posted. I related I probably wasn’t going to get this job either but, I was going to go and try it out. The downside? It was in Saratoga Springs 20-25 minutes away.
Well, I went to the interview and as I was driving out of the parking lot, They called and offered me the job. I was ecstatic. This was a Friday and I began teaching on Monday.
I have often wondered why I was prompted to apply for this job. As I have been involved with this school and my class, I have realized it is the perfect fit for my needs. I have loved my kinders so much. They are completely amazing. Many of the families are having significant trials in their lives and I am entrusted with their most precious baby. It isn’t as easy as I thought kindergarten would be. There is so much that needs to be taught and so much more emotions. However, I have loved every moment of it and know Heavenly Father put me here for a reason. I feel like I have found my niche and I am able to be home with my kids in the mornings and home for dinner. It has been the best of both worlds. I
don’t know what the next year will bring but, I do know I will be led where Heavenly Father needs me to be. I have faith to know everything happens for a reason and I am willing to be an instrument in His hands.
Love you baby girl. You do good in this world. Keep up the good works.