April 16, 2014
It has been a long time coming. Whispers in the back of my mind.
Then, it hit me like a ton of bricks at a meeting in December when I
realized I was swimming upstream with my job…against a current of apathy
and perhaps lack of understanding. And then, he asked. The son, our
twelve year old, asked to be home schooled. Again. He has asked many
times before and I could not bring myself there with him. The idea
began to grow in my mind and by the end of January I had made my
decision. Nathan was on board but the loss of income scared us both.
Not a huge loss.
By the time we make our commute, eat out two times per week, pay for
private school for one kid and afternoon care for both…what is left?
Not much. Once I made the decision, got Nathan fully on board, told our
little Moon and attended a national home school conference, the signs
began to come. I cannot list them all here but I can tell you my ears
perked up and I began to hear the murmurings from so many of my parent
peers.
“I work so the kids can go to school here.” “By the time I pay
daycare costs it’s almost as if I should not work.” “It seems like I am
working to pay someone else to raise my kids.” Is this really where we
are as a society? My mind began to reel. Yes. It is. I wanted to
run away these last few weeks. Throw in the towel. But, I didn’t. I
made a commitment to myself to go to the end. The end of the school
year. The end of our giving season. To meet my goals laid out a year
ago with my job. I hung in there through the biggest charity event of
the year for my organization. And then….on Monday….I said four little
words……
“This is my notice.”
The weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders and I can
finish the year with light joy knowing what awaits me at the end. My
family. My sanity. The joy of making each day count with those I care
most about. It won’t be perfect every day but each day will be perfect
in its own way.
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