I have always considered myself fortunate to have a flexible career that made parenting and working doable. I will always consider myself fortunate for the windy roads that led me to the place I am now.
Not only am I a mom of 5, but I am a mom to a daughter with severe medical issues and some extreme special needs. She requires lots of appointments with specialists, therapists, meetings with the state services and the school. She requires all of me and that has meant very little of me is available to offer to a career path.
I’ve always worked and loved working. I don’t sit idle well. Even when I was given time to not work, I still found odd jobs to do. It’s just the way I am.
A couple years ago I found myself in a position of needing a new career path that allowed me the ability to still be a mom that can take her child to all her appointments. A mom who could volunteer in her kids class. A mom who can attend sports activities. I also had to earn an income to help support our family.
I spent a lot of time in thought and prayer and figured the only way this will work is if I work for myself. This let me to start a small agency that works directly with the population just like my daughter. I am able to help others, be home with my kids and be flexible to do the things my daughters care requires.
It is a “perfect” situation.
Except it’s not easy, I don’t want to sound trite. It takes getting up before everyone or staying up late. It causes tears and anxiety and when we add all the kids home ALL the time during a pandemic and helping with online schooling, especially with our daughter with an IEP many pages deep and a 6th grade son with ADHD, it is hard. Not to mention the two littlest that require constant supervision. It is overwhelming and it can bring me to tears. Often, lots of tears.
But, I think of the jobs I could do right now with my family and the list is about 0. My husband’s schedule is about as odd as a schedule could get, so honestly and truly, my options are so limited I am blessed to have become my own boss.
I think we get hung up on what we think life should look like and what life really is. Just because we have a great situation doesn’t mean it isn’t hard and just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing.
I am always so inspired by my mama friends. The ones who work, the ones who stay home, the ones who manage to do both. I love the way we do what we can for our families and hope I can inspire as I continue to be inspired.
