So a few months ago my husband and I sat down and started running some numbers. We needed to because we have goals and ambitions for our lives. Awesome you say, why yes we thought so too!
And then I hit the enter button...
We realized that we were spending almost my entire salary on physically getting to work and child care.
So obviously we starting brainstorming options for change. One of which involved, unfortunately me having to give up my job.
Now yes initially I had the same reaction, OMG how egotistical for him to keep his job and force you to give up yours, and once again the man is making more and blah blah blah... But fortunately numbers don't lie and the hard truth of the matter was he makes more money than I do and so I need to come up with some way to compensate.
So I'm in the process of leaving my employer, which I could probably write a book on all in it's own, and I have picked up driving with Uber, and I am in the process of finding some other sort of more gainful employment where I can make what I need to to be able to better support my family and our needs.
In the mean time I am going to share some funny things that happen and or things the kids say because, well part of my thoughts in alternative career is the fact that I actually really like to write, and supposedly I'm kind of good at it. Thank you Mrs. Rand 11th grade English.
Which brings us to the story of the day, technically yesterday....
So Feb 7 2018 in western PA was one of snow, sleet, rain, otherwise precarious driving conditions. What does this mean to a mom of two school age children? Why snow day of course! Or not...
What she means is that yes the kids had the day off from school but of course mom had to then figure out juggling two and at times three different jobs all in one fell swoop.
Start with me at about 6:15am where upon I check the school's website to see that in fact the kids do have a delay, and yes there is call for it, the "stuff" going on out side the window is kinda gross. Ok so group text to everyone at the clinic, or those that are supposed to be working this morning to say hey guys I'm going to be late because the kids have a delay. It's now 6:45 and I'm supposed to be at the clinic at 10. Fine and dandy. To which I get a response from my receptionist (6:59 when she is supposed to be there at 7:30 and I know it takes her 30min to get to work) that her road hasn't been plowed and so she can't get out. So stop me if I now sound like that boss that says hey yea there's 2' of snow but I still expect you to come in, but really there was maybe 3" and you don't let someone know when you are supposed to be leaving that you can't get out. At this point my kids district has closed....
Oh crap...
So we keep puttering, I have one tech who is on her way, 7:11, cool. Doc says she won't be in before 9, reasonable, don't need the Dr there any earlier than that provided the surgery scheduled for the day even shows. Tech #2 says she'll be there in 20min, it's now 7:15, cool, she'll be closer to a normal time, she also lives the closest to the building. 7:22 tech #1 has made it and confirmed that the surgery, in fact, will not be there due to travel conditions.
By this point I have confirmed with Doc that she is ok if I just bring the kids with me and then my husband will come get them when he leaves work early, after his morning meetings are done, told the receptionist not to worry about trying to get into the office, and told the third tech for the day she can stay home, and we are on our way to the office. I live about 45min away on a good day so I am now expecting an hour to 75min.
8:15 The receptionist didn't get it the first time and is saying she is going to try to leave in 20 min, I promptly tell her don't worry I'm 3/4 of the way to the office no need for her to come in. It was probably close to 8:45 if not 9 and my entourage has arrived.
Now to try to get some work done with kids around...
For the most part my kids know that if they have to come to the office with me then they need to stay in the actual office and not be running around the clinic and most importantly stay away from the patients. (Veterinary practice, strange kids, strange animals, doesn't usually mix well hence kids being in the office being a last resort.) The one thing I apparently didn't clarify enough was the "Do not touch things that are not yours." rule however.
About noon time I am expecting my husband to be able to come get the kids but he has had something come up and he can't leave yet. Ok fine, they are getting testy but we only have a few more hours, it is what it is, if you will.
The thought no sooner goes through my head that 'cool they're being pretty good, no one has been yelling in a while' and my son comes around the corner with a mouse trap, or pest trap, specifically the delightful glue sheet kind, on his head
.... sticky side down...
no I didn't get a picture, I'm sorry.
Fortunately he was in need of a hair cut of sorts and so crisis averted and the glue trapped was removed, and there is now a small boy with a very funny haircut.
Eventually dad calls and comes to collect the children and we're all able to move on with the remainder of the day in as normal a fashion as possible but I have to admit, I got to the end of the day and was just thankful to get into the car alone,
where it was quiet,
and drive home.
To come to the sad realization that I have likely many more months and a projected 10 more years before said little boy stop doing things like putting glue on his head after having to help people figure out how to cooperatively operate to keep the world turning when there is 3" of snow, in western PA...
*face palm*
