Warning...this could be a LONG post!
It all started when I returned from maternity leave, working part time, in June. Ramie, a fellow co-worker came to me and said that Judy was going to be retiring in 2011 and the folks at the Civic Centre wanted me to take her place. ME? Really. Yes Really! Wow, okay, I thought. What am I going to do? I figured I had time to think about it since it was only June and we didn't know when she would retire in 2011 yet!
Fast forward 2 months and Ramie approaches me again. Only this time he tells me they have a date for Judy's retirment and it's December 27th. WHAT??? That's this year not 2011...Judy's position is FULL time, and I'm loving my part time.
So now it gets serious. I have to think things through. I have to decide if this is what I want to do or not becuase the clock is ticking. I make notes, I dream about it, I pray about it, I seek advice from friends. Then the day comes, they post the position. I apply. I make the first round of interviews. I do great! I make the second round of interviews, only this time I'm listening to my gut, my gut is telling me I would love the extra money but I wouldn't love the extra time away from my kids, I wouldn't love working 7:45am to 5:15pm Monday through Friday, working seven special events, being on call every night and weekend if a supervisor didn't show up.
I love my flexible schedule. I love the time I get with my kids. I love our mornings together and our afternoons! I couldn't see myself letting go of what I have to jump onto something I really didn't want at all! I interviewed for the second time and still did great I had a panel of 6 people asking me questions and I nailed it. Then afterwards I was given the opportunity to ask questions and give information....So I was honest, I was me and I didn't try to sell myself to anyone. I told them that I could want to have a fourth baby someday and that they would need to have someone in my position for 3 months while I take off. I told them that with three kids there comes multiple doctors appointments, dental visits, sick days with kids, etc. Stuff I knew they knew but stuff that was on my mind. I finished the interview by stating that I've thought a lot about the position and I've stressed a lot about leaving my comfort zone of Shawnee Town where I've been for 10 years, and letting someone else raise my kids...I told them that if they chose me I would give 100% just as I do at Shawnee Town. But I said if you don't choose me I'm perfectly happy at Shawnee Town and there would be no hard feelings.
Yesterday I received a call from Tonya, the Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation. She called to let me know that they had gone with a different canidate. I had tears of joy. God had heard my prayers and he has kept me where he wants me and where he knows I want to be. Tonya spent the next 20 minutes raving about how much they love me up there and how valuable of an employee I am, and how they really wanted me for the position and knew I could do a fantastic job at it, but they all could see that I just wasn't ready. I commend all of them for seeing the real me. The part of me that didn't have the courage to say:
I'm only interviewing for this job because I could make $49,500....I'm only interviewing for this job because Jason wants me to, or Ramie pushed so hard....Or I'm only interviewing for this job because I feel like I have to to stay on the good side of the head people within the department or the city.
Needless to say I was RELEIVED. I was honored by all of the nice things she had to say for me. I was happy for her that she had found a great match. I was also nervous to tell Jason that I hadn't gotten it. He was looking forward to the extra $10,500 per year! He took it well, we are strong in our relationship and we can make it work. We can budget, we can cut back, we can make sound decisions to help us get through.
This morning when I arrived to work the Director of the Department was here to greet me. We was genuinely concerned with how I was. My heart was warmed. He wanted me to know that when it came down to the ratings for the final four of us, I was #1, I was the BEST fit, but they knew I wasn't ready. He is a father of two sons. Two sons that were once small children and are now in High School. He said point blank. It's okay that you weren't ready. You are a ROCK STAR, you are and awesome employee. We commend you for getting out of your comfort zone and interviewing, really well and putting yourself out there. We want to make sure you're happy, because we want to keep you around for a long time to come. And when you're ready, when you're really ready you come find me! I hugged him, I was overwhelmed! He, scratch that, THEY all love me.
The girls at the office were glad to hear I wasn't leaving because none of them were ready to be Shawnee Town without me. And I'm happy to be here.
So as Thanksgiving rolls around next week I can count my blessigns:
I am thankful for a great job.
I am thankful for a great group of coworkers
I am thankful for a great department to work in
I am thankful I get to be a mommy more often
I am thankful God answers prayers
I am thankful for a mom who saves us $ by watching Lucy
I am thankful for a husband who loves me for me, even if I'm indecisive
I am thankful for a home to live in
I am thankful for three great kids
I am thankful for a close knit family
I am thankful for our good health
And so much more!
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Royal
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