In June I returned to work at PrideStaff as a "temp" while Chad was off work and could stay home with Tess. It was interesting to come full-circle, since I started as a temp there back in June of 1999 -- thirteen years ago!
It was absolutely wonderful to be back with my work friends, doing what I love, and truly making a difference with the Risk Management team. I felt like part of me that had been hibernating was slowly coming back to life, and eventually, thriving. Within a few weeks it started to feel like I had never been gone -- all of the critical thinking and technical skills needed for the job were fully functioning. Meanwhile, Tess had a wonderful Summer spending her days bonding with Daddy....while Mommy made some really great money!
While I was there under the auspices of a 6-8 week "assignment," PrideStaff made me a part-time return to work offer. At the time I resigned to stay home with Tess, I truly believed that a part-time schedule with PrideStaff (as a permanent employee vs. a "temp") was not an option, at all. We felt very strongly that we needed to make the sacrifice of my full-time employment, at least temporarily, while Tess was a baby -- and so we did. It was financially challenging, but not impossible, and allowed us to experience a type of fulfillment that we hadn't known before. I had no idea that exactly one year (to the day) after going on maternity leave I would be back -- with my same title and job duties, this time in my own office, and with a team that had grown to include new people that I thoroughly enjoy working with! And, honestly, with an amazing part-time salary. It seemed too good to be true.
We didn't just jump at the offer. We took almost a month to pray about it, talk about it, and get counsel from family and friends. We also knew that finding trustworthy, reliable child care for Tess for three days a week was our priority, and accepting the offer primarily depended on her being well-cared for. But we truly sensed that God had provided this opportunity for me to be with my PrideStaff family again, at this particular time -- just as Tess was turning one, walking, and ready for much more stimulation and interaction with the world around her.
Within a few weeks everything was falling into place. Chad's mom, who is an incredible and involved Grandma to our sweet girl, said that she would love to watch Tess on Wednesdays, which meant that Tess could continue participating in the childrens' program at
Bible Study Fellowship (where Grandma is a childrens' group leader). Then after making just
one phone call we were blessed to be offered a 2-days-a-week spot in the
Child Care Center at
New Harvest Church. We decided to do a "trial run" with the New Harvest program to see how Tess would like it and if she did well in that type of setting. As it turns out, she did great!
So on August 16th I "formally" returned to PrideStaff as a permanent employee, their Risk Manager, and I am absolutely LOVING it. After about 6 weeks we have definitely settled into a "new normal" and it seems we are all thriving. We feel so blessed to have this opportunity, at this time, and all that goes along with it for our family and for our Tess. Most of all we feel supported and affirmed in this new chapter by pretty much everyone in our life, and that feels good.
What's up next for us? Whatever it is, we are hoping it includes a bigger home, and a bigger family!
