Back to it

Looking back, being laid off was one of the best things that could have happened to me. Our budget certainly took a hit, but finances aside, I have loved every second of it. I have completed numerous projects around the house, visited family, successfully thrown a birthday party (with much help, I might add), updated my resume, attended several interviews, but most importantly, I have had 8 solid weeks of time with Avery Kate. What a gift! We've gone to the park, had lunch with daddy, run way too many errands, played inside and out, cooked, relaxed, gone for walks, gone to the Children's Museum, and, and, and...

Part of me lived in a bubble with thoughts that we could go on like that forever- job? what job? Sadly, that can't be. I knew our borrowed time would come to an end and beginning May 26, that will be the case. I have accepted an offer with JSM Management, a property management firm based out of Champaign, IL (about 50 miles east of here). They are opening an office here in Normal, IL which is currently being built. Until it opens, there will be a temporary office. That office does not open until August 1st. For the 8 or so weeks until that happens, I will be commuting to Champaign for training- yikes! They have been very generous though and have agreed to let me work 4 days a week from 9-4 until training is completed. This will give me Fridays home with Avery to help her (and me!) transition to full-time childcare. The hours also allow for me to drop Avery off around 8 and pick her up at 5. Once the commuting stops, I will go to complete full-time.

What will I be doing? Well, I'm not completely sure. My title will be Property Manager (I believe) but will actually encompass a whole lotta stuff. This company is geared towards student housing so a majority of my tenants will be college students. They also handle some commercial which someday I might be able to get involved in. For the first year, I will mainly be marketing for these residential apartments and getting the office here up and running. I'll also manage that office, the day-to-day of it all, all the properties, etc. I think there's quite a bit more in that "etc.". If I have to work, I am actually excited about the type of work this is. I won't be stuck at a desk all day long. My interactions everyday will be completely different and that excites me. It kind of reminds me of my days of retail minus the nights and weekends. On top of that excitement, I am very grateful that I was even able able to find a job especially with the job market being as crummy as it is right now. And, I have to say that I'm happy to stop searching the classifieds each day! Anywho- I'll update later after I actually start to see how far off I was on this description.

Back to Avery- it truly breaks my heart to give up my time with her. I have been so fortunate since her birth to have had incredibly flexible work schedules in that I could work from home a few days a week and keep her with me. To think of giving up so much time with her- it really makes me sick. I know people do it everyday, and we will adapt. I know that it's probably going to be harder on me than her- although, being with me SO much has really thrown her into the separation anxiety phase big time. But we'll work through that, too. So in this last week of freedom that I have with her, I'm making sure to add to our memories...if not for her sake, for mine.