End of an Era (if an era meant almost a year)

When I had my daughter in June of 2006, I was entirely planning on heading back to work in six short weeks. I didn’t clean out my desk, or tell my clients, or even take home my favorite coffee cup. Mostly because I was so very sure I would be right back there in a few short weeks, with my insane-o boss who liked to yell and scream and get lost in New York City. But after I saw this….

…my heart just couldn’t let me go back to such an horrible place. How could I go back to a shitty job with bad pay and leave my gorgeous little monkey at a daycare all day? Answer: I couldn’t. So I selfishly quit my job and proceeded to lactate at home for almost nine months. Trent and I agreed I’d stay home for six months and then start looking for a new job. And those months were glorious. Full of freelance work and rolling over and cooing and smiling. But eventually I had to find a new job. Especially since my husband quit his to start a business where (surprise!) there would be no paycheck for a while.

I searched for two months to find the perfect fit. A position that would pay okay, along with giving me plenty of time to spend with my daughter. And after many, painful interviews, I found it. A great job that not only allowed me to be creative and paid decently, it also had amazing benefits. And it didn’t hurt that the people I worked with seemed to come from Planet Weird themselves. I fit right in!

Eventually I felt like a member of the family. I knew everyone’s husbands or wives, dogs, and kids. I’d even earned a nickname due to a long night of drinking during an out-of-town conference. So when the company I’d worked for straight out of college called to say they wanted me back, I pretty much blew them off.

Until we talked about salary. And benefits. And did I mention salary? Almost double what I was currently making? Crap.

And everyone told me not to make a decision based on money, but, hello! We’ve been living in a shitty rental for 3 years because of the baby and the new business and all the other changes. With this money we could actually save for a house. Go on a honeymoon. Stop doing odd jobs during the weekends. And even get to stop making “those” calls to the parents, asking for just a bit of cash to get us through the month.

So…I took it. And I’m sad. Because I’ll really miss my old job. But I know it’s the right decision. Although I’m very upset there will no longer be any Photoshopped pictures of me like this…

Today is my last day at the current job. If you’re in the KC area, come on down to Ponak’s on Southwest Boulevard (because I’m classy like that) between 4 and 7 p.m. for some cheap margaritas, yummy Mexican food, and to watch “Tini’s” last hurrah. You won’t regret it…although I might.