Reentering

As many of you, I think about returning to work someday. But I have a hard time picturing what that looks like. Should I teach again? If I do, can I do it as well as before? Will it eat me up emotionally so that I do not have as much to offer my own kids (if you do not know, I used to teach kids with severe EBD)? Could I get hired even if I wanted to?

I also say to myself, it was my choice to stay home and I am lucky to do it. And because of that choice, I should expect things to be different when returning to the work force. And now many businesses are seeing the value in women that have/had been home for a period of time.

In the Sept 25 Newsweek, they have an article about how women are finding on-ramps back into the business world more open than before. Businesses are figuring out that it is in their best interests to maintain relationships with women when they leave. Some continue to train them or even offer them work on a per diem basis.

I get the feeling that if you were to just ask for things from a former employer, you may get it. When I was first home with Caroline, I was looking for something to do. I called a former employer and asked if there was anything I could do for her from home. She gave it some thought and said yes. She asked if I could come into the office occassionally. I said I had Caroline and she said bring her. For a year and a half (until Grace), it worked out great.

It is amazing how things work out when you ask for what you need out loud. Someimes, God needs to hear you say it so that he can answer.