Next Stop: Happiness
*I wrote this last weekend as sort of a therapeutic exercise for myself. Since this is my blog and my space, I figured, why not post it?*
Enjoying Caffe DeLuca.
Wow. Here I am, my last day as an AP newswoman. Yes, that’s the official term.
I plan to quit tomorrow. It’s been a long trip to get to this point. All throughout my maternity leave, it’s been should I go back? Should I stay home? Should I go someplace else?
We all know how much I’m loving my maternity leave. Will I love that reality as much when it’s my everyday life? I believe I will. It feels so strange to sit here in my favorite café in Chicago and realize that something that’s been enmeshed in my soul and how I define myself is about to be gone.
It’s time for a new adventure. It’s kinda exciting, exhilarating, scary and memorable. I’ll remember this moment. I’ll look back all nostalgic and say: “Remember when I quit the AP and _____.”
See? It’s almost like a choose-your-own-ending book. I don’t have all the answers on what’s next for me, but I do know I will be happy.
Congrats! I’m very happy for you and your family. I am a local newscast director. I turned in my resignation Tuesday! I won’t be staying at home, but I’ve accepted a job I will love that will give me normal work hours, weekends and holidays off. This will allow more time with my 8month old and my husband.
So happy for you! I’m going to start freelance work because it will give me the flexibility that I need. You’re right in that a normal work schedule is often essential in this phase of our lives. Good luck with everything!!
Now I get it! Motherhood is much more exciting than AP! Congrats to you and your husband!
Ha! Thanks for the congrats! Yes many days Motherhood is more exciting than AP, but sometimes it can get a little humdrum. However, it’s a gazillion times more rewarding and makes me much happier.
Congratulations on your decision. I know that change is always scary even if it is a good change!
Can’t wait to read about all your adventures in freelance writer/SAHM land! Talk about a balancing act.
Thanks! You’re right it *is* scary, but I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other because I do believe it was the best thing for everyone.
I’m also excited to see how I balance being self-employed and a SAHM. Thanks for stopping by!
Go you! Having quit and gone back and quit again… it’s an interesting ride. That said, I think I would have been much better off had I never gone back after maternity leave than if I’d done it until my daughter was born then gone back again for another 8 months and tried to stay home. TOO different and everyone was too entrenched in existing routines. Yay you!
Thanks! I’m really excited about whatever new opportunities are around the corner for me. I can see that it’d be a hard adjustment to go from work to maternity leave, then work and then quit. That’s enough to give you emotional whiplash! (Is there such a thing???) Anyway, it’s been a good transition for me, now I’m easing into how I plan on doing this freelance thing. Fingers crossed.