Almost 6 months ago, I began a new chapter in my life....I started working full-time
after being a stay-at-home mom for over 10 years.
Yeah, I had some part-time writing gigs with some internet companies, but to be
fully employed with benefits was a huge step for me and my family.
First off, I had to find someone I could count on to help me care for my amazing kids while
I was in training and while I am upstairs at work....Enter Helen Hutka....
She came in and filled in...
From day one...when I had to go in-office to work for training...I did not worry one little bit
about my kids.
Second, I had to adjust my daily cooking schedule. Now, I spend most of my days off
making the meals for the week. It works out well. Not really a big deal after all.
Third, I had to learn to use my time more wisely. I am still working really hard on this.
It is getting better...but, I have more to learn on this subject.
So, after 6 months and one promotion...yep, I got promoted in February...it seems that this
is the career for me for many years to come.
I am so happy to have a career at the tender age of 49.
Gone are my days of obsessing over the internet and who is writing what about who on
the Autism web sites. Gone are my days of the petty bickering on the autism forums...
and frankly, I do not miss it one bit.
I work from home, so I get to see my kids during my afternoon break. I get to ask how their
days were and what is for homework....
I get smiles and hugs...
Who could ask for more than that during a work day?
Most of all....
My family has stepped up to the plate to allow their middle-aged wife and mom to fulfill
her dream to actually work a corporate job and be really good at it. They don't question my
hours (which I get to set, btw) and know when my door is shut...it stays shut.
They take care of each other very well....I am so very proud of how they have matured in
the last few months. I hope we had taught them well....and I guess this proves it.
This last Sunday, my interview with AOL Health was posted on the front page of AOL. I had
many people complement me. I had a couple of nasty remarks on my blog, but just a couple.
What surprised me the most was a couple of family members who emailed me and questioned
my motives along with a couple of friends who decided that they did not like that I got some
attention....that is okay....
I had a friend remind me that true friends celebrate our highs and help us through our lows...thanks Kim ;)
In the long run...it is my friends and family who stand by us when we are at our highs and our
lows...who realize the amount of work it takes for our family to be the amazing family we are.
We could not have done it without the family members and friends who have become our family who stood by us for many years. It is you guys who make us complete....
About Me
- Mom26children
- I am the proud mother of 6 children. 5 of our children have autism. We do not feel our world has ended, but just begun. We do not chelate, intervene biochemically, give shots of any kind, practice ABA, etc. We treat them as we treat any humanbeing. We treat them with kindness and respect and expect the same from them. They are exceptional children.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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4 comments:
:-) I read through the comments left on the AOL interview you reposted here and it was wonderful to see so many responses that were positive and hopeful.
Families hearing their child has autism need to know that there are families out here who have faced that experience, some of us multiple times, and have worked hard and made progress, and every bit as important, helped our children to be happy children who know they are loved and valued.
Having children (with issues or not--and what child doesn't have some level of issues) and raising them to be caring, loving people is the most important job we do, and I think you have done a wonderful job at it. And you write a blog that is positive and real. To that, you now have a career! Yay! :-)
Congrats on your promotion!
Thanks Fighting...
I got a Commendation at work today for helping someone last week with an issue on their reservation...just doing my job...but, it is nice to be recognized for it...
I've been following your blog for quite some time now. I am not a mother yet, but I am a daycare assistant and a social work major who spends a good portion of her days with children on the autism spectrum. I was really pleasantly surprised to come across your blog as I thought I was one of the few people who saw the madness in over-medicating these kids and using them as lab rats. The mothers I work with have never once indicated that they expect a "cure" for their children or that they consider them diseased or disordered. These kids are who they are, for better or for worse. The kids I work with are really wonderful individuals, who while they are different have such incredible talents. If we as a society can just learn to work with them so that they can reach their full potential, then maybe people would no longer see autism as a death sentence. These kids can memorize entire television episodes, films, books... things I am entirely incapable of! One little boy can classify dinosaur fossils into species... and he's only five! Autistic is not synonymous with stupid.
What I really wanted to say was, Thank you. Thank you for being a staunch proponent of neurodiversity and sharing your story. Thank you, and others like you, for being voices of reason.
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