Friday, November 5, 2010

My Dream Job

In my previous life...
I spent my lunch hour sipping Chardonnay and nibbling on seared Ahi while I schmoozed customers and charged said Ahi to my beloved "green card" (aka my corporate American Express).


In my new life...
I spend my lunch hour trying to convince a one-year-old why it's a good idea to eat her chicken/veggie/fruit/yogurt/anything-I-can-get-in-her-mouth-without-a-fight. And then I crawl around on my hands and knees picking up all the bits she tossed to the floor before she can eat them (why she likes things off the floor but not off her plate, I have no idea).


In my previous life...
I spent so much time and money at J.Crew that my husband bought me J. Crew stock for our fifth wedding anniversary. I thought it was the most romantic gift I'd ever received (I mean, it was pretty thoughtful!).


In my new life...
My personal shopper has long since stopped calling and J.Crew's stock has lost 50% of it's value (that can't be ALL my fault - can it?!). I now wish/pray/hope that Target gets in on the act of personal shoppers so I can stop stalking the lingerie department for new shipments of nursing bras.


In my previous life...
I worked out, tanned, got pedicures every two weeks and never left the house without "my face" on. I wore freshly dry-cleaned clothes and cute shoes.

In my new life...
I shower. Almost every day.

In my previous life...
Our house was the party house. We threw fun, themed parties and were known for our raucous Christmas parties. Even game night drew knocks on the door from security.


In my new life...
Our house is still the social center for our friends, but only because Branden and I can't leave the house after 6pm (unless we care to pay $12 an hour for our babysitter to watch TV while Mia sleeps). Everyone is still welcome, but now it's always potluck, paper plates and lights out by nine. Oh, and don't forget to take off your shoes at the door.

In my previous life...
I got paid in American dollars and my boss was a smooth-talking Jersey boy. I turned in my admin on time, hit my sales goals and came prepared for meetings, so he pretty much left me alone.

In my new life...
I get paid in slobbery kisses and my boss is a two-foot-tall mini me with a feisty temper and a mischievous smile. She sets my hours and my day starts and ends when she says it does. It's her world and I'm just livin' in it.



To quote my friend, Jill...
"I have never worked harder, made less money, or been more exhausted than I have over the past year. BUT, I have never felt more love, learned more, or been HAPPIER either."

It's amazing, really. I know it sounds bad when I lay it all out like I have, but in reality, I can't imagine my life before kids. I always thought I had a dream job, but now I really do.

5 comments:

Katie said...

LOVE this post Steph. :) So perfect. So real. What a gift to be a mother.

MSwonder said...

Oh, Steph, that brought tears to my eyes! Though I never had a job where I got paid to drink wine and eat fish, nor did I make enough money to have a personal shopper at J Crew (boy I was in the wrong field as a teacher), I did have a job that involved me leaving the house looking nice and receiving a pay check bi-weekly. However, I would not trade one pay check for my "job" now. It is priceless! I am so happy that you can be home with your angel...and soon to be angels! It is the most wonderful gift, isn't it?!?!

Anissa said...

That is so cute and so true!!

MMM said...

So true! ;)

Lindsay Pattison said...

Very home-hitting Stephanie! I definitely relate as it has been an adjustment going from a "fast track" finance career to full-time SAHM. Traded 4-inch patent leather pumps for sweatpants and slippers...and I couldn't be happier or feel more rewarded! I definitely also relate to trading Somerset Mall for Target (pronounced Tar-Jay of course!)