Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go

Stacey tagged me for an eight things meme. As I haven't even held 8 jobs, I'm going to do this a little differently.

1. Daughter - I am the first born child. My parents were babies (21 & 19) when they had me. The story goes that the day I was born my dad left to go play in his Navy softball game. Also, the hospital caught on fire so they had to evacuate. Luckily it wasn't a bad fire. If I didn't look like I belonged, I would wonder if there was a baby mix-up!



2. Sister - Two years later, I became the big sister. Apparently, I was excited about the baby brother and 'mothered' him. I guess I didn't treat him very nicely as he got older because I remember my grandmother telling him not to worry that one day he'd be bigger than me and could pay me back. Truer words were never spoken!



3. Arkansas Home Health & Hospice - My first true job! I was newly graduated and newly living my dad, his wife, & my 2 sisters. The plan was to establish my Arkansas residency and then go to college with my friends in Conway. Of course, I couldn't just sit around waiting. My dad was good friends with the director of a home health agency. She hired me as a temporary employee to help with filing. That led to a permanent data entry/filing/relieving the secretary of phone duty when needed/supply ordering position which I held for 6 years.



4. Church nursery - At the same time, I also worked in the church nursery on Sunday mornings and every other Sunday/ Wednesday evenings. Those kids were so much fun! I kept the infant to 2 years old. Big D would come up to keep me company. He had fun with them too until one of them gave him chicken pox. Oops!



5. Wife - A year and a half after we met, we got married. I was 19 and he was 23. My mother was so mad. She saw my life turning out like hers. Married young, children young, divorced young. Nothing against Big D. Everyone loves him and tease that IF we do divorce, they get HIM in the settlement. We are about to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. I think no one needs to worry about us anymore.



6. Mother - Five years later, we had our 1st born, Lamb. She has made parenting so easy and filled with sweetness! At the home health agency, I made a pitiful amount of money. There was no sense paying for daycare and not having any money to add to our income. We decided to stay in an apartment, stay with 1 car, and I'd stay home with Lamb. I have never regretted that decision. It was the right one for OUR family. Three years after that, we had our 2nd born, Bear. He has taught us patience. It's not as easy to parent him, but it sure is filled with laughter.



7. AutoZone (corporate office) - When Lamb was 2, my mom told me that her company was hiring temporary employees if I was interested. The extra money and deciding when I wanted to work appealed to me. I did a couple of temporary jobs and the one in benefits turned into a permanent position. They were so good to me. They hired me knowing I was newly pregnant and let me work part time. I was in charge of COBRA. My mom would take me to work in the mornings (we worked for the same company but in different buildings) and Big D & Lamb would pick up. I would walk to the car with Lamb hanging out barking like a dog. I felt bad because after Bear was born, I never went back. I had a good reason though. I knew we were moving to Houston.



8. Elementary school - Once again, this started out as a sub position. When Lamb was in 1st grade, her teacher asked if I was interested in making some extra money. Sure! They were starting this new program where the teachers were pulling their low readers for small group instruction. They needed someone to cover their classes while that was going on. It was all day for six weeks. Not bad. I did 1st grade that 1st year. When Lamb was in 2nd, I did 2nd grade and then kindergarten. When she was in 3rd grade, I only did kindergarten. By the time she was in 4th grade, Bear was in kindergarten. I was excited to finally get to help in his class too. However, the rules changed. It used to be that subs had to work 10 days to stay active and that could be during any semester. They changed it to 5 in the fall and 5 in the spring. I only ever worked in the spring. As I wasn't a teacher sub, I had to work in the office (which I never had to do) or in the AA (Alternative Academics or Lifeskills) room. As I needed those 5 days in the fall, I subbed in AA whenever they needed me. I never in a million years thought I'd like it, but I did. I LOVED those kids and really had fun in there. That led to a long term sub position in Resource rather than doing what I normally did in kindergarten. And, the following school year I was hired as a permanent employee. That's what I've been doing ever since. I work in the Special Education department but I don't think of the kids we service as Special Ed kids. Certainly some of them are (as in high functioning autism), but most just have learning disabilities or behavior issues.

There you have it, my 8 jobs. It's funny because looking back, I've realized that I have never interviewed for any of my jobs. This is an open tag. If you feel up to it, by all means do it and let me know in my comments or link me back to your blog.