As of yesterday, I have been out of work for 6 months. After the birth of my twin sons, children numbers 4 and 5 for me, I had to quit my career at the end of September 2012. I was a Human Resources and Payroll Administrator for a local car dealership for many years. I was giving my job 110% everyday in the hopes of being promoted to management in the not so distant future. I was getting closer to that goal and things were finally starting to move in the right direction. One more baby would not have changed this path for me but when we found out it was twins, I knew that the cost of having 3 children in daycare would not work for my family. I resigned my position on the corporate ladder and am now a stay at home mom.

The last 6 months have felt like such a blessing. I always wished I could stay home with my children but financially it was never an option. Luckily, my husband graduated from college in December of 2011 and found his career during my 2012 twin pregnancy. It could not have come at a better time. His take home pay now is less than what we were making combined but after a refinance on our home in order to drop the monthly payment and the amount of money we are now saving by not sending our 3 year old daughter to daycare, we can and will survive. We have never lived frivolously anyway and I am an avid coupon clipper, thrift store shopper, garage sale scavenger and good deal finder. It has been working out just fine.

I am still crazy busy. I don't sleep much. I am slowly starting to get back some of my will to do things I used to: throwing a baby shower for my sister-in-law, hosting an Easter potluck at my house, volunteering to help with the props for my son's school play, etc. These opportunities make me happy and feel good. Tasks that allow my mind to think of grown-up things instead of always poopy diapers, bottles, potty training, dinner making, homework supervising and any other child related ordeal. A change of scenery, so to speak. I have also been writing more. I started a childrens book, have been trying to find more time to blog and am working on a couple other book concepts in my head. This is what I am currently doing when I get a little "me time." 

Now, these things are all well and good and my husband has told me that I do not have to go back to work, that I should not feel like I have to financially contribute. I love that he said that and feel so lucky that this is all going so well and that he is on board with whatever I decide to do, although, I feel like a tiny piece of me is missing. The thing is, I have been working ever since I was 16 years old. I received my driver's license on my 16th birthday and was working within 2 months, that was 19 years ago. (Oh my gosh, I never did that math before...ugh!...Anyway...)  It is so strange to me to not have a job, to not bring home a paycheck. I don't really like not having my own money. I know that our money is our money, but still...it feels weird. I have decided to find a career that I can do from home, at my own pace, on my own terms. I always did want to get into management, well now I am, a manager of 1, me. I like the sound of that.

I decided to become a Registered Tax Return Preparer through the IRS. I have been going to a lady in her home to have my personal taxes done for years now and always thought it was something I would be very good at. I never had the guts to just quit my job and give it a go, though. It seemed irresponsible with 3 kids to support and no guarantees of success. Well, now I have nothing to loose and all the motivation. This is an exciting new chapter for me and I am looking forward to the challenge. Now all I need is a little time and a little more space, but we'll get into that another day.