Now I Know What I Want To Be When I Grow Up - Part V

I CAN ONLY MULTITASK ON ONE THING AT A TIME!

Well, Friends, there I was, the consummate Mom and Wife; then, because of the financial demands of our lives, I went back to work. My idyllic world changed and in ways I never imagined.

At first, I worked part-time at our church which was a cream puff of a job, all things considered, but it still bothered me to not be home with my children. Soon, part-time became full-time. And soon after that, I left my position in the church and ventured back to work in the the city (Philadelphia).

Some of you who are closer to my age may remember the perfume commercial back in the 1970's where the wife "brings home the bacon and fries it up in the pan" - well, that wasn't me! I was not a good multi-tasker. Sure, at work I was great. I gave my employer(s) the best of me so that by the time I got home, I was spent. I found myself cutting corners and making do as it pertained to household matters - things that I never would have done as a full-time homemaker. Shamefully, even my parenting took a back seat at times. I was tired, frustrated and depressed on the home front. This went on for twelve years!

So much happened during these dozen years, I sometimes wonder how I survived but I know it has all been by God's grace. My mother and younger brother passed away - another story in itself. Paul and I made some poor financial decisions which kept me in the workforce. We also suffered with relationship issues that almost tore us apart. I dealt with this by deciding to shrug off my Mom/Wife cape and become a Career Woman. I simply couldn't do both jobs well and since I had to work, that's the task that received my very best Karen.

Guess what? As I look back, I never really did very well as Career Karen. I tried but it just wasn't me. There were times when colleagues would say to me: "You're such a mom!" Career Karen did not want to be labeled the 'office mom', so I kept trying and failing.

Then, three things happened in my life that would finally put me and my life back on the the right track.

Next: Three Life Changing Happenings