The End of an Era

11/13/12 marks the end of an era for me. Beginning 11/14/12 I will be a Full-time Stay-at-Home Mommy. This is a profession I have dreamt of having since I was a little girl. It's a profession that is a privilege, not owed but earned to parents who are blessed to have it. Parenthood is a blessing from Above whether your dream is to stay at home with your child or work in other ways simultaneously as well as parent.

I began my "career" (I use that word very loosely) as a barista at Starbucks
nearly 6 years ago. It was intended to be a temporary part-time job for me as I built my private cello lessons studio after being in the medical field as a secretary for 5 years. My job at at Starbucks became the longest length of job I've ever had (how ironic, right?!).

As with any profession, there are lessons to be learned & observations along the way. Here are 4 of mine:

1. Service Industry employees are some the hardest working people I've ever met: My feet & back have never been so sore from standing/walking so much each shift, my mind so mentally taxed, my self-worth so tested.
Lesson: Tip well if eating or ordering out, be kind to all waiters/teachers/nurses/service industry workers. Just be nice to everybody ;-)

2. The true nature of humanity will sometimes be shocking: I've seen people at their absolute best & worst (similar to a bartender I would imagine). I've witnessed heartache, divorce, marriage, celebration, anger, the whole gamut.
Lesson: Be polite to your fellow human beings, you never know what kind of day they're having, and little kindness goes a long way.

3. Co-workers who become like family are hard to come by: I made life-long friends at Starbucks, people who changed & shaped my character. Lesson: Be grateful when you encounter such people in your life.

4. Going back to work after having a baby is one of the most difficult things for a parent to do.: I cried for several weeks solid each time as I drove into work (Asher was 6 weeks old).
Lesson: Future hopeful parents, save up as much time-off & funds as possible so you can stay home as long as allowed by your employer & state with your newborn. As I mentioned before, being a stay-at-home parent is a privilege that is earned not owed.

As I bid farewell to the "Siren" (Starbucks) last evening, I was overwhelmed with a thankful heart: for the 5 & 1/2 years I had a dependable job (coffee is a drug, hence daily addicts provide job security), steady hours/paychecks, free lbs of coffee & tea, countless gratis beverages, a 30% discount at ANY Starbucks globally, $4,000 cash for Asher's adoption, and much more. Why did I leave?, you may ask. Well, to me, all of that pales on comparison with being a full-time mama to my Sunnyboy. I cry when I remember how long I wanted to become a mommy, and I cry because I have a faithful hubby who has given me the ability to have a dream come true. Being a mama is the most exhausting, rewarding, valuable job I've ever had & I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
Hanging up the green apron & signing off, farewell coffee slaves ;-)