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Grizzly Mama

There's a Grizzly who has escaped the City of Brotherly Love..(and she's going back to homeschooling!!)

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Location: Out of Philly, Pennsylvania, United States

"All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth." Aristotle - Greek Philosopher.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Grizzly's going back to work. AAAACCCGGGHH....

Holy Crap.

I mean, c'mon! Home with the kids for 4 years (and a year part time before that), old mainframe head - can't stand those client server network thingamajigs, getting up there in years. Criminy - who has a mainframe anymore?! I didn't expect to actually GET a job when I hit that send key...

But it's true. My husband recently lost the job that provided the medical benefits and in an offhand way I sent a hastily typed up resume out over the cables (see? I call them 'cables'..) and the next day I heard from 2 companies. The NEXT frigging day.

The one that panned out has full benefits from day one, halfway decent pay, 3 weeks paid vacation, 2 weeks sick leave, a very cool medical spending account that comes with a debit card for all those medical & dental expenses that aren't covered by insurance, life insurance for all, 8 paid holidays, a stable shift and schedule. Everything a Grizzly Mama could want, right?

Why am I so depressed and frightened? Of course it will be difficult educating the kiddies at home with both Mama and Papa working full time. I'm going to miss the girlies. Papa will have to step up to the plate to help with both school and housework. He's a bit of a slob.

Funny how it all worked out. The older ones last week of school is next week. The little one just finished up pre-school. We have a full summer to get into a new groove. The girls need to get used to Papa taking care of them. He has been working 12 hour shifts - 6 days p/week. It's been just me and my girlies out there doing our thing.

Our lives will be very different. I feel very grateful to have had the time home with the little ones that I have had. It will be good for them and for Papa to have some more time together.

What if I'm no good at what I do anymore???!!! Ohhhhhhh - I really hate starting new jobs. *biting nails*

25 Comments:

Blogger United We Lay said...

Have you thought about going back to school to become a teacher? We could use some good ones.

02 June, 2005 10:51  
Blogger Grizzly Mama said...

LOL! I couldn't in good conscience become a part of that system Polanco.

Besides - I have to raise these 2 girls. They are my priority.

02 June, 2005 11:41  
Blogger tshsmom said...

It's so hard for a man to handle changes in his role in the home. I know, we've been there several times. Our marriage has always come out stronger as we conquer our challenges, but it still isn't easy!
My husband and I both work full time and have still managed to homeschool quite well. It's another one of those division of labor deals where Mom winds up doing most of the organizing, but what's new?
Good luck!

02 June, 2005 17:17  
Blogger David Vance said...

Best of luck to you and Poppa Bear!

02 June, 2005 19:13  
Blogger United We Lay said...

I work in the system to change it from within. I get in a lot of trouble, but I've left each place better than I found it.

02 June, 2005 19:16  
Blogger J C said...

What an adventure! Now, off the subject: I can no longer contain my curiosity.

"BTW - speaking of tonsils. I remember the bizarre dream I had while under the Ether. That dream is so vivid in my memory."

What was that dream?

02 June, 2005 21:59  
Blogger Grizzly Mama said...

You're a better woman than I, Polanco! How about you work on it from within and I'll work on it from without.

tshsmom - thank you. I totally love your blog - I'm adding you to the home educator links. You're right it will be tough for both of us and it's true that most of the organizing will be up to me. I'm glad to hear that h.s.ing IS possible with both working full time. It's so damn flexible that's one thing I love about it.

Thank you DV AND Skye. You're too kind! :-)

Here's my dream on ether Jcadla. (Linking to you as well BTW) Anyway it's a black background with thin white circular lines going around sort of like a target looks. Then a small red ball bouncing back and forth, back and forth, back and forth all over the place and making the 'boing' sound.

Bizarre, eh? It's as clear as day to me that dream. One of my sisters remembers her ether dream clearly too. It had the sound effect in it like the teacher in Charlie Brown but I can't remember what it is she saw.

02 June, 2005 23:00  
Blogger Abe said...

Congrats on the new job. You'll do great.

02 June, 2005 23:45  
Blogger Abe said...

Congrats on the new job. You'll do great.

02 June, 2005 23:45  
Blogger Steve Donohue said...

Ironically enough, we'll be starting new jobs together. I'm leaving for Florida Monday to work at Disneyland(world?). Don't worry, and remember that if nothing else, we'll have something fun and new to blog about, right?

03 June, 2005 00:04  
Blogger Grizzly Mama said...

Thank you Abe and I hope that you are right. I feel as though my brain is flat-lining sometimes and that worries me...

Steven Congrats on your job! Hey - do you get to go on the rides for free?? I can hardly wait to hear about what it's like to work there.

03 June, 2005 01:10  
Blogger Grizzly Mama said...

Oh Rumpelteazer I KNOW you're just teasin'! LOL!

03 June, 2005 11:36  
Blogger Victoria said...

Try not to worry and enjoy the new job as much as you can.

My husband and I have gone back and forth with our outside work responsibilities and we have survived it.

Dads are not moms, though, so just take a deep breath and expect him to do things differently.

I am still practicing my breathing...

03 June, 2005 13:57  
Blogger alix said...

wow...what a change! but i get the feeling you needn't worry about your abilities. just a hunch. :)

good luck to all of you!

03 June, 2005 17:01  
Blogger NotClauswitz said...

It's depressing and scary because it's out-of-the-blue, but think of it as a tag-team effort with your husband getting his ring-time now - 12-hr shifts, 6 days a week is also scary.
You'll do fine - if it's an older system, they really probably just want a mature person to baybsit the cranky kids and juniors at work...

03 June, 2005 19:50  
Blogger tshsmom said...

Thanks for linking me!! I really appreciate your input.

03 June, 2005 20:38  
Blogger Mike's America said...

Little red dots trailing down pararallel paths converging on a distant point... All the while a loud BZZZZZZZ in my ears...Ether delivered by the County Coroner... But what does a five year old know about Coroners. That's my ether dream.... Where did that topic come from anyway?

Congrats on your new job... what will you be doing? I hope you'll find time for blogging, just keep it in check if using the company network.

03 June, 2005 22:27  
Blogger Grizzly Mama said...

Victoria - thanks and you're right. He does things quite differently than I do. For instance - he will swing them around with gum in their mouths, they watch Batman, he lets them ride their bikes in the street. It's probably good for them but I worry.

Thanks Alix - feeling a bit overwhelmed but I hope that you're right!

Change is scary Dirtcrasher and we will be doing a lot of adjusting. I like to get in a groove and stay there so I'm very uncomfortable. Papa is a bit uncomfortable too with his new duties - dinner and bedtime is not for the faint of heart!

Way cool ether dream Mike - LOL! The ether dreams I've heard are all very strange. I will be production control for a mainframe shop. They are all quite different even if on the same platform. Hopefully in a couple of months it will all be old hat.

My pleasure tshsmom - love your blog.

And last - but not least - rumpelteazer. I do NOT think kids in public school are dumb! Silly! I believe that kids in public school are not well served. Even I - who was educated in the public school system many, many moon ago - am realizing only now what a short end of the stick I got. If I can do better for my kids then by God I will. If it means losing a bit of sleep or putting out a bit of extra effort for a few years then it is well worth it. I believe as a parent that it is MY and MY HUSBAND'S responsibility to educate my kids. Honey if I HAD 10k p/year to send them to private school I still wouldn't do it. I would travel with them instead. Don't take this as a judgement of the way that you are being schooled, and don't take it as a judgement that you are dumb. My choice to educate my children has nothing to do with you. I'm so glad that you are getting a good education but spending a certain amount of money per year doesn't necessarily a good education make. Now God bless ya and quit coming here trying to pick a fight. I'm too old for this crap.

04 June, 2005 01:48  
Blogger Grizzly Mama said...

Rumpelteazer - you were the one who came here and put words into my mouth, accusing me of saying that kids in public schools are dumb.

That's crap. Skulk away and mope if you must. It's not necessary though and if you would like to come here and debate your ideas without pulling this crap you are more than welcome to.

You're starting to really piss me off.

04 June, 2005 17:29  
Blogger Grizzly Mama said...

I'm sorry I am so harsh - I see that you are only 13.

Tell me what you have against homeschooling or why you think it is wrong.

04 June, 2005 17:34  
Blogger Mike's America said...

HELP!!!! I'm being invaded by whackos......

How do you get such nice civilized people to comment on your blog?

04 June, 2005 20:30  
Blogger Grizzly Mama said...

Alrighty then.

Mike! Are you alright?

04 June, 2005 22:55  
Blogger Mike's America said...

Thanks Monica... I owe you... Glad to know there's a Grizzly out there when I need one...

I guess I must be a lightning rod for these folks... oh well, we all have burdens to bear...

05 June, 2005 00:58  
Blogger rachaelmh18 said...

From the pov of a former homeschooled kid, the balance will be interesting. I was schooled by my dad only (weird, no?) But my mom, I think it would've been cool.

Your kids are lucky they'll get the chance to experience that.

You sound like a houseful of especially capable people. Good luck! :)

05 June, 2005 19:15  
Blogger Grizzly Mama said...

Thanks MM and thanks for all the encouragement you offer when you comment - I really appreciate it.

I'm glad that the girls will have the experiences they've had with their daddy. It's good for them as you know first hand. It's good for daddy, too.

I just rrreeeaaaallllyyy hate the rush of working - always rushing somewhere and worrying about time and schedules. *whine*

05 June, 2005 23:49  

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