made a decision today....

[Ericsmomma]

I have been agonizing over not having enough time to spend with Eric...I work about 40 hours per week (4-ten hour days, constantly on my feet...no breaks, and barely getting lunch), so on my days off...I'm exhausted! I am also taking a class once per week for medical billing and coding. (I am the head nurse in our back office..patient care part, and help with the front office too).
So I am definetly frazzled. I haven't been able to work with Eric on potty training, speech, fine motor, etc. cuz I'm not home. My daughter tries to do some of this, but she has 2 kids of her own to watch along with Eric. Its hard to get to his doctor's appointments and
I've gotten laxed with his check-ups. I was suppose to have his thyroid tested 2 months ago, but just went this week...and it came back wacky! So I went to work today and QUIT! I have been there since 1987...only taking time off when Eric was born (2yrs. due to his health problems).
The doc's are like my family, so I have mixed emotions. But Eric needs me home now, especially with a possibility of a dual diagnosis of autism. (we get evaluated in November). Its been something I've thought about constantly for years, but always something came up that wouldn't allow me to stay home. So I figured "no more waiting"....He is 7 years old, and I need to really concentrated on getting him on track. His behavior has really taken a change for the worse this summer, and I think its because there isn't much consistency. I'm so looking forward to being home. ..I can take him to school now, so he won't have to endure the 90 minute bus ride each day (both to and from school). Our diets have been terrible due to the time crunch...usually take out or some frozen junk...hopefully I'll have us all eating better. But its very scary too....financially, we depend on my income, so this is very definetly a "leap of faith".
Alot of cuts having to be made....but its worth it. I have worked since I was 16 years old...and I will be 54 next month...maybe its time to "stop and smell the roses"...even if its only a little.
Keep us in your prayers.

[Renee']

Yea Dolly! I made that choice too. Let me know how things go...you can do it!

[Chester]

Good for you Dolly!

Enjoy your time with Eric!

Dawn

[Valerie]

Hey, I think that's great! If that's what you feel you need to do right now, and you want to, why not? The money stuff will figure itself out. If Eric needs you right now, that's where you need to be. Good luck!

[CC]

CONGRATULATIONS girl

Things will work out they always do Right

When Chris was just 3, we had just closed on this house and I was working full time and had no intentions on leaving my job BUT before our second mortgage payment, I had to leave as my Mom who watched Chris could no longer. The deal Colin and I had was if my Mom no longer could watch the kids I would then stay at home. BUT OMG we were like how the heck are we going to pull this off But you just make it work and you will too

Enjoy your time home, kids are only little once and it goes so fast.

CC ~

[lorraine]

I'm sure you've made a good decision, however scary it feels right now
I've done both, I went back to work after I had Paige, until Charlotte was born 6 years later, then I gave up my job.
I love being at home and now I wonder how I ever had the time to work

Enjoy it

Lorraine

[Emilysmom]

Dolly,
I know it had to be a tough decision, but I believe you're going to be SO glad you did it! And I KNOW Eric will be glad you did!!!
Susan

[momofrussell]

Dolly, I so know how you feel! I stopped working f/t when Russell was 1 1/2 yrs old, Regan was 6 1/2. It just wasn't working anymore with me working. I cried and cried making the decision, but it was definately for the best! We were tight the first year in CA but we DID do it.. and have been doing it for years. I just now have been able to go back to work more on a steady basis... so I've been home for the most part, for 7 yrs. It's been wonderful!

Enjoy the roses!!!!

A.

[Chris]

Dolly,

I'm sure you will never regret the decision to spend more time with Eric.

Chris

[ALLISA]

Dolly.....I know how hard a choice that is !

I hope this brings you much peace and enjoyment !

[MB]

Dolly,

I quit work two weeks before I got married....23 years ago. It is amazing how much fun you can have on a limited budget and how easy life can be with one person with complete flexibility.

After dinner everyone can relax because you have all the time in the world to do laundry, shopping and cleaning during the day.

Dinner takes on a new meaning as you have time to bake from scratch, put a fire on late in the afternoon and slow roast something with wonderful smells in the house. There is something abosolutely magical about rolls made from scratch baking in the oven.

The library. Oh, rediscover the library. Great books. Great lectures. Heck, you can even check out movies and CDs for your car. You can make friends there and simply sit quietly deciding whether you are going to check out the book you are perusing.

Museums. They often have free admission on certain days. Oh to walk through and then go for lunch with a friend. There is something about stimulating the brain with great art or music or literature that makes life so much better.

Bridge clubs, book clubs and bunko groups. You can now join these because you do not have to spend your evenings doing chores.

Summer - oh how I missed summer this year. My summer was spent working on the convention. We missed the s'mores on the bar-b-que, the friday night thingytails on the patio with neighbors, the fourth of July party and going swimming at the neighborhood pool at 8:30 at night on a whim.

Major holidays can now last two weeks. You can make paper placemats for Thanksgiving, watch a million old Christmas specials on t.v., bake gifts for the neighbors and liesurely shop for a thoughtful gift.

Old friends. Call them. Go for coffe or have them to your house for coffee. It is a great thing to do.

We went to Williamsburg on vacation one year. I took a tour of John D. Rockefellers vacation home in Williamsburg. It was his favorite house. It was my house! It was a simple two story colonial with traditional furnishings. Out of all of his mansions, vacation homes etc..., he loved this simple home where he had one servant helping. It is reported he often had friends over for simple dinners and then they went to see a movie or play cards.

My point is that you probably have access to a great family home, the movie theater and a deck of cards. The wealthiest man in the world thought these activities were the best, but he had to take the time to enjoy them. This means you have access to the best moments of the rich and famous.

Finally, being able to help someone. Oh the pure joy of being able to call someone up who is in crisis and be able to offer to pick up their laundry every day and return it clean, ironed and ready to wear or offer to drive their carpool or make a dinner. There is no amount of money that will replace the feeling of truly helping someone in need of help.

I wouldn't have traded the past 23 years for anything.

mb

[jessjetland]

I completely admire you for taking that leap, its one that I have been debating myself lately.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Jess

[Ericsmomma]

Thanks to everyone for the encouraging words......
I am anxious to finish my last week of work(next week).
I have prayed alot about this, and I feel very good about my decision. Thanks again for listening...Dolly

[Chris too]

At the risk of repeating, I will tell you that when I quit my job to be a full time mom, it cut our income by 2/3. Now, 14 years later, my DH without any financial help on my part, pulls in twice what we were making together before I quit. The decision was prayed over much, and honored by the God we'd obeyed. He will likewise honor your obedience with many priceless blessings. I look foreward to hearing more about your faith journey as the weeks, months and years go by.

Chris too

[chasesmom]

Good for you Dolly!!!! Oh how I envy you the ability to do this! Enjoy every minute of it and I hope Eric benefits most of all, huge gigantic {{{HUGS}}}
Robin