The first time I quit my job

Wow … I’m blogging now. I suppose I should introduce myself. Those of you who know me, know my story … tune in to my second post.

For those of you who don’t know me, let’s start with the first time I quit my job. Got your attention, huh?

I happily decided to leave my job as a senior writer in the Internal Communications department of a tech company in Austin, Texas to become a full-time, stay-at-home mom. Ah, the hubris of the young and naïve. My new “job” began with a colicky infant who wouldn’t take a bottle and was hungry all the time, a needy 20-month old and two Dalmatians.

I posted “Fake it ‘til you make it” on our refrigerator. It seemed an appropriate mantra.

Fortunately, the infant turned out to have a beautiful smile. The toddler was an inspired artist in finger paint and mud. And we sold the dogs – hey, something had to give.

Turns out, being a full-time, stay-at-home parent is a job like any other job … there are days you can’t wait to get started and there are days you can’t wait to end. There are moments of inspired brilliance in between and while you wait for that brilliance to kick it, sometimes it’s just better to “fake it ‘til you make it.”

Two years into my career as the “Concierge/Executive Chef/Chauffeur/Cruise Director” of our household, my husband announced his company was about to layoff the engineers (remember the tech bust?) and he, being tired of his job and wanting to pursue a career in real estate, was hopeful he would be one of the first cut.

Fake it ‘til you make it, baby. On the morning the layoffs were announced, I put on a smile and said to him, “Go get ‘em tiger … don’t you come home with a job.” He didn’t.

Was it hard? Yes. Was it the end of the world? Hardly.

When his income from real estate couldn’t keep up with the healthcare expenses like out-of-pocket ear tube surgery, I circulated my resume and was able to return to the company I originally left to be home with our children.

Quitting THIS job was much tougher than quitting the corporate world.

The effortless fun my husband seemed to have with his new role at home didn’t help. It took Matt being home with the Kovacs cubs to teach me the importance of ignoring dust bunnies in favor of making art, the fun of outside baths and the practicality of painting outside … naked. It’s a whole new experience when dad is at home.

Almost three years ago, we moved out of state, following a promising offer from Fleishman-Hillard. After seven years on the corporate side of public relations, I decided it was time to spread my wings and experience the agency side. Luckily my husband and children were game for a move to St. Louis, Fleishman-Hillard’s corporate headquarters.

And just as we were getting used to our “routine” in St. Louis, we shifted roles again. My husband went back to work when our youngest started school. He returned to his tech roots and took position as a senior programmer at a large, local brewery. Yes, that one. The extra salary meant a bit more cushion for us, but it added the complication of juggling two careers along with two active children.

This year, I quit yet another job. This time, it was a huge relief to follow our hearts back to our Austin. We returned with grateful, Texas-proud hearts. I’m with a tech company again. I currently spend my days writing, posting, meeting, teleconferencing … the usual PR stuff. Husband-of-the-year, as I like to call him (or HOTY just because I like to see “HOTY calling” when he calls my cell phone) is still happily programming.

I feel very fortunate to have a husband so willing to do what it takes to support our family, whether that means enabling me to be home with our children, taking on the role of stay-at-home parent when circumstances forced me to return to work ahead of schedule or just being an active supporter and cheerleader in the juggling act that every family is familiar with. I value the time I was able to spend at home with my children and I know my husband does, too. I’m glad my children have had it both ways. I hope they are, too. And if they aren’t, at least I’ve given them some material to work with in therapy.

*This first post on firsts is part of the “Writing Motherhood” writing challenge and giveaway over at Mommyvents. Post a link to your own post in the comments section and you can win a copy of “Writing Motherhood.”