Welcome to Life at the Holman's.


This blog is my way of sharing some of my thoughts and ideas. As the children age and become independent, I find myself with an empty space. Years of homeschooling and child-rearing focus has transitioned to more time to focus on the things I enjoy. One of my greatest pleasures is cooking. I enjoy making sweet treats for my family and friends and preparing meals that bring a smile to my husband's face. I like finding new ideas that help to make life easier. Enjoy!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Working and Homeschooling

I have to say that working, taking care of a house, and keeping up with my husbands business paperwork was very time consuming and exhausting.  Or at least I thought it was!  When I first began working for Best Buy back in late May-early June, I remember being so tired when I came home from work that I just didn't want to do anything.  It seemed to take a full day (the following day) just to recover from an 8 hour shift.  I did get used to it after a few weeks and was able to function the day following a long work day.

However, I just thought I was tired then.  When we began school in August, homeschooling was thrown into the mix.  A while back there was a lady who posted the question (on a forum I am a part of), "Do you think it would work to home school and work out of the home part-time?"  I thought...sure why not.  I knew I had a husband that would be home with my children when I was not, so it should not be hard at all, right?   While it was not too bad during the first moth of school because I was only working 1-2 days per week, the extra work did finally catch up with me.  When I was moved to 4 days  per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday ), I became mentally and physically exhausted.

However, as of yesterday, I am not longer a regularly scheduled employee (Sales Operator/Multichannel Specialist) at Best Buy.  I have moved to Occasional/Seasonal.  With the position I was formerly in, I usually hit the ground running from the moment I clock-in.  There was always something to do whether it be handling an incoming phone call, finding something out for someone, or helping out in areas that just needed a little extra attention.  The job was a great position, and I thoroughly enjoyed it because it is active and rarely has a dull, boring moment.  If I was planning on working full-time or had to have a job, it is a wonderful position for me.  However, I have chosen at this time to resign my position.  I have found that when I am giving 100% at work, I am so tired the following day that I lose out at home.  I usually worked from 4 or 5 to close.  The problem was that close was anywhere from 9:15 to 11:30 p.m..  By the time I got home and settled down, it was after midnight and approaching 1 a.m..  I knew that I couldn't keep up that schedule and be the mom/wife/teacher that I am supposed to be.

After speaking to our manager, we decided that I would stay on as occasional/seasonal.  I also told her that I will work on occasion if they get in a bind.   Right now my priority is my children.  I feel that the hours that I worked (however many or few they were depending on the week) were taking away from my children and my family life.  I missed being here to tuck my kids in at night in at night.  I missed being a part of the family evening moments like building a camp fire, fishing in the pond, or exploring the field.

I realize that I am very fortunate to have not working as an option.  I am thankful that I have a husband that realizes the importance of me being at home with my kids.  I so much appreciate my husband and the kids for putting up with my work schedule and accompanying crankiness for the last few weeks.

As far as the home schooling and working question, I found it to be very difficult to keep up with it all. It seemed that nothing was really receiving the 100% that it needed, rather I was being pulled in too many different directions.  It was very difficult to be a mother, wife, teacher, secretary (for my husband's business), and employee outside the home.  I am sure there are those that can do it, but I know that it was/is not for me.  Glad to be home again!

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