I can barely believe that when I wake up tomorrow it will be time to flip the calendar over to December. Time always seems to fly for me (except for the few hours on Sundays when I’m watching my beloved Colts implode), but it feels as if I climbed into a cannon on June 1st and someone shot me clear to December.
Somewhere around mid-October the rocket boost kicked in, also known as part-time employment. So many of you have asked how I like working I thought it was a good time for an update.
In a nutshell? I LOVE it. I was worried, too. I’ve only worked retail once before, and I hated it (Williams-Sonoma, seasonal work, the one and only job I was ever fired from). And to be quite honest, I’ve never really enjoyed working that much in general. I liked my old job at Vanderbilt alright, but I never got excited about going to work. From time to time since becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom, Mike and I have revisited the subject of when I would return to work. I hated those conversations, as I loved my life at home. I loved the freedom, I loved managing the home, I loved the opportunities it gave me to do fun things with the kids.
I’m not sure what even led me to apply at The Container Store in the first place, other than a feeling that I loved the store and that if it was meant to be then all the pieces would fall into place. And fall into place they have.
It’s been nearly 2 months since my first day of work, and not a single shift goes by that I don’t get excited about working. I get there and the next thing I know, it’s time to go home. I love the people I work with. I love interacting with the customers. Tidying the shelves and making the store look pretty soothes me. I haven’t felt so useful, so productive, so challenged in a long, long time.
I feel a pride in myself I haven’t known in a long time, either. I’ve always known my role as a homemaker had a positive impact on our financial goals. Even though I wasn’t earning money, I was able to take the time to do things that saved us a lot of money. Still, it feels so good to see a paycheck come in with money that I earned. It feels really nice to know I’m helping to take some of that pressure off of my very hard-working husband.
It hasn’t been without its challenges, of course. My to-do list grows faster than I can cross things off. Things I love, like Twitter and Pinterest and yes, this very blog, have been set aside for things like laundry and picking up and sleep. The kids have adjusted well, but I still feel guilty some days. We run out of things like milk, favorite clothes don’t get washed, fun activities don’t always fit into the routine every week.
We’ll adjust. I have a husband who bends over backwards to make this transition easier on all of us. I have parents who have stepped in time and time again when needed. I have good kids who are ready for a little more responsibility and a little less coddling. I have an incredible employer in The Container Store, who has invested so much into me already and who wants nothing more than to see me succeed. We’re slowly getting into a groove and I have a feeling that after the hustle and bustle of the holidays we’ll settle into a routine that feels right for our family … just in time for me to have knee surgery.
From one cannon to another, also known as life. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
That is awesome. I have never felt that way about going to work. Who knew?!
Hey Ang! Lisa and I had lunch yesterday and were talking about how work is going for you. Sounds like it is going great. Hope to see you soon. Miss you!
The best thing for me about working again is the money, but the second best thing is hearing what a good job I’m doing. You miss that when you stay home with the kids because you don’t know if you’ve done a good job until they either hit college or prison…
The working conditions are a little better than at home, too. I’ve yet to have a co-worker walk in on me when I’m going to a bathroom to ask for more Goldfish.
Damn your store. Esther and I shopped at the new store in Nashville this past weekend…$250 later we left the store. I would love to blame the wife, but most of the purchases were mine.
By the way, the Nashville store is really cool — two stories. You and Mike should come visit.
The Nashville store is in the old Davis-Kidd, correct? From what I understand, it’s the first Container Store with an escalator. What’s your favorite thing you purchased?
Yes, it is in the old book store at the Mall at Green Hills. It does have escalators, and for the moving stairs challenged, it also has a huge elevator (think hospital sized, double gurney big). We know because they politely discouraged me from boarding the up escalator with my buggy full of merchandise. I didn’t really see an issue…it’s not like Esther was in the cart with me…sigh!
Favorite thing…that’s a trick question, right? Like I could actually choose just one? How about favorite category, cable organizers. I like my cable box, along with cable clips, bobino cord wraps, and kableflags.
You should mention to the Container Store, that they need to work out an affiliate program (modeled on the on-line poker programs) which would pay you a commission on all of your friends’ purchases.
I like the way you think. They pay me pretty well, though, so I can’t complain about commission 🙂 Maybe you can convince Mike that we could use a little cord control in our lives. He thinks it’s a bunch of hooey, but that jumble of cords behind the TV and computer drive me crazy.
you got fired from William-Sonoma?! What ever did you do!
Besides being the worst register sales person ever, I might have skipped work to study for a med tech final. Probably immunopath 🙂
I agree! Its such a fun place to work! I picked up the extra job simply for the benefits, but I love going to work everyday, it gets really boring working from home all by yourself 7 days a week. Having this little bit of social interaction in the day is great!
Speaking of which… if I don’t get off the computer and leave I’m going to be late!