Adjusting and Keeping Up

A year ago I gave my notice to the company I had worked for, for nearly 8 years. It was terrifying. But I had a goal to be home with my girls, get a part time job and go back to school to become a teacher. I ended up taking nearly a year off from "traditional" work. I started a business. Tried another business. Developed my craft of crocheting. The time came where it was time to get that part time job.

I started my new job last week. I am working at a big box store as a cashier, in the evenings. This allows me to be with my girls during the day and not have to pay daycare. It throws off our schedule a bit, because they (along with my husband) were used to me being home at night. In the end, we decided it was the way to go though.

Adjusting to a new schedule:

I originally wanted to work only 20-25 hours, but after meeting with my new manager, we discussed working more hours. Knowing that I have a strict amount I have to come up with by September, this seemed like a good thing. I will now be working a set schedule of 4 nights a week from 5pm to midnight. Then on Sunday afternoons/evenings.

This means that instead of two-three nights a week of hubby having to hold down the fort, he has only one night a week where he doesn't have to "do it all". He works a full time job during the day. So he is having to wrangle the kids instead of being able to decompress. But honestly, there are so many single parents out there that have to do it, so I know he can handle it.

Our youngest is having a hard time adjusting to the new schedule with sleep. I usually put her to bed and she is wanting to stay up until I get home. This is not going to work. So Hubby is going to have to work on it while I am not home.

Keeping Up:

Normally I do all the housework during the day. I have dinner started by the time hubby comes home. Then after we eat, he supervises the girls bath time, while I put away dinner and have some down time. This schedule is changing and I am relying on hubby more to help "keep up" with the house. There is nothing worse than coming home at midnight and having the house trashed and everyone in bed.

In the end this is going to be a good thing for our family. We will be able to save the money we need to move into a house. We will have the money to replace Hubby's car. We will be able to get back on track and accomplish our goals. In the mean time...it is and adjustment keeping up.

Will it be a tough week? Or smooth as silk?

This is the first full week of me working part time. Is it going to go smoothly? Will it be filled with happiness? Or will things fall apart?

Hubby has to take over some of the cooking and night time activities. He already does baths, so that is not an issue, but cooking and homework often throws him for a loop.

In the past, when I worked through dinner, he would just get fast food. This is not an option for us anymore. He has to cook. I am going to work to save money, not have it all go back out the "drive-thru window."

To try to make things run smoothly, I am creating a family chore list for the refrigerator. They are things that need to get done every night. Things like: unload dishwasher, scoop litter box, Sarah's homework, brush kids teeth, empty trash, etc.  Hubby likes lists, so I hope this one works.

I have menu planned things that are easy for him to cook. When I am able, I will prep all the food before leaving for work, as I will usually start at 5pm. Tomorrow is different, because I have to go to work earlier for training.

I am so grateful for having part time work. Hopefully it will be the answer to our prayers. We just have to stay focused on the end goal.

Wish Hubby luck this week. Hee hee.