Full-time mom

The beginning of 2010 I decided to give up my very successful business of Slumber Parties which I had done and grown for the past 5 years. This business had become something I loved very much, where I met so many amazing women whether they were clients or Slumber sisters. It was a very hard decision for me to make, but for me I knew it was right for many reasons. The number 1 reason was because my youngest Gage was going to start first grade in August and my business mostly consisted of me being gone at night. So sense all my kids were going to be gone in school all day then I really didn't want to be gone at night.

Once I stopped Slumber Parties I needed to find a way to help support our family but still keep me home most of the time or at least when my kids were home. I did preschool for the year 2009-2010 in the morning...which was so fun, but once the year ended I decided not to continue with that because I ended up spending more then what I was making (again, because it was so much fun) Early in the spring of 2010 I decided to apply for a part time job at the Buckle. This job sounded like something right up my ally, I had been in sales for the past 5 yrs. I love the social atmosphere and I love clothes. I was so excited to get the job.

A week or two into the job my boss asked me if I was interested in being one of their assistant managers. I could not believe that an offer like that would come my way. I was super stoked and felt so privileged that I was even considered for the job. There was no way I could turn down an opportunity like that!!! Right???

Over the summer during the back to school season I was trained to be buckle's new assistant manager in Logan. It was hard during the summer with the kids but I kept convincing myself that once school started that it would be much easier for me to work full time because the kids would be gone most of the hours that I was gone.

Fast forward to now, so here I am working full-time, which I know so many other mom's do. But I can't help feeling like I put my most important job on the back burner. Missing soccer games, not being home when my kids get home to see how their day has gone, not doing homework with them (Josh was there, but not me) ect. Somehow, somewhere from the beginning of the year to now I lost view of why I stopped Slumber Parties in the first place. I wanted to be home, I want to be a full-time mom and maybe have a part-time job. I want to be there for my kids when ever they need me. I know why I lost my view, because I started to feel the financial strain of not working full time.

There are so many things that my wonderful mother has taught me. But as I'm struggling on what decisions I should make with my "career" I keep thinking of 2 things my mom taught me.

#1- My parents have 9 children, and we were very poor, but my mom was a stay at home mom always. I remember coming home from school every day, she seemed to always have some kind of homemade after school snack waiting for us. It was something that was so nice to come home to. My mom was ALWAYS there for me anytime of the day no matter what!

#2-Many of you may not know this but I had a baby brother that died when he was 1, and my mom always has said. I am so glad that I stayed home, because I know that I spent as much time with my baby as I possibly could.... No regrets on the time that we spend together! But just the same, my kids are growing SO fast, I don't want to miss any time with them. I don't want to look back when they grown and out of the house thinking about how much I missed and why didn't I cherish them while they wanted me, needed me!!!

So.....decisions made.....went to my boss Monday and told her that I was stepping down from my position. I am going by complete faith that somehow, someway this is going to work out because I know that it is the right thing to do for my family. We may be eating Top Ramen for the rest of our days, clipping coupons, maybe even have to sell some stuff. But the bigger picture is family, and "mom" will be my full time job.