It's been two and a half months since I quit the day job.
I've been busy every day, with writing and promotional things, on top of a new level of busyness where my kids are concerned. My oldest son joined the HS tennis team, and practice times vary because they have to share the courts with the girls. Matches with other schools are long, and go late into the evening. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wonder, how would I DO all this if I was still working?
So in that regard, it was the best decision. I'm so very thankful to be at home, available to my kids in a way I couldn't be before. Yesterday I picked up my oldest son after school when practice was cancelled *after* the buses had already left for the day. I took him out for a taco. We sat and talked and laughed, and it was wonderful. Those are the moments I'm thankful for right now. The moments I'm choosing to focus on.
Do I miss anything about working? I miss the paychecks, absolutely. I miss the people I worked with. I miss getting out of the house on days where I'm feeling angsty about this business. As crazy as it sounds, work was sometimes a much-needed break. As an author who works from home, it can be really hard to turn off that part of our brain that is thinking about the current book or the next book, or the books already on the shelves and what else can be done to help sales, or a hundred other things. I'm not good at turning it off, but I'm trying to be better about it now that I don't get that forced break. I'm trying to exercise more. I get out with friends for lunch dates or an occasional movie date on a Friday afternoon. I don't work at all in the evenings, and some evenings, I've decided I just need to stay off the computer, period. So there is progress, slowly but surely.
Overall, I'm thankful for less stress in my life. I'm thankful for more time with my kids. And most days, I'm thankful to be able to say my job is that of an author. Who knows what the future will bring, but for now, it's a pretty nice place to be - home with my stories and my kids!
So glad to hear quitting the day job is working out for you. It's a change, I'm sure, but I'm so glad to hear you have more time. Someday I hope to be there too...though I'm sure I'll miss certain things when it's gone. Funny how that works, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend (if you don't post tomorrow!)
SO happy for you! What a big milestone! I'm glad it's leading to more time with your family too. That's amazing. I remember when you came and spoke to us (Seattle SCBWI) I was thinking: HOW does she do all this? Full time job? Kids? Writing career? It's wonderful to hear that you can focus on writing and family for now. You are an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteTrue words! When I was eight years old I wrote in my diary that I wanted to be a writer and a mother. I've got the four kids now (yay!) and I'm working on the other part of that dream. :) You have a full life -- even without a day job -- so I'm so happy for you that you can take the time now to enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I gave you the Prolific Blogger Award on my blog. I really appreciate reading your perspective as an experienced, published author. So insighful. Thanks for blogging and sharing with us!
Amy