BOSTON, MASS./RICHLAND, WASH. -- I started this post a long time ago back in Boston and just re-discovered it. So, thought I may as well finish it, because its been a long while since I sat down to write...
"This is it," I thought as I walked out of my office for the last time. I had just dropped off my laptop after informing my PR agency a few weeks prior that I would not be coming back after maternity leave. I thought I would get emotional. Like, really emotional. Not because I was sad about leaving this particular job, but because it signaled something more for me. This was the end of my career. My decade-long career in communications. A career that zig-zagged me all across the country from Washington state to Washington, D.C. and back again. I worked the entire communications spectrum from reporting to press and public relations. As a working woman, I always thought it would be so painfully boring to be a "stay at home mom." What do they do all day, I wondered so many times. And how on earth could it possibly be fulfilling? But I was surprised the day it all ended. I didn't get emotional. I didn't even shed a tear.
I suppose I could say things like, that's because my heart was overflowing with the prospect of what lay ahead of me, more so than mourning what was behind me. And I guess that really is true, albeit rather corny. I had quite the ride in that crazy career of mine. I lived my dream of being a news reporter (you can check out some of those nerdy moments here) and had the time of my life being a press secretary in the United States Senate for Senator Bennett and Senator Roberts. And I'll be forever grateful that a PR firm in Seattle hired me when I had no agency experience and then were more than willing to let me transfer to their Boston office just four months later. Talk about a tremendous blessing! And now it is done. It has been for a little over a year now. And I love it.
My new job belongs to this little one. And another new one who will join our family at the end of the summer.
Marin has stollen our hearts in a huge way. Isaac and I are so in love with her. We are constantly amused by everything she does. And she is such a good girl... so calm, happy and sweet (most of the time, at least). When she is awake we are constantly talking about how cute she is and how much we love her. When she is asleep, we are constantly talking bout how cute she is and how much we love her. Basically it's all we talk about (sometimes we squeeze in a healthy round of political discussion).
I'm already nostalgic about her growing up too quickly. She used to be that small little girl up there. A year later and our sweet little girl is off the charts. I have loved watching her learn and grow and the way she observes the world around her with such big, curious eyes.
When I ever get sad about not working any more, which isn't often, its easy to remind myself that this little girl is far more important than any conference call or press release. Sometimes I can't help but wonder, "What happened to my life?!" It is certainly different from how it used to be just a year ago, that is for sure. But I never imagined I'd love it this much. Or love her this much. It's wonderful.
So, as I climbed into my car with Isaac and Marin that day I left my job, I couldn't help but think that some people would think I was nuts for leaving my communications career behind. But the only emotions I felt as we drove away were a calming peace and deep burning happiness and the thought, "This is really why I'm here."
Recently, I was at a dear friends wedding. I swear nearly every person I knew from Washington, DC was there too. I was catching up with one of those acquaintances who was telling me all about her new gig in the House of Representatives as the press secretary for a pretty prestigious committee. I kept reiterating over and over again how awesome it was she was doing this and what a neat time it was to be there. She agreed, but then quickly said, "Let's be honest, Andrea. I'd rather have your job." I remarked that she was free to baby-sit anytime. I instantly regretted saying something so painfully stupid. We were interrupted by more friends who wanted to chat, and I never got to tell her what I really meant to say... What I really should have said was this, "Don't worry. You'll get to be a mom eventually. Its inevitable. For now, enjoy making these really great memories you'll be able to tell your kids all about some day. They'll think its pretty cool their mom got to do something so incredible."
And that pretty much sums it up for me. I've gotten to live the best of both worlds. I had a really fun career I am thankful for every day. And I have a lot of great memories from it that I hope to share with my kids one day.
"This is it," I thought as I walked out of my office for the last time. I had just dropped off my laptop after informing my PR agency a few weeks prior that I would not be coming back after maternity leave. I thought I would get emotional. Like, really emotional. Not because I was sad about leaving this particular job, but because it signaled something more for me. This was the end of my career. My decade-long career in communications. A career that zig-zagged me all across the country from Washington state to Washington, D.C. and back again. I worked the entire communications spectrum from reporting to press and public relations. As a working woman, I always thought it would be so painfully boring to be a "stay at home mom." What do they do all day, I wondered so many times. And how on earth could it possibly be fulfilling? But I was surprised the day it all ended. I didn't get emotional. I didn't even shed a tear.
I suppose I could say things like, that's because my heart was overflowing with the prospect of what lay ahead of me, more so than mourning what was behind me. And I guess that really is true, albeit rather corny. I had quite the ride in that crazy career of mine. I lived my dream of being a news reporter (you can check out some of those nerdy moments here) and had the time of my life being a press secretary in the United States Senate for Senator Bennett and Senator Roberts. And I'll be forever grateful that a PR firm in Seattle hired me when I had no agency experience and then were more than willing to let me transfer to their Boston office just four months later. Talk about a tremendous blessing! And now it is done. It has been for a little over a year now. And I love it.
My new job belongs to this little one. And another new one who will join our family at the end of the summer.
 |
| Day one of my new job |
I'm already nostalgic about her growing up too quickly. She used to be that small little girl up there. A year later and our sweet little girl is off the charts. I have loved watching her learn and grow and the way she observes the world around her with such big, curious eyes.
When I ever get sad about not working any more, which isn't often, its easy to remind myself that this little girl is far more important than any conference call or press release. Sometimes I can't help but wonder, "What happened to my life?!" It is certainly different from how it used to be just a year ago, that is for sure. But I never imagined I'd love it this much. Or love her this much. It's wonderful.
 |
| I love this kid of mine. |
Recently, I was at a dear friends wedding. I swear nearly every person I knew from Washington, DC was there too. I was catching up with one of those acquaintances who was telling me all about her new gig in the House of Representatives as the press secretary for a pretty prestigious committee. I kept reiterating over and over again how awesome it was she was doing this and what a neat time it was to be there. She agreed, but then quickly said, "Let's be honest, Andrea. I'd rather have your job." I remarked that she was free to baby-sit anytime. I instantly regretted saying something so painfully stupid. We were interrupted by more friends who wanted to chat, and I never got to tell her what I really meant to say... What I really should have said was this, "Don't worry. You'll get to be a mom eventually. Its inevitable. For now, enjoy making these really great memories you'll be able to tell your kids all about some day. They'll think its pretty cool their mom got to do something so incredible."
And that pretty much sums it up for me. I've gotten to live the best of both worlds. I had a really fun career I am thankful for every day. And I have a lot of great memories from it that I hope to share with my kids one day.
