Yesterday was my last day as an official employee. I am now in the freelance realm. I feel great and utterly inspired. I sent a note to my colleagues and contacts with the news that I am leaving to freelance in the hopes of spending more time with my family. The responses I received were thoughtful, reassuring, and completely remarkable.
I struggled with my decision to leave for months. As a working mother, I feared that if I ever quit working I would fall off a cliff and never work again. Not only does that appear to not be the case, but the support from colleagues has been overwhelming. For every parent experiencing similar wrenching conflict between professional and personal priorities, I will share the most poignant notes.
Congratulations on your new role. Although the pay won’t be the same, I don’t think you will ever regret your choice.
Cherish the time with your daughters. I know it’s a cliché but the time with them will pass with the wink of an eye. I’m 75, so I can speak with some authority about children and grandchildren and “winks of the eye!”
Congratulations on a great decision. My wife quit her full-time work to do the same, and I think that was the most rewarding decision she ever made.
Good luck on the career move. There is nothing wrong with spending more time with your young children. I call those years my “Golden Years” and regret not spending more time than I did. Time has a tendency to go way too fast and the next thing you know you’re looking at empty bedrooms. GREAT MOVE.
And my absolute favorite:
I made the same decision 18 years ago, and it was one of the most difficult ones I have ever had to make. I loved my position, supervisor, the work I was doing, my pay, but I knew I couldn’t manage it all. I had infant twins and my husband traveled extensively. Once I was home, I really didn’t miss work in the way I thought I would. I missed the day-to-day interaction with my co-workers, but volunteering in school and non-profit organizations filled the void. In some ways, my world expanded a bit. My friends were not defined by my workplace and I met many people who worked (or had worked) in a variety of careers. My family life was less chaotic and we were able to say “yes” to most opportunities that were available to my kids. Best wishes to you and your family. You are taking on the most important job with the right priorities. And, you can think of me on a perfect 75 degree spring day when you are in the park with your kids. I always thought I was the luckiest person alive when I was enjoying those carefree days.
Aren’t people wonderful? Isn’t the universe amazing?
To all of my colleagues near and far, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your encouragement and the chance to get to know you. I embark on my next chapter feeling very blessed.
Tags: Family, Parents, Quitting to spend time with family, work at home mothers, Working Mothers
