For the past 5 years, I've worked in retail during the holiday season. I started out as a cashier, then was promoted to head cashier, then promoted to management, then switched jobs and was essentially a store manager for 2 years. The holidays to me had become a time to dread. Long hours, crabby customers, bosses always wanting more: more of my time, more quotas to be met, more miracles I was supposed to be able to work.
This year, though - oh, this year is wonderful! I have my normal hours; they aren't extended due to the needs of retail. I'm home at the same time and on weekends; I don't have to live at the store during the prime home-time with my family. I'm able to relieve S of parenting duties; with me, before, he was pretty much a single parent for 6 weeks (when I wasn't working, I was so exhausted from working that I would try to catch up on sleep).
This evening, after dinner and the kids' homework, I did some yoga and then settled down with a pile of presents and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' and wrapped. And wrapped. The kids were enthralled with a movie I've loved for 30 years, so I was even able to wrap some of their stuff with them in the same room! The tree was lit, the smell of pine filled the air (fake trees are easier/cheaper, but you just can't beat the smell of a real tree!), and my family was around me, happy and content to hang out with each other and a good movie.
Once again, I was incredibly thankful for having gotten out of the beast of the business that is retail. I'm so eagerly enjoying this year's holiday and looking forward to all of it. :)
And I'm remembering to be extra nice to those retail workers I come across. They put up with a lot.
G'night, all!
<3,
~k
Wayyyy back in the day, I started this 'cuz I thought I needed a place to go an whine about my days at work. Guess I was just in a bad spot or something, 'cuz apparently, I didn't come back. I was just now digging though old files on the computer, and thought - "hey, I should revisit that." So - we'll see, I guess.
So much has changed since I last wrote. I was at a retail job that I didn't much care for, longing for a better work-life that would in return help the home-life. I wanted to get a job that had good security, decent pay and wouldn't require that my family have to work around when I had to work. I did a 6 month course in medical billing - got my certificate, isn't it pretty? - and am now working for a local hospital doing *gasp* medical billing.
I have my own office, my own phone number (with voicemail!), 8 billions logons and passwords, and an ID badge. On a little clip that retracts. :) Yes, I know, I'm something of a dork, but that ID badge on a retractable cord just cheers me up every time I see it. :) I also work from 7:30am-4pm Monday-Friday. Perfect hours for me, really. I'm here a few minutes after the kids get home from school and can be here all evening. I'm home on weekends. I can participate in the kids' activities - I'm a Brownie Mom!
Looking back to where I was a year ago this holiday season, I was overworked, stressed and could not understand how anyone could get excited about the holidays. This year, I'm relaxed, happy and ready for all it could be. It's amazing how much life can change in one year.
And, to think, I would have taken the Store Manager spot at my last job, if they had offered it when they fired the last guy. *shudder* My life this season would be 60+ hour work weeks, crabby customers, job stress...but at least I would have had good employees. I did make an effort to hire good people while the store was without an official SM and it was my responsibility. And, I still keep in touch with them now, and they with me, so apparently, I was doing something right. :)
Well, I should get to bed...gotta get up early to get to work at my job - that I LOVE - so goodnight! And, I'll try to come back more often.
<3,
~k
