The First Week

Last week was my first as a stay at home mom. While I can tell this will be an adjustment, it was pretty fun and I enjoyed (for the most part) the extra time with Oliver. We did have a few distractions last week that helped, including a fancy date night on Monday that Tony and I planned a couple of months ago and my monthly book club meeting. But Oliver and I also filled our days with swimming lessons, park visits, story and play time, and some other fun things. Here is a photo lineup of just a few of the fun things we did:

We checked out a new park:

Where Oliver fell and needed a big Mommy band-aid

We went to story and play time at Eidom Homestead (he didn't last long for the story, but had fun playing)

We played at home too

Friday night we went to Tater Days and Oliver got to climb all over some big equipment

On Saturday he also ran in his first fun run! He did great, and was so excited to get to do it. I also ran so I didn't have my phone for pictures, but he was extra cute!

Now it's on to week two!

That's a Wrap

Today marks my final day of employment. 

For over 11 years I have been closely involved with Minnesota’s entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. I have lived and breathed event planning, marketing, editing, communications, strategizing and more. My role encouraged me to follow companies from their early days to their successful IPOs or exits…or to watch them fail. I’ve met inspiring individuals who have quite literally put everything on the line in order to achieve their dream. 

When I began at The Collaborative in 2004, I didn’t know what an entrepreneur was, let alone how to spell it. I couldn’t have told you the difference between an M&A deal, an IPO, a PE transaction or a VC investment. The opportunities I have had over the years have been amazing, and I've learned so much. I’m a bit sad to no longer be tied to this part of Minnesota’s culture in a professional manner, though my outlook (and interest in the Business section of the paper) has been forever changed.

While my current position and organization have not been a great fit for me (and I was already looking for a new opportunity), I must admit that being laid off has thrown me for a loop….well, it’s thrown my ego for a loop! I’m not one to tie my worth or value to my job, so it was a little surprising to me that I have been feeling the pangs of a blow to my ego as I processed what was happening. 

Ego. Ugh.

With that said, I am no closer to knowing what I want to be doing, or even what my dream job would be. Kind people who want to help me find my next job have asked “What is your elevator pitch?” or “What kinds of jobs are you most interested in?” I can answer in a round-about way, but I just can’t come up with a concise “I am looking for a job as a _______ where I can _____”. [For those who have seen some of my previous posts, I am still waiting for God to pick up his megaphone and tell me what he wants me to do!]

Since learning that my position is being eliminated, I have had to continue working for almost three weeks…very awkward (though the pay is appreciated). It’s been a challenge to find things to do (since I was already preparing to leave, much of the “how to do my job without me” items were already created), stay motivated to do a good job (I mean, how much work should I really be doing on something they don’t want me to complete?), and to put up with my coworkers whispering and meeting without me (understandable but still hurts). I also have not been overly motivated to step up my job search.

What have I done instead? Signed Oliver up for daytime swimming lessons. Signed him up for our church’s VBS. Added story times at Eidem House on our calendar. Bought a couple of educational type workbooks to use while we are home. And tried to convince myself I will have the chance to end my bad eating habits and get into better shape by chasing after an active nearly four year old.

Truthfully, I’m nervous about being a stay-at-home mom. 
Part of me thinks “Wow, I get a chance to try this again, only now Oliver is happy to be in our home and speaks english! How fun!” I am hopeful that this will be a blessing for all three of us. A more peaceful home, a chance for Oliver and I to work on some things together, a more balanced life. 

However, when Oliver and I have several days together, just the two of us, I struggle to fill the time. I’m not a big fan of sitting around while he plays (and for some reason I can’t seem to read a book or do any personal stuff if he’s playing as he always wants me to watch him / play with him / or he runs off) — I always have this running list of to-dos that I should be doing. And I am not very good at “playing.” I am afraid that I will be stressed all of the time, that I will feel ‘stuck’ with all of the household responsibilities, and that Oliver won’t enjoy me being around (because I will be so stressed or inpatient). 

As with any job I know that some days / hours / moments will be amazing and fulfilling, while others will be awful and challenging. Time will tell which of those dominates our days together.  In the meantime, I suppose I need to kick the job search back up, though I’m not even unemployed yet and it’s hard to imagine starting a new job…
[don’t panic, Tony, I won’t give up looking!]

So, for those of you who live close by, I may send out an SOS some day if I’m itching for something new to do, adult conversation, or just a little HELP! Thank you in advance for understanding.

And with that, it’s on to the next chapter...

He's Posing!

Oliver is one of those kids that just can't quite understand posing for a photo. I can get amazing photos of him when he isn't paying attention -- but ask him to say cheese or kimchi, and all you get is a grimace. 

We were at the park over the weekend and he asked me to take his picture while he played around on his bike. Believe it or not, he kept posing for the camera! Really hamming it up...such a cutie! So here is a series of Oliver poses for a little Sunday evening entertainment. 

Last Day of School!

When Oliver began school last September he had already come so far since joining our family. He understood much of what was being said. He could put together a few words in short sentences. He was curious about what was going on around him.

Today, as he celebrated his last day of Pre-K 3, we are simply amazed at how much he has grown. Not only is he quite a bit bigger and taller, but he's using full sentences, surprising us at every turn with the words and descriptions he knows. He will happily sing to himself or show us the motions to a song he learned at school. Sometimes he will even share or ask a friend if he can play with a toy! Oliver's teachers were wonderful this past year. Patient. Understanding. Firm. Fun. 

As part of the final day, parents were invited to join for the second part of class. Tony suggested making it a family day, so we started with a quick stop at the library to pick up two books on hold for Oliver. It was off to school for Oliver, and when we joined him later we were treated to several songs -- a couple that we've heard Oliver singing around the house recently. It was so darn cute! The teachers put together a slide show, then we had a little snack and our final good byes.

A final drop off -- though Oma did 99.9% of them this past year.
THANK YOU OMA!

Proudly showing his completion certificate and posing with his wonderful teachers.

Friends!

Oliver has been asking to go bowling lately -- asking to bowl with the things on the edge (how did he even learn about bowling, let alone bumper bowling?). So for our fun family activity we took him bowling for the first time. He did a great job! For the first round we helped him by holding the bowling aid, but by round two he was shooing us back to our seats so he could "do it all by myself". He did pretty well and we all had a great time!

Look at that ball go!

Yeah...

No surprise here, he loved the little fan! Now, where did he learn to raise up his shirt?

The rest of the day was a lot of fun too, and he was in a great mood. To think back to this time last year, I am simply beside myself with how far he has come -- and how far we have come as a family. Now, on to summer!