August 24, 2012

the list is long, but not complete


When I think back to all of the jobs I've had in my life....wow...goodness the list is long!  Really, though, I wouldn't trade the experiences for anything. 

16 different companies,  23 different  positions! 
Lord, that must really sound so bad!!
It actually makes me laugh though...because I know who I am..and it's not that way.
Take a look.

1) weight loss counselor/sales of weight loss programs
2) ice cream stand/ make various ice cream treats and hot foods
3) manager at same ice cream stand
4) pizza shop/ pizza maker
5) manager at same pizza shop
6) front desk hotel
7) lifeguard at same hotel
8) housekeeper at same hotel
9) Disney store/ greeter and helped customers spend their money
10) major department store/ cashier
11) service desk at same dept. store
12) pizza/pub restaurant at the airport/ cashier, hot foods, tend bar on occasion
P.S. I totally sucked at bar tending!!! I could barely mix a drink, didn't know the recipes for the drinks, but I totally mastered pouring a beer from tap into a glass....that was actually fun!!!! 

13) manager at a sub sandwich shop
14) receptionist/data entry at a collection agency
15) supervisor at the same collection agency
16) receptionist at a factory bakery that made biscotti
17) part time customer help at a craft store while working full time at bakery
18) the cook at an assisted living home for elderly people/ cooked lunch and dinner for 120 people
19) activities director at same assisted living home
20) short order cook at golf course
P.S. I totally sucked at being a short order cook! Like really bad. I could handle about 2, maybe 3 orders at at time...no problem, but when those tickets started lining up in front of my nose and I had stuff in the fryer, stuff on the grill and stuff on the flat top cooking.....OHHHH NO! Mamma could NOT handle it! Nope!! It's hilarious now that I look back at it! Do you know how many hot dogs I have burnt to a crisp! How many eggs I broke the yolk! How many fries I burnt, grilled cheese I burnt...flames higher than my freakin' head on the flat top!! customers at the bar seeing through the kitchen door, looking at the sudden burst of grease fire flames shooting up higher than my head and collectively saying "WOOOOOOHHHHHH!" Oh for real people, that was me...short order cook.....EPIC FAIL!! 

21) JoAnn Fabrics/ cashier, fabric counter
22) receptionist for an interior decorating company
23) Pier 1 Imports/ cashier

The long list makes me look flighty and un loyal. 
I know!! It totally looks that way! 
But really, it's not as bad as it looks!!
~~~~~~
Jobs 1 through 5, I was just a kid. Also, sometimes I had to quit a job because of particular circumstances....college courses, lack of hours on the schedule, needing higher paying job, moving out of state, moving again, having a baby, working part time after my first child turned 1, having another baby and back to being  home full time, then holding a part time job after my 2nd child was born so I could get out and earn some money and my husband could actually spend time with the kids while I worked...otherwise he would have been out working a 3rd job to provide (not always....just sometimes in the beginning, when things were tight) then,  moving out of state again, being a stay at home mom again, then deciding to go back to work.... then realizing I wanted to be a stay at home mom again, and was able to because the hubster was making big bucks... sooooo... stuff like that.   

Oh, by the way, I only got fired once! hahaha! No, it wasn't the short order cook job, it was the supervisor position at the collection agency. Trust me, it was a slap in the face! Like totally dumfounded! I have always been the "goodie- two shoes" at work, the one that followed all the rules, the one that got promoted....and ya, this was a whammy! I am telling you the truth though.... the owner of this company fired about 6 people during the 1 year that I worked for him...he was just one of those people...you'd show up to work, he'd call you in his office, and fired you. I always watched the people walk out with smiles on their face, but tears in their eyes, trying to act like it didn't bother them, but it did....and there I sat, at my desk, thinking I was one of the safe ones...well, I guess I wasn't! 

So, why did I want to share this with you guys? I don't know. I'm sorry, that is not an answer. So let me dig deep. It's not like I'm proud that I've had 950 thousand jobs in a course of 20 years...but in a way, I think it's kind of neat. I have learned to do soooo many different things in a variety of businesses that I would have never learned or experienced otherwise. The friendships with people I have worked with, from all walks of life, from different countries, varying personalities and backgrounds.... have been priceless. I have learned a lot and gained a lot from working with them.  

All of my work experience makes me who I am. 

True, I don't have a degree in anything....that does stink...cause I know I could have done much better had I a degree in something. I struggle with that so bad sometimes! Like really bad! So many times I have felt like nothing. So many times I have felt embarrassed that I didn't have a college degree. It has made me feel less than others at times. But now, really, I am over that. Like, really, really over that. I did go to college a couple of times and I actually did very well...but I didn't finish. :p  (making raspberries sounds with my lips)

But what can I say?
I am who I am.
I am me.
Bonnie.
I got married, I had kids, and I'm a mom.


That's who I am. 
I don't have an education, 
I don't have a fancy, good paying job, 
but....I do have an important job...
raising 2 boys that may become someone important one day.


Maybe they will invent something great or help a lot of people in some way. 
And I will be the mom that nurtured them.
And...if they don't invent anything or helping lots of people....
they will always be awesome and important to me.


So, 
I'm a mom, 
that's raising 2 boys, 
keeping house and home for my hubby and the kids too, 
and maybe some day 
I'll do something too. 
In fact, I really think I will. 
It's in there...
it's in me...
I know it is. 
I really do. 
I'm far from done.
Honestly, I've only just scratched the surface.



7 comments:

  1. Bonnie...I know that you know this...but I'll say it anyway...Raising kids is one of the hardest! and most important! jobs that there is! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bonnie, I wrote a comment while I was at work, I watched it post, and now it's not here. So I'll try again. It's just that kind of week for me. Being a parent is the most important job in the world. I've never been privileged to have a child, but even I know that. I interact with kids all day every day. You can tell which kids have parents that care and which don't.

    By the way, you remind me of myself with jobs. It used to be that every time I got bored with a job, I would leave and get another one. I have had 12 positions with 7 different companies/organizations. I've been with the library for 17 years now which is the longest I've ever been anywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You ARE. .God's daughter. .and those kids. .are God's sons. .and by staying home and devoting your life to nurturing and caring for them and raising them right. .You are doing the job you were called to!! I just listened to a great podcast by James Mcdonald on my way to work this morning called I am: conquering insecurity part 2. .The podcasts are free from his website walkintheword.org. .He's a great teacher. .and it was a great lesson! The experiences were truly vast and I know you have benefited from them all. .it's easy to see as one reads through your blog!! Have a super week!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Absolutely the most important job you will ever have will be to raise 2 wonderful young men who will in turn make their corner of the world a better place.
    BTW, I love the pic of them in their boy scout uniforms. What a hoot. I love his expression! LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have stayed home 26 years raising 3 boys! It has been the best thing ever!!! My youngest is a senior this year! I had my first when I was 19 so I am getting close to the "What am I going to do next!?" question???
    I have no idea! I have lived my dream having a family!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great post, Bonnie:) It's funny because I did get a bachelors degree, but then I feel bad that I don't have a masters??? In what? Who knows... but I feel like I should have done something. Oh well, I'm just trying to figure it out too. And you are correct- the boys are what matters; being a wife, mother, friend, daughter- probably the most meaningful "jobs" ever and I would venture to say the most challenging as well.

    So keep courage, blogging friend... have faith, we'll get there:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bonnie, this was the perfect blog that I need to read today. I just quit my job back in May 2012 to be stay home mom again. My daughter is nine and stayed home with her the first two years of her life and then I went back to work. But my hours at were long 10 hour days and she at the age she wants to be involved in everything but at times I feel I lost a little bit of myself quiting my job. I like working and Im kinda lost know that she back in school. I will alway have my family first but Im at the crossroads in trying to figure out something like you said "only just scratched the surface" So thank you for your blog and your time you put in it. It so nice to hear what other people think and feel...

    ReplyDelete