To work or not to work

Most people in today's market do not have the choice of 'to work or not to work'. Unfortunately, our family is among that group that requires both parents working, just to make ends meet. Our dilemma arises when considering my employment options. Since Kaleb's diagnosis in 1998, I've tried to manage to work a professional career that required me to be onsite during work hours despite having numerous medical appointments for Kaleb and days where he was not able to physically move his hips. As a parent, I've had to make the hard choices of when to have to abandon my work responsibilities and stay home with a son who was experiencing pain that is comparable to bone cancer pain according to doctors. In my mind, it was the only choice I had.

My last attempt failed miserably and resulted in me receiving the 'firing' email indicating my services could no longer be afforded. Lori....fired. I never thought those 2 words would be said in the same sentence but I have to look at it like a lesson that God needed me to learn. I'm hoping I've been a good, humble student and I can soon go on.

We've worked out the school issues that had plagued us for the last few years and we know that the 'work' situation will also work out fine. It's just hard when you're undergoing the struggle to understand what the lesson is.

I'm definitely still 'working' but now it is in two antique stores (we just opened in the second on June 1st) and still doing web design. All 3 of these opportunities allow me to be there when we can but it is not mandatory. Kaleb goes with me to the stores and he's learning the good, the bad and the ugly of owning your own business. I also applied today to teach classes at a local college, as I've done in the past. I appreciate the 'flexibility' of working for yourself but also still feel the sting of how a chronic medical illness in a family can truly lead you down a different path. Thank goodness Mark has insurance through his work or else the pain would be much worse.

Blessings to all.

Lori