There is a learning curve with any new job. When I first started teaching I had NO idea what I was doing but it became easier as I gained confidence and experience. Same goes for when I became an assistant principal {although that took me a much longer time before I felt competent again} and once again the curve started over when I became a 'working mom' for the first time while I was consulting for 9 months.
Then I decided to be a stay-at-home-mom full time. This is my new job {best and most rewarding job to date, minus the pay of course}. But it wasn't until this month that I realized that even this job has had a pretty steep learning curve.
I suppose I anticipated that I would wake up the first day I was at home and I would just know what to do. Funny enough, it has taken me about six months {which is right on par with all my previous jobs} to really start picking up steam at my new position.
What could be so hard about staying home that would even need to be learned? Honestly, for me, it has been a mentality shift, a mindset change and ironing out the details with my co-worker {husband} that have been a process.
In the past, Phil has always taken care of the details of our lives {dealing with insurance issues, scheduling maintenance for the house, paying bills...etc.}. But now all those responsibilities have been shifted to me, and sadly I felt inept, almost incompetent.
Until this month! Finally, a switch has been flipped and a light bulb has come on. Maybe I just needed my hand held for a little while {thank you dear husband}, maybe I needed a few positive experiences under my belt to give me confidence {I took care of getting the sprinkler intake valve fixed, scheduling the carpet cleaner and lawn maintenance without asking Phil. That is a big step for me}, or maybe I just needed a little time to grasp the concept that this is my role indefinitely {no I am not going back to work anytime soon, if ever, and being a homemaker is still a valuable job. I think that reality is finally sinking in}. Whatever it was I FINALLY feel comfortable in my role as the VP of the Van Gelder Household!
When you find your niche, you get in your groove, you hit your stride, you find your sweet spot, however you want to put it...it just feels right...it feels GREAT!!!
And "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" - Colossians 3:23.
He can use you wherever you are, with whatever you're doing despite where you are on your learning curve!
Thank you for this post. I turned 50 this year and I am coming home to be a homemaker after 34 years of working outside the home. Like you, as I examine all the thing I want done or that need done or things I simply don't know, it's a little exhilarating and overwhelming. I have decided I would blog about my experience and although I don't have little ones at home, I do have a husband, a home and grandchildren as well as lots of friends so I know I have a place that can be as rewarding as raising children.
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