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Emotional (and employment) Rollercoaster

When I had my interview for Early Head Start, I discussed the fact that I don’t drive and don’t have a driver’s license with the ladies who interviewed me (including the center director). They thought it was slightly odd (it is, I know that), but it wouldn’t be a problem since the job doesn’t require any driving. Unfortunately it wasn’t their call to make. Due to bureaucracy, I’ve been passed up for the job.

That pretty well ruined my Tuesday. This was also the week we’d set as our deadline for determining if we’re relocating back to the Ames area–or possibly even back overseas. With the loss of this job, and the fact that Sam seems to be in employment limbo, we decided it was time to start turning our focus back toward central Iowa. Sam still had a potential job here, but he hadn’t heard anything in well over a week. I applied for a couple more jobs in Ames, and tried not to tear my hair out from stress.

Wednesday I got a call from a center here in Davenport, they want me to come in for an interview next week. Thursday morning Sam got an email from the job he’s been waiting to hear from, “We’re sorry, but…” Thursday afternoon Sam got a phone call from the other person at the job he’s been waiting to hear from, “We’d like you to come in to start getting ready to take the position.” Right now we’re not sure if he has the job or not. Even if he does, it’s extremely part-time–10 hours or less a week. Friday I got an email from Bright Horizons in Ames (who I used to work for and I love), they want to do a phone interview early next week.

For the moment we’re leaning toward going wherever I get the job, but the way things have been going I’ll be offered both and we’ll be no closer to making a decision. There are pros and cons to both options, but at this point I’m struggling to step back and look at the whole thing objectively. I don’t know what to do: laugh or cry, go or stay. Whatever we do, the decision will be made in the next couple of weeks.

2010 03 07 nichole Plans
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Waiting

I have received an unofficial job offer from Davenport Early Head Start. Once my background check clears, I’ll get the “official” offer and I can put in my notice! Yay! I’m excited, but it won’t feel completely real until I actually start the new job. It’ll be tough saying goodbye to some of the kids and families I work with now, but I’m looking forward to getting started in my new center. The background check should take a week or so, then two weeks notice. Hopefully I’ll be starting the new job by the end of March. Until then, I’m just waiting.

2010 03 01 nichole Plans
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I hate being sick…

Once again, I have a nasty cold. I should be used to it by now, but I still find it annoying. I had to miss work yesterday. It was probably a good thing, because I feel a lot better today; but I still hate calling in. Hopefully I’ll be better by Monday.

2010 02 20 nichole Uncategorized Comments (2) Permalink

Tuesday’s Interview

I went into my interview on Tuesday with mixed feelings. I know that I want out of my current center, but I didn’t know enough about Head Start to know if I really wanted to work there. I really fear leaving one bad position for another. By the end of my interview, my feelings were clarified. I want this job.

The job is in an infant room in the Early Head Start center here in Davenport. It sounds like the set-up is very similar to the Eagle’s Loft infant room that I did a practicum (internship) in. I loved being there. It was the best place I’ve ever worked–even though I didn’t get paid for my time! My only real regret about going to China, is that I didn’t get to go work full-time at Eagle’s Loft.

Not only does the Early Head Start job sound like my ideal working environment, it also has better hours, benefits (my current job has none), and I’d be making at least $4 more ah hour! I want this job. I know they’ve already called some of my references, which is a good sign. Hopefully I’ll hear from them in the next week or so.

2010 02 15 nichole Plans
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Interview Week

On Wednesday, I had a job interview in Des Moines for a Head Start job in Boone. The interview seemed to go pretty well, and they said that I should hear from them in 1-2 weeks (once my info made it through their bureaucracy). Sam and I are contemplating a move back to central Iowa, but it’s not set in stone yet. One of the major factors that will affect our decision is what Sam hears from the electricians’ union. When we got home on Wednesday he’d received a letter from them asking him to come in for an interview this coming Tuesday. There was much rejoicing. Whatever the outcome of the interview, we’ll be a critical step closer to making a decision. I should know something when/if I got a call.

On Thursday, Boone Head Start called to offer me the job. They needed a decision by Monday. I can’t commit in that time (which they knew when they called me, but they still had to try), so I had to turn them down. On the up side, I was their top choice, and if we do move their next opening is mine for the asking. Also on Thursday, Davenport Head Start called to offer me an interview. It’s on Tuesday.

2010 02 08 nichole Plans
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Knitting and a lack of ambition

For years I’ve said that I wanted to learn how to knit. It’s always been in that “some day” category. My mom started to crochet when I was about 4, and I was fascinated with watching her work. I loved to help by rolling her yarn into balls for her. Unfortunately, when I tried to learn how to crochet I discovered that I just cannot do it.

It doesn’t matter how much I try, how many instructions I read, how many people try to show me. I do fine with a simple chain stitch, and I can usually manage 1 or 2 single crochet stitches before it all goes to hell. For some reason the knowledge of how to do it is lost between one stitch and the next. I just can’t get it to stick in my head.

Digression: I have the same problem with calculus. Any other type of math I’ve attempted I can do, and do well, if I’m willing to put in the effort. Calculus is beyond me. End digression.

The first time I tried and failed to learn to crochet, my mother offhandedly mentioned that I might try knitting. My mother could never knit, her mother could knit but not crochet. Maybe it’s some sort of right brain/left brain thing. From that point on, knitting was on my “some day” list.

Fast forward about twenty years, and I’d still never gotten around to trying. I’d never been able to convince myself to spend (very little) money to try a hobby I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to do. I know it’s silly, but I always told myself “some day”. If I was going to do it “some day”, then I didn’t need to buy the materials today.

For my birthday last month Sam bought me a knitting book. That was all the encouragement I needed. Once I had one part of what I needed to get started, I promptly went out and bought the rest. Much to my delight, I discovered that I can knit. I can knit, and I find it challenging enough to be interesting and satisfying.

Funny thing though, now that I know that I can knit, I feel absolutely no urgency to do so. I’ll get around to finishing a project “some day”. Today I’m lacking in ambition.

2010 01 30 nichole Uncategorized Comments (1) Permalink