When I gave notice to my manager about leaving my job, she said they were really going to miss me and asked if I would consider just taking a leave of absence or working part-time. They were willing to consider any schedule proposal if I was willing to stay. It was very flattering and tempting to take them up on the generous offer.
When we told the boys I was quitting, there was screaming, wailing, gnashing of teeth and cries that this move will destroy our family. According to them, an announcement that we were having another baby would be more welcome than me leaving my job (and that is saying something considering the reaction when I was pregnant with Pax). I felt so loved, needed and wanted.
I am choosing to look at this as further proof that we are doing the right thing :).
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
New Directions
I quit my job this week.
I still can't believe I did it but as of October 22nd, I will officially be a stay at home mom. Or, I might become a go crazy at home mom--not sure which one will happen (most likely a combination of the two). This is not a direction I ever thought I would take in life. I have felt the guilt of being a working mother many times and have often contemplated giving up my paycheck, but one look at the finances, and I would decide the status quo would do. Life has been okay. First of all, I have a pretty good job. I am able to work full-time from home and be here when the boys get home from school, take Parker to and from pre-K and Pax only goes to daycare 3 days a week. Many moms would love a job that allowed them to work from home and I know how lucky I have been. It was working okay--not perfect--but we are doing okay. Second, my boys are getting older. Why quit now when it only gets easier every day? It would have made more sense 2 years ago when I had a baby, 2-year-old and 4-year-old. Third, I have actually had some free time on occasion. I have been able to read more books in the last six months than I have read in the last six years. Finally, financially we are in better shape than we have been since we were married. We have a lot of security and I am all about security!
BUT, and this is a big but, neither Nelson or I could deny that the spirit was saying it was time to leave my job. This was not just Lisa feeling guilty or the Knights reacting to a crisis (our usual life strategy). It was a clear and constant message that, for whatever purpose, I need to be focused on our family full-time right now. We took a look at our finances and it was clear that me quitting would not work. So, we did the rational thing and I quit anyway. It was a huge leap of faith and I generally like to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground.
It doesn't make sense but here we go! Succeed or fail, we are doing this and not looking back!
I still can't believe I did it but as of October 22nd, I will officially be a stay at home mom. Or, I might become a go crazy at home mom--not sure which one will happen (most likely a combination of the two). This is not a direction I ever thought I would take in life. I have felt the guilt of being a working mother many times and have often contemplated giving up my paycheck, but one look at the finances, and I would decide the status quo would do. Life has been okay. First of all, I have a pretty good job. I am able to work full-time from home and be here when the boys get home from school, take Parker to and from pre-K and Pax only goes to daycare 3 days a week. Many moms would love a job that allowed them to work from home and I know how lucky I have been. It was working okay--not perfect--but we are doing okay. Second, my boys are getting older. Why quit now when it only gets easier every day? It would have made more sense 2 years ago when I had a baby, 2-year-old and 4-year-old. Third, I have actually had some free time on occasion. I have been able to read more books in the last six months than I have read in the last six years. Finally, financially we are in better shape than we have been since we were married. We have a lot of security and I am all about security!
BUT, and this is a big but, neither Nelson or I could deny that the spirit was saying it was time to leave my job. This was not just Lisa feeling guilty or the Knights reacting to a crisis (our usual life strategy). It was a clear and constant message that, for whatever purpose, I need to be focused on our family full-time right now. We took a look at our finances and it was clear that me quitting would not work. So, we did the rational thing and I quit anyway. It was a huge leap of faith and I generally like to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground.
It doesn't make sense but here we go! Succeed or fail, we are doing this and not looking back!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A Typical Day
I am terrible about pictures. For a long time we have not had a camera and now that Alex has one, I keep forgetting to use it. I need to get into the habit but until a picture can offer a thousand words, I will just have to do a lot of typing. I thought a look at the typical day (is there such thing?) in the Knight house would be somewhat interesting in a few years.
6:30-6:45am--Addison gets out of the shower and tries to wake me. I either get right up so I can check the email or beg for 5 more minutes.
6:45-7:00am--Carter takes a bath and gets dressed while Addison yells at him that he doesn't have enough time. I grab clothes for Colin and attempt to dress him while he burrows deep under the covers. 80 percent of the time I give up and figure Nelson can take him to school. The other 20 percent I wrestle clothes on him, send him into the bathroom and put him in the car. Today I bribed him with the choice of snack if he would just get up and get on the bus. I offered brownies, donuts and french fries. He chose hamburger helper.
7:00am--7:15am--Carter, Colin and I head out the door and play chase down the bus. We start with one stop and then have three or four more depending on the time. Usually we pull up behind the bus and I give them the "you can make it!!" cheer and watch their cute little bodies run for the bus with their backpacks bobbing up and down. I really don't make them late on purpose just so I can see the cute scene every morning (I promise!)
7:15am--7:45am--Back to the house to get Alex and Addison. There is decidedly less of a flurry in getting them out the door. They grunt at me, grab their backpacks and go. Once in the car, I attempt to engage them in conversation about the day, the information on the radio, their future, etc. They are always happy to talk about any and all of those topics and we get in some great bonding time before they begin their day (hahahahahahaha) I monologue all the way to West to drop off Alex and then head to the bus stop to drop off Addo. 4 down, 2 to go.
7:45am--8:00am--Back at the corral Nelson has been getting himself and the P brothers (and probably Colin) ready for the day. I dash in to grab clothes, make a lunch and then head upstairs. Nelson gets everyone out the door and off for round 3 of the school drop offs.
8:00am--2:30pm--4 boys at school (hopefully making good choices), 2 at daycare, Nelson reviewing tax projects and me making call after call after call. In between calls, I throw in a load of laundry, unload the dishwasher, wipe a bathroom--the stuff in all the good movies.
2:30pm--4pm--Everyone home from school and throwing coats, backpacks and papers all over the house while rummaging around for food. I put a snack on the table, pull out their homework and tell them to get started while I do a call.
4pm--4:15pm--I am talking to a student. Addison starts shooting aliens in his video game. Alex is downloading something to make the computer "better" and the C brothers sneak upstairs to watch t.v.
4:15pm--4:30pm---I come downstairs to find no one doing homework (the snack, however, is completely gone) so I start talking very loudly and get the Cs back to the table. Colin manages to do about three problems in the middle of telling me stories and finding shiny things on the floor before I have to head upstairs again.
4:30pm--4:45pm--Repeat 4pm-4:15pm
4:45pm--5pm--Go pick up Paxton from Jody's. Bring him back home. Throw him on the couch with a peanut butter sandwich and turn on Yo Gabba Gabba. Gently remind the boys to get back to their homework.
5pm--6pm--More calls for me while the boys alternate between trying to "quietly" come in to tell me how someone is hitting, yelling or ruining their game or being eerily silent which means I will come downstairs to one of Carter's creations. It is a toss-up as to what is preferred.
6pm--7pm--The witching hour (I know I am a witch every hour--I set myself up for that one). I am trying to get dinner going while carrying Paxton around and alternating between asking for help and cheering on the homework once again! We get homework wrapped up and dinner in some form and manage to get everyone to the table.
7pm--7:30pm--Nelson comes home and gets to eat with Paxton on his lap because I like the share in the joy of having Paxton constantly be a helper. We try some dinner conversation and sometimes get more than one or two word answers. At some point there is a guaranteed full sentence, though, from every one of them--"can I be excused?"
7:30pm--8:30pm--Parker goes around asking everyone to play Lego Rock Band. He can usually at least get dad to play. The rest of the house is in a hum of evening activity.
8:30pm--I start saying we need to do scriptures and give everyone a 5 minute warning.
9pm--We finally start reading scriptures and have family prayer.
9:30-10pm--Bedtime negotiations. Colin is tired but can't sleep without Carter in the room. Carter feels that he should get to stay up later because he is older and does not have trouble waking in the morning (true). This is usually resolved by Colin and I begging Carter to go in the room with Colin but not going to sleep. Carter finally gives in and storms upstairs.
10pm--10:30pm--Puttering around to get ready for the next day
10:30pm--Say uncle and head to bed. Try to watch a show to decompress but fall asleep within 5 minutes.
11pm--12pm--The A brothers start their homework.
Okay, next time I am just taking a picture.
6:30-6:45am--Addison gets out of the shower and tries to wake me. I either get right up so I can check the email or beg for 5 more minutes.
6:45-7:00am--Carter takes a bath and gets dressed while Addison yells at him that he doesn't have enough time. I grab clothes for Colin and attempt to dress him while he burrows deep under the covers. 80 percent of the time I give up and figure Nelson can take him to school. The other 20 percent I wrestle clothes on him, send him into the bathroom and put him in the car. Today I bribed him with the choice of snack if he would just get up and get on the bus. I offered brownies, donuts and french fries. He chose hamburger helper.
7:00am--7:15am--Carter, Colin and I head out the door and play chase down the bus. We start with one stop and then have three or four more depending on the time. Usually we pull up behind the bus and I give them the "you can make it!!" cheer and watch their cute little bodies run for the bus with their backpacks bobbing up and down. I really don't make them late on purpose just so I can see the cute scene every morning (I promise!)
7:15am--7:45am--Back to the house to get Alex and Addison. There is decidedly less of a flurry in getting them out the door. They grunt at me, grab their backpacks and go. Once in the car, I attempt to engage them in conversation about the day, the information on the radio, their future, etc. They are always happy to talk about any and all of those topics and we get in some great bonding time before they begin their day (hahahahahahaha) I monologue all the way to West to drop off Alex and then head to the bus stop to drop off Addo. 4 down, 2 to go.
7:45am--8:00am--Back at the corral Nelson has been getting himself and the P brothers (and probably Colin) ready for the day. I dash in to grab clothes, make a lunch and then head upstairs. Nelson gets everyone out the door and off for round 3 of the school drop offs.
8:00am--2:30pm--4 boys at school (hopefully making good choices), 2 at daycare, Nelson reviewing tax projects and me making call after call after call. In between calls, I throw in a load of laundry, unload the dishwasher, wipe a bathroom--the stuff in all the good movies.
2:30pm--4pm--Everyone home from school and throwing coats, backpacks and papers all over the house while rummaging around for food. I put a snack on the table, pull out their homework and tell them to get started while I do a call.
4pm--4:15pm--I am talking to a student. Addison starts shooting aliens in his video game. Alex is downloading something to make the computer "better" and the C brothers sneak upstairs to watch t.v.
4:15pm--4:30pm---I come downstairs to find no one doing homework (the snack, however, is completely gone) so I start talking very loudly and get the Cs back to the table. Colin manages to do about three problems in the middle of telling me stories and finding shiny things on the floor before I have to head upstairs again.
4:30pm--4:45pm--Repeat 4pm-4:15pm
4:45pm--5pm--Go pick up Paxton from Jody's. Bring him back home. Throw him on the couch with a peanut butter sandwich and turn on Yo Gabba Gabba. Gently remind the boys to get back to their homework.
5pm--6pm--More calls for me while the boys alternate between trying to "quietly" come in to tell me how someone is hitting, yelling or ruining their game or being eerily silent which means I will come downstairs to one of Carter's creations. It is a toss-up as to what is preferred.
6pm--7pm--The witching hour (I know I am a witch every hour--I set myself up for that one). I am trying to get dinner going while carrying Paxton around and alternating between asking for help and cheering on the homework once again! We get homework wrapped up and dinner in some form and manage to get everyone to the table.
7pm--7:30pm--Nelson comes home and gets to eat with Paxton on his lap because I like the share in the joy of having Paxton constantly be a helper. We try some dinner conversation and sometimes get more than one or two word answers. At some point there is a guaranteed full sentence, though, from every one of them--"can I be excused?"
7:30pm--8:30pm--Parker goes around asking everyone to play Lego Rock Band. He can usually at least get dad to play. The rest of the house is in a hum of evening activity.
8:30pm--I start saying we need to do scriptures and give everyone a 5 minute warning.
9pm--We finally start reading scriptures and have family prayer.
9:30-10pm--Bedtime negotiations. Colin is tired but can't sleep without Carter in the room. Carter feels that he should get to stay up later because he is older and does not have trouble waking in the morning (true). This is usually resolved by Colin and I begging Carter to go in the room with Colin but not going to sleep. Carter finally gives in and storms upstairs.
10pm--10:30pm--Puttering around to get ready for the next day
10:30pm--Say uncle and head to bed. Try to watch a show to decompress but fall asleep within 5 minutes.
11pm--12pm--The A brothers start their homework.
Okay, next time I am just taking a picture.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Where we are now...
We started this blog almost a year ago. I thought Carter was the only one to post but I see I made an effort in April with a promise of more. I guess that never happened. This time I am not going to promise myself more but I do hope for the best. I was going to do a year in review but I can't remember the whole year--which is probably the best reason for blogging on a regular basis! Since this is not only a good way to keep people updated but also for our progeny, the best thing may be to start with where we are now:
Nelson just turned 38 (and is feeling really old--the few gray hairs help) and works for the state history department helping citizens restore old buildings through tax credits. He is also the first counselor in the bishopric and is working diligently to ensure that this is the last church calling with which he will ever be entrusted
I am working as a mentor at Western Governor's University which is great because I can work from home and not so great because I work from home. I spend my days talking into a headset and running down to throw in a load of laundry between calls. I have also become addicted to exclamation points! Why stop at one?!!!
Alex just turned 18 and will graduate (we hope) from West High School in June. From there the world is his oyster and I think right now that will mean school and then a mission. He is a little lost once college football season comes to an end but curling should fill the void soon.
Addison is every bit a teenager right now. He spends his days playing video games, texting his friends and making sarcastic comments to his family. Right on track developmentally I would say. Fortunately, he also gets good grades and serves faithfully as the teacher's quorum president. A little balance is a good thing.
Carter is 9 and still wants to manage the world. He loves cub scouts, taking baths, shows on disney but is happiest with a group of friends or with a list in front of him.
Colin is 5 and making his way through kindergarten. That means too little sleep and too much homework but he is adjusting. Colin is our son who loves to help with anything dad is fixing or mom is cooking.
Parker has had a great year. He used to be a little shy but is really coming into his own as a fun, calm kid. He is also obsessed with the game Rock Band and carries a guitar with him almost everywhere. No one can rock Away in a Manger like he can.
Paxton is 18-months going on 2. He is calm, sweet and easygoing. He is also crazy, loud and unable to be taken in public. He loves Yo Gabba Gabba, his blankie and when the whole family is home with him.
That is the family as 2009 comes to a close.
Nelson just turned 38 (and is feeling really old--the few gray hairs help) and works for the state history department helping citizens restore old buildings through tax credits. He is also the first counselor in the bishopric and is working diligently to ensure that this is the last church calling with which he will ever be entrusted
I am working as a mentor at Western Governor's University which is great because I can work from home and not so great because I work from home. I spend my days talking into a headset and running down to throw in a load of laundry between calls. I have also become addicted to exclamation points! Why stop at one?!!!
Alex just turned 18 and will graduate (we hope) from West High School in June. From there the world is his oyster and I think right now that will mean school and then a mission. He is a little lost once college football season comes to an end but curling should fill the void soon.
Addison is every bit a teenager right now. He spends his days playing video games, texting his friends and making sarcastic comments to his family. Right on track developmentally I would say. Fortunately, he also gets good grades and serves faithfully as the teacher's quorum president. A little balance is a good thing.
Carter is 9 and still wants to manage the world. He loves cub scouts, taking baths, shows on disney but is happiest with a group of friends or with a list in front of him.
Colin is 5 and making his way through kindergarten. That means too little sleep and too much homework but he is adjusting. Colin is our son who loves to help with anything dad is fixing or mom is cooking.
Parker has had a great year. He used to be a little shy but is really coming into his own as a fun, calm kid. He is also obsessed with the game Rock Band and carries a guitar with him almost everywhere. No one can rock Away in a Manger like he can.
Paxton is 18-months going on 2. He is calm, sweet and easygoing. He is also crazy, loud and unable to be taken in public. He loves Yo Gabba Gabba, his blankie and when the whole family is home with him.
That is the family as 2009 comes to a close.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Our Week
Thanks to Carter we actually have a few posts for this blog but I am ready to get a little more serious about posting. This past week the A brothers and Colin have been on spring break. I wish I could tell you all the fun things that we did but you will have to look at another blog for those stories. I tried taking a day off to do something fun but the best I could get them to agree to was lunch and orthodontist appointment. It was a great lunch and Addison got a top score on his brushing (way to go Addo!) but not the stuff of which blogs are made. Fortunately, it was Aunt Pat to the rescue on Wednesday and Thursday by taking Colin and Parker to the the Children's Museum on Wednesday and Colin for a tour of the Pioneer Museum and Beehive House on Thursday. Friday we did use some coupons and spent some time at Fat Cats. It was fun but the Knight boys are really just homebodies at heart.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
easter fun
all of the kids got so many fun things in thire easter basket like drop pop a new drum pedle and the kids fav wiifit
Sunday, February 22, 2009
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