| Left work to be a stay at home mom . . . so | | | | introverted than I'd like to be, so I became |
| why do you feel like you are missing out? | | | | more involved with school functions, field |
| | | | trips etc. Worked on developing more that a |
| If this sounds like you read on. If this | | | | nodding relationship with the parents of my |
| sounds like someone you know, share it. | | | | sons friends and eventually actually had |
| | | | something to talk about with them each time |
| I, like many stay at home moms, often wonder | | | | we ran into each other, and I actually knew |
| if I did the right thing. Yes, I know, | | | | them by name. That went a long way to getting |
| staying at home to raise my family could | | | | me out of my introverted self and outwardly I |
| never have been the wrong choice, but I often | | | | felt people were much more responsive to me |
| wonder what would happen if I'd be forced | | | | as well. |
| back into the working world, due to some | | | | |
| unforseen tragedy. | | | | Lastly, I decided that it was time to try and |
| | | | start a business of my own. As I said, I did |
| I left a very well paying position as a | | | | not want to work in an office, I really liked |
| manager with a highly respected retirement | | | | my freedom and my new found creativity that I |
| investment firm three years ago. This was a | | | | hadn't known existed (or hadn't allowed to |
| decision my husband and I had made eight | | | | exist) before my latest revelation. I began |
| years prior with the birth of our son. We had | | | | by talking with friends who were |
| already been raising a daughter and she was | | | | entrepreneurial in spirit. Some took the odd |
| eleven at the time. Never needing to take | | | | job/ handyman approach, some were contractors |
| significant amounts of time to travel back | | | | and one is even a published author! (You can |
| and forth from work, and having decent day | | | | visit her web site at the address below, but |
| care was what got us through those years. | | | | be sure to come back and see me.) All were |
| But, having moved into a country setting and | | | | getting by and staying active in the working |
| having available resources few and far | | | | world on their own terms. I looked into sales |
| between, not to mention the two hour commute | | | | such as party goods and home decorations and |
| each day for both of us, the decision was | | | | found that I just wasn't passionate about |
| made to put our resources into making a stay | | | | those items and that just wasn't for me. |
| at home opportunity feasible. | | | | |
| | | | However, sometimes the best things come out |
| Well, needless to say, it took eight years to | | | | of the blue and that's what happened to me. |
| make that happen. With my husband starting a | | | | |
| new company and my ability to make a decent | | | | I was speaking with my mother about making |
| salary providing the jumping off point, all | | | | rootbeer. She made it when we were kids, by |
| that was left was to take the plunge. At that | | | | actually digging the root from a tree (or |
| point, I couldn't have been happier, but with | | | | bush) . . . not sure. Well anyway, she |
| each passing season, I began to see myself as | | | | couldn't remember what kind of root it was |
| less and less valuable . . . Can you imagine? | | | | and I entered a search for root beer and |
| | | | stumbled onto Watkins Online. I was intrigued |
| Here's where I realized that, by depending | | | | with the products. When I realized it was a |
| solely on my husband, and staying out of the | | | | work-at-home opportunity, I was doubly |
| work force I was losing control of my life. I | | | | surprised, since I had just recently decided |
| was missing something or missing out somehow. | | | | to try and get something started. |
| But, in making this frightening assessment, I | | | | |
| also came to understand who I really was and | | | | As I dug deeper into the Watkins story and |
| what I really wanted. I love being home and | | | | the company background, (bb reports, message |
| taking care of my family, I never wish to go | | | | boards, Winona local news, etc.), I realized |
| back to working 50+ hours a week and I | | | | that this looked like a solid company, with |
| certainly do not want to work in an office | | | | good community ties, good ethical background |
| environment again. So how did I go about | | | | and management, and a great product line to |
| making some positive changes? | | | | boot! |
| | | | |
| First, I took a look around me and at the | | | | Well, I got off track and never found the |
| people and relationships I most admired. It | | | | answer to my rootbeer question, needless to |
| turned out that I had lost contact with many | | | | say. But I've found a way to incorporate my |
| of those people, and began to make a | | | | desire to rekindle relationships, make new |
| conscious effort to make time for them and | | | | and lasting friendships and feel productive |
| include them in my life again as well. | | | | without taking time away from my family. |
| | | | These things are the most important aspects |
| Then, I looked at my friendships that had | | | | of my life and I'm glad that I've been given |
| stood up over time, and realized that I | | | | the opportunity to gain some insight into my |
| really didn't have many friends who I would | | | | own needs and actually do something about |
| call close, but still had those who were a | | | | satisfying them. Hopefully, sharing my |
| pleasure to spend time with. I also realized | | | | experience will help others to find out what |
| that I'm not a "girlfriend to go shopping | | | | exactly it is that they are missing in their |
| with" kind of gal, so I wasn't missing out | | | | lives and make some positive changes. |
| there but I still felt that I was a bit more | | | | |