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