Work-Life Balance

My kids are growing up so fast and I didn't realize that until it was time for me and my husband to do the preparations for my son's 7th birthday last year. The realization also became more clear when I became a full time mom. I always thought it was simple separation anxiety every time they ask me to stay whenever I leave for work, that they get over it once I'm gone. It was more. My son told me his sister cries herself to sleep asking for Mommy during those times. And that he wished during those times they had exams the next morning that it was me who helped him study. It probably wouldn't have been that hard if my job was a regular 8-5. It was, although it was 8-5 on a different time zone, I work at night. Just the same, I would have been away from them for a lot of hours during the day.

Taken at my son's 7th bday

When I left the corporate world, I worried about its impact on our finances. I was earning almost the same as my husband so that meant incoming earnings will be cut to half. My son is going to private school, we have bills to pay and expenses everyday. My husband says we can get through it. Just a few adjustments and we'll be fine. I believe him when he says that but I know I also have to do something to help. I started doing paid surveys, I signed up for part time work from home jobs that were only open seasonal, I blogged here in Steemit. The money that I made were kept on a separate bank account, it served as our emergency funds when his pay couldn't meet from end to end.

The trips to the malls, dine outs and leisure walks became limited. We tried to be as frugal as we can. This coming school year, my youngest is done from daycare and will continue to a regular school. We've made discussions whether to put them both in public schools or have her enrolled at the same school where her brother is going. I told my husband we'll see by March of how our financial situation is and we'll decide from there. School starts in June anyway.

Last week, I got a call from a company from the US looking for offshore virtual assistants. A colleague gave them my name. They invited me for an interview and although I wasn't ready, I was surprised I got in. It was my first day today as a full-time virtual assistant working from home.

My kids got stressed out when they saw me put on a nice shirt but they got confused when I had them over pajamas. I told them I was going to work. They sang in chorus, "you promised you never have to leave again?" I led them to their toy room and they saw my laptop with my headset. I told them, it was going to be my office from now on. They hugged me and promised they'd bring me my snacks when I feel hungry.

My last coffee break when I changed into my comfy shirt

I had two 15-minute coffee breaks and one full hour of lunch break. Both of which were spent preparing their meals, squeezing house chores and playing with them. This setup is paying me more than what I was getting from the job I left, it felt too good to be true. After my 2nd coffee break today, I told my boss I feel overwhelmed with awe for this setup. He told me to get used to it and bear to see the faces of my kids because it was the company's goal - to build a strong work life balance with this setup.

Whoever founded this company I'm now with must also be a parent who share the same sentiments I have. And I must thank her for the opportunity to be productive while watching my kids grow.

Thanks for reading!

Love,
Jonah (and John)