Lucy Reflects

This might upset some folks, but I used to be so irritated with moms who sold stuff.

When someone invited me to a LuLaRoe, Mary Kay or a Pampered Chef party, I’d end up eating a ton of appetizers, have a few drinks and suddenly have $300 charged to my credit card for a pair of odd kitchen shears, a vegetable chopping thingy I’d probably never use and leggings with hippos all over them.

For those of you who are about to MF me for saying that, I’m sorry because I’m starting to get it.

About a year ago, I began toying with the idea of going back to work. I had a second successful interview with a company. Everything went well and I expressed how grateful I was for the opportunity to get back into the swing of things after staying at home for about three years.

I thought I had this job in the bag, high fiving myself on the way home, blaring “Eye of the Tiger” on the car radio. I was sure I nailed that interview and was really looking forward to working for them.

I was promised a call back and couldn’t even get them to respond to two emails. I didn’t even get a rejection letter. Talk about taking the wind out of my sails. I was feeling really down and had absolutely no idea what went wrong. Was it because I was an at-risk hire as a parent returning to work? Did I smell that day? Did they think I was only capable of sitting at my desk scribbling with crayons and making macaroni crafts?

God knows when you get no response you come up with 13 reasons why you weren’t hired. Are the six years I spent in college to make sure I could succeed suddenly discredited because I took some time off to raise my children? It’s a frustrating thought when you’re repaying those school loans every month.

As mothers who choose to stay home, or fathers for that matter, we are faced with an extremely difficult transition. Not only do we have to figure out the logistics of HOW to work, go through the nerve-wracking experience of GETTING a job, we also have to convince potential companies that we are still capable of it. In my experience, it seems that by taking a hiatus to raise your children for a few years equates to being a high-school dropout.

I’m currently trying to find the elusive balance and am VERY SLOWLY building my resume as a professional writer. This blog is nothing but a hobby, I make no money. My goal is to work for myself, which is where all the moms who are selling come in. When it comes down to it, I don’t know if it’s possible for me to work full time. The idea that it takes a village to raise a child doesn’t exist anymore. When I think about trying to fill those errands with the help of someone else, I’m suddenly riddled with anxiety. I’ve come across some great job opportunities and didn’t even pursue them because I can’t figure out the at-home logistics.

It seems the only way to reach a happy medium is by being your own boss, which is most likely why all my fellow moms are selling products. I was a bartender with a master’s degree. Or working odds-and- ends jobs. I’m hoping I can be successful pursuing my dreams and I hope the same for every other parent facing the same challenges. Because I get it, it’s not easy. It’s like you have to dig deep beyond the chores, constant need to wipe butts, cooking, and cleaning, to find yourself again.

To quote Dolly Parton, “You’re in the same boat with a lotta your friends, waitin’ for the day your ship’ll come in, an the tide is gonna turn and it’s gonna roll your way.”

By the way, moms, I seriously get sucked into your live videos on my newsfeed and as soon as I develop a bit more of a disposable income, I’ll start purchasing your product.

We’d like to hear from you about your experiences as a stay-at- home parent trying to supplement your income or return to work. Was it easy? Difficult? Still trying to figure it out like I am?