Changes... and my first 40/40 triumph!

I am almost finished compiling my 40/40 list and only have to think of five more things to add to it.  I am proud to say however, that I have marked off the first item on the list!! After long discussions with my husband, many sleepless nights, and plenty of number crunching. I decided it was time to leave Wal-Mart.  I am still in a shock and it feels a little bit surreal since it has only been a week, but I am 100% certain it was the right thing to do.

I have been thinking about this for a long time, but it wasn't until my mom passed away that I realized how fragile life was and how important it is to spend time with those that are the most important to you.  It is unfortunate that it took a tragedy such as this to make me  realize how much I have been missing out on and  that this was not the sort of life I wanted to be living.

My Grandmother secured this job for me when I was 16 and in need of a driver's license.  Since I was not allowed to drive until I got a job, this was a good fit.  It was a family affair with my grandmother and aunt working in the same store.  I knew a lot of people there and my best friend Shelly worked with me as well.  I made relationships that have stuck with me throughout my life and I would be lying if I said there weren't some good times at store #667 in Tullahoma, TN.

Working for Wal-Mart provided quite a bit of flexibility as I moved to three different states and five separate stores, bore five children and returned to school.  I managed to work there for 18.5 years. Through the years, Wal-Mart's store policy has become stricter with scheduling and criteria for part-time vs. full time associates which affected things like insurance, vacation, and personal flexibility.

Ever since my first child was born 12 years ago, I have missed many of the extra-curricular activities they have participated in not to mention the things they were unable to do because of my work schedule.  This includes school activities, sports, theater productions, and community and family events.  At this point in time it means I would miss my daughters first year playing on the "A" team for middle school basketball.  This is something she is very excited about and devoted to and it would be terrible if I couldn't be there to support her.

Since I would leave for work as soon as my husband would get home, the kids were used to being in a single-parent environment most of the time and it has caused conflict with parenting styles and it was hard for us to collaborate on discipline and chores.  Together, my husband and I make a pretty good team, but it was hard to execute when we were rarely home at the same time.  That one hour before I would leave for work was extremely hectic and stressful for me, my husband and the kids.

On top of the emotional toll it took on my family life, I was physically beginning to feel the effects of working in that environment.  My body hurts in ways I don't understand. I have foot pain that is directly related to working on the concrete floors, and would suffer minor carpel tunnel from time to time.  At only 34 years old, I hobble around like someone much older despite being in better shape than I have been in during the last decade.

It was a hard decision to come to, and we weighed all the pros and cons but when it came down to it, this was the best decision for our family.  It was breaking my heart to miss so much and to see my kids grow up knowing I was missing so much of it.  Hopefully I am not too late and we can enjoy being a family and doing things together because that is what matters the most.  Even though this decision will provide us with many challenges, it will make life much more rewarding.