New Jobs

Both of my older kids start new jobs today.  I guess my son has already been there for a couple of hours now (it's currently 7am - YIKES).  I'm so happy for both of them and hope both positions work out. 

It's crazy how much I've been worrying about them.  I remember my mom commenting how much she worried about my brothers and me when we became adults.  I try to behave and not become a total facebook stalker, but it's about the only way I ever get any updates on their lives.  Oh crap, that sounds like a whiny mom "you nevah call meee."  That's not right either because you know what, that damn phone works both ways.  But it was through facebook that my ex and I both discovered that our son had actually gotten the new job.  I didn't feel so bad when I saw his dad's posting, "when were you going to tell me?"

I guess the worrying doesn't subside.  My mom was glued to my side all day Friday - or as much as the surgeons would let her.  I'm quite sure she would have gone in the operating room had they allowed her.  She was worried about me and she didn't it make much effort to veil it either.  And if you sat next to my Grandma you would hear her voice endless concern about my mom. 

Once a parent, always a parent.  And a parent's job is to worry. 

Good Job/Bad Job

Have you ever had a really shitty job?  One where you are physically sick every morning at the thought of going in, yet again? 

Yeah, I've had that job.  A couple of times.

Maybe because I've been there/done that/have the t-shirt that I revel in having a job I actually enjoy with coworkers who take their jobs seriously in an environment that fosters our individuality and personal growth.  That cannot be said about a lot of places.  A whole lot of places!

Granted I'm not making as much as I could if I worked elsewhere, but that's part and parcel with working at a non-profit (Yes, people who work at a non-profit do in fact receive paychecks, we have families to feed too).  I think people would be suspect if I were making the big bucks.  And while it's nice to fantasize about meaty paycheck, that's not why I'm here.

Almost from the first day, I found amusement with my coworkers who whined about office politics and oppressive management.  I looked around, a little lost, HERE?  Really?????  I sat back and watched and waited.  Maybe it was hidden and I was just missing it.  Five years later, in fact last Friday was my five year anniversary, I have yet to see anything that comes close to office politics.  I sure as hell don't see anything oppressive about the management.  There isn't backstabbing, glory-hogging, grand-standing or any of the other bullshit that I have seen truly dismantle a work environment.

All in all this is a downright pleasant place to work. 

That doesn't mean there aren't bumps in the road.  Some days are much harder than others.  Stress abounds from every corner.  These are just facts of life no matter where you work.

I think maybe it's that stress causing some people to whimper and whine.  When life gets tough, we whine.  I also think that some of my coworkers, never really had a crappy job.  I would never wish a bad job on anyone, especially these nice people, but having gone through some very hellish work environments I value and cherish coming into work without tiptoeing on eggshells.

I worked for a company where the owner didn't believe in giving written warnings.  If you screwed up you were out.  If it was perceived you screwed up you were out.  He violated a lot of rules about employment, but nobody ever brought charges.  It wasn't worth it.  Just move on to another shitty job.

I worked in the corporate world at a couple of places.  Everyone was sleeping with someone else or bitter that someone else was sleeping with their former partner or trying to weasel in on someone else's action.  Coworkers were totally driven by position, money and glory.  Backstabbing and undermining were daily events.  Doing a good job, being concerned with customer service, being helpful only meant you were weak.

I've worked at a place so riddled with bureaucracy that the only way to get your job done was to keep your head low, stay out of the light, and just break the rules.  If you got caught, you were out (after a long write up and counseling).  But if you didn't get your job done, you were out (after a long write up and counseling).  In the interim, big brother is looking over your shoulder and bigger brother is looking over his shoulder.

It was getting to the point that I was going to throw my hands up in despair and become a stay-at-home mom.  That's not a slam on SAHM's, but for me, I need to get out of the house with something that forces me out of bed and out of my pajamas.  I don't do that well on my own.  A job keeps me from being crazy cat lady with five years worth of unread newspapers piled up in my kitchen.

There are some bad bad bad jobs out there.  Where I'm at?  NOT a bad job.  It wouldn't know how to be a bad job.  It's a caring environment.  The management cares, the employees care, the board cares.  Tough decisions have to be made, but they are done so in a manner that takes into consideration our mission, clients and employees.  Honestly, if the word got out people would be pounding down the doors to get in here.

So tell me about a job you have really enjoyed.