Alaskan Magees: The countdown

Four days to go...

Next week is officially my last week as a physical therapist (well, full-time anyway). A decision that has been long in the works is becoming a reality. I'm sure it will seem a little surreal walking out of that clinic Friday afternoon, considering it is the only place I have worked since I graduated. The things I have learned, the people that have touched my life, the laughter, the frustrations and all the growing pains of career building are contained in that tiny clinic. I'm definitely not looking forward to leaving my line of work, but I AM looking forward to being home more.

Last winter is when I began to feel an urge to be home with my kiddos...something I tried to ignore, thinking it was just a little phase of "burn out" that would pass. As it turned out, it only became a more intense desire in my heart. Logan topped it off last April when he began crying every day that he didn't want to go to daycare. He "just wanted to be home and sit with Mommy." (insert a double dose of the traditional Mommy guilt here) At that time, I began requesting to go part time at work. In October, that request was approved, pending they could find someone else to cover the other "part time" hours that made up my full-time position. For those of you that don't live in Alaska, there is a bit of a shortage of therapists up here. The ones that ARE here, are already working....and nobody else seems to be flocking to the little town of Kenai...and so the wait continued...

Meanwhile, Ryan and I became quite strict with our budget, paying things off as fast as we could, getting ready for the one-income lifestyle. In February, we arrived to a point where it was possible. So after much praying and talking, I gave my 10-week notice at my job. May 2nd would be my last full-time shift. I did offer (and my director accepted) to remain on at per diem status, which means I'm available to fill in when needed (vacations, sickness, etc.). I'll work one weekend a month at the hospital to help fill in some of the needed coverage there. In exchange, I get to stay in the loop with the department and I'll easily have enough work hours to maintain my physical therapist license. Everyone wins.

For those that have already been introduced to this announcement, there's a few questions that have come up repeatedly:

1. Why the change? After I had Logan, I felt I had a perfect balance between career and family: three-day weekends, only three days of daycare a week, etc. Somehow, I never found that balance after Carter was born. Maybe it was a second-baby syndrome...or having two babies in two years...who knows? Regardless of the reason, I have long felt that, although I love the career I chose, I was tired of all my time and energy going into work. I spent four days at work and felt as if I was spending my three days at home getting ready for the next four days at work. At the end of the day, I didn't have much time, energy or patience left over. And that's exactly what the people I care most about got from me...the leftovers. I'm not sure how I lost that "perfect balance" I had the first time around, but I do know I haven't managed to find it.

2. What does Ryan think? Ultimately, I guess you'd have to ask him. But, for the past year, we have had many conversations about this topic. We knew this was something that had to feel right for both of us or it would be a curse rather than a blessing. He has been completely supportive and has made many sacrifices to make this possible. It was a bit humbling for both of us, considering my degree directed our lives in so many ways for so many years; it determined where we lived and when we had children, so it was difficult to walk away from that after only six years.

3. What will you miss about working? I will definitely miss the adult interaction. I expect the honeymoon of this transition to last about two weeks...then I may have a bit of a "what have I done?" moment. But, I choose to look at what I'm gaining rather than what I'm giving up. However, I will sooooooo miss my patients, especially the ones that I've seen multiple times over the last six years, the ones that have become friends more than clients, the ones that I have inside jokes with. I will also miss the whole Kenai crew. I was blessed to be working with coworkers that are Christians and our lunch conversations were probably not like at many other work places. We have become a family, that disagrees and fusses at times, but loves each other just the same. I think that's a rare find these days.

4. What are you going to do? (This question comes from those that don't have toddlers) I'm home schooling the boys for one, which takes lots of time and energy. Logan's also going to play soccer this summer (well, we're signing him up...I guess I don't actually KNOW if he'll PLAY). We have plans for going to toddler time at the gym, reading time at the library, and lots of quality play dates in the sand box. Our boys have a whole room full of toys, but what they always want is for Mommy and Daddy to play with them...and that's what I fully intend to do.

And so the adventure in to my new career begins. It doesn' t pay much, but I do get room and board and I hear the benefit package is like none other! The first order of business? Wheelbarrow races...

Carter has the lead heading in to turn one...