Back to the Grind

Well, yesterday was my first day back to work after 16 weeks of maternity leave. I've had mixed feelings about going back to work. There have been times that I have been OK with it, and other times where I have been on the verge of tears just thinking about it. The thing is - I like my job, but I like my kids more. But, being a stay at home mom is no picnic either. I think in my ideal world I would work a little less but still have the house cleaner and nanny for most of the time. I love the help with keeping the house clean, laundry, dinner and of course, the kids. My sister nannies for us and I work from home. It works out really well. I am so grateful I enjoy my job and I get to work from home. I still get to see my kids during the day, eat lunch with them, nurse Holden and come out of my office to watch him stick his tongue out (a new trick he just learned)

For those of you wondering - I am an Account Management Supervisor (inside sales) for a pathology medical software company. Pathologists are the ones that diagnose cancer. I have been with the same company for 13 years in various roles. I started my second year of college and worked in Support, R&D, Operations and then ended up in Sales in 1998. I was entering my last year of college at UVSC getting a BS in Business Management when a sales position came open in the company - there were only 3, so it was a big deal to have an opening. After some coaching from one of the sales reps to fight for the position, I did. I "sold" the President so well, he finally gave me the job on the condition that I make my sales quota, graduate from college and put the job first - no excuses because of school - the job came first. He said he knew I would make a great sales rep when I wouldn't take "No" for an answer - it took over a month of selling him to get that position. That year I worked full time during the day, attended school full time in the evening and traveled on a regular basis. My teachers were so good to work with my travel schedule and were thrilled I had landed such a great job in my major. I got a 4.0 that year and attained well over my quota in sales. That was the beginning of a lifetime love of sales.

When Jason and I decided to have children, I gave up my Sales Manager title (didn't want the stress anymore) and switched from new sales to inside sales so I could have less travel. I really do love my job. I mostly work via phone and email selling software upgrades, add-on modules and interfaces to our current customers - many of whom I initially sold the product as a new sales rep. It is fun to have built such strong relationships with clients over the years. I try to travel as little as possible these days due to my family - but my territory does go from CA to the Dakotas, so travel is inevitable. But, a lot of my trips tend to be day trips, which is great. I am soooo glad I can work from home. There are days that I wish I could be a stay at home mom. But, most days I am happy to be working and very grateful for a wonderful job that allows me to make a good living, enjoy what I do and work from home.

Here are some sweet notes the kids wrote me yesterday on my first day back to work. They "mailed" them to me (slipped them under the door). Last week I told Dawson I was bummed I was going back to work and he said - "That's OK Mom, because you work from home" - thanks son!

Dawson wrote this all by himself - cute!

I WUV YOU MOME. I MIS YOU MOME. AND I WUV YOU

Taya's Letter