Workin' Nine to Five

I'm the girl of many jobs, so I figured I'd share with you the places that I've worked.

Baby-sitting

Okay, baby-sitting wasn't a "real" job, but it was my first way of making money. I actually started baby-sitting a month or two before I turned 11. The thought of a 10 year old watching kids scares me a little now, but I was a responsible chica. Within months, I was THEE babysitter everyone called. I always liked watching the kids across the street from us because they paid more than what I charged. (I charged a whopping $2.50/hr). I learned a lot from baby-sitting though. Things like, you should definitely remember to take the foil wrapper off of something before putting it into a microwave. Oops. I learned how to take control of a situation though, and learned how to lay down the law so that kids would listen to me. I actually babysat up until about the time that I met Jacob. Of course, by that point people were paying me $10/hr!

True Value

I got that job when I was 14. A man at our church owned the store and asked my parent's if they thought I was responsible enough to have a job and if I'd be interested. I thought it was pretty cool to have a real job. I pretty much only worked on weekends. I was a cashier. I enjoyed running the register, but hated having to stand all day! It was a pretty fun job though. I met lots of people...some quite interesting. There were the regulars that I got to know by name and they got to know mine too. There were 2 managers, Mike and Dick. Mike was everyone's favorite and I got to know their family very well. Dick was a cranky old man! I thought he hated me and dreaded calling him up when I needed something, but in time I actually ended up learned how to joke with him and I think I was the only cashier who actually liked him. I loved when it was slow and I got to go put the returns away or stock the spray paint. Seriously. On my lunch break I would walk up to Burger King. I remember one winter I was walking up there and I slipped and fell on the ice. I popped back up hoping no one saw me, but a couple guys at Jiffy Lube were standing there applauding me. Oh brother.

Hy-Vee

Eventually I was tired of smelling like fertilizer and I don't think I was getting many hours, so I got a job at the Johnson Ave. Hy-Vee. I was 16, so I got to work the register there too. I was just glad I didn't have to be a bagger and run the drive-up because I did that one night and hated it! I liked the job for awhile and then started dreading it. I was having problems with my foot (the one I later had surgery on), so standing for 8 hours was brutal. I loved the customers who were friendly and talked to me. I hated the ones who complained about things ringing up wrong. One old lady complained to my manager that I didn't offer her drive-up. She had 2 bags. 2 BAGS, PEOPLE! I would also like to add that she had 2 hands. Some people.

KinderCare 

I wanted out of any job that had to deal with customers. It was just not for me. My first daycare job began in January of 2002. I only worked at this job for 5 months, but it got my foot in the door for daycare experience. I actually kept my job at Hy-Vee until April and only worked there on weekends. I worked at KinderCare for 2.5 hours every day after school. I floated to whatever room needed me. My favorite rooms were the 1 year old and 2 year old rooms. I never got to work in the baby room there. I hated working in the school age room, but got stuck in there a lot. I did have a few kids in each age group that I got attached to, but I had to find a job that could offer me more hours in the summer and they couldn't promise me any more.

Morning Star Christian Daycare

I worked at Morning Star from June 2002-August 2003. I still think this was my favorite job that I've had. It was a small center. It was actually a house that had been renovated into a daycare. There were about 18 kids ages 2-5. For quite awhile the kids were all combined. Later we divided them so the 2 year olds were in their own room. I was the Lead Teacher in that room and loved it. I had 8 kids and planned out activities for them each day. My favorite thing that I did was have a Teddy Bear Picnic. I read the book to them and had them all bring their favorite teddy bear from home. We spread out a table cloth on the ground and feasted on Teddy Grahams! Potty training was crazy...but I got them potty trained. I was VERY proud of that accomplishment. Now just the thought of potty training that many kids exhausts me! I got very close to many of the kids there. Of course, there were trouble makers too! I remember one time telling a little boy he couldn't play in the water on Water Day because he'd been in trouble to much and that little booger grabbed the hose when I wasn't looking and hosed me down! I think I loved that job so much because I hadn't experienced any kind of burn out yet!

Wascally Wabbits/Building Blocks

Well, this was probably the stupidest decision I ever made. My boss from Morning Star decided to start her own daycare and I decided to go with her. She started it in her home in August of 2003 and eventually bought a building. Hence the 2 names. She changed it when she got a center. I really only went because I wanted to work with babies and she was going to put me in charge of them. I have to say, I LOVED many of my kiddos, so in that aspect I don't regret changing jobs, but her drama and the way she ran things were just not worth it in the long run. A friend of mine who had also worked for this boss was working at another daycare and really wanted me to come join her. She knew it would be a good opportunity for me and I needed out of where I was. In fact, when I gave my 2 weeks notice, my boss, who claimed she was my friend, refused to talk to me for my last 2 weeks and left without saying goodbye on my last day. Although my favorite family had me in tears as they said goodbye.

5 Seasons Learning Center

Best job I've ever had. Morning Star was my favorite, but this was a close 2nd and really was the best for me. I was thankful for my friend for putting in a good word for me. I started working there in February of 2005 and worked there until April of 2009. I grew so much as a person while having that job. Although there were many changes over the years (some that I liked and some that I hated) I always made it through them and learned to accept them. I LOVED my boss. She is an amazing person. She was someone I could go to about anything. She got to know everyone on a personal level, but maintained her position of authority. She could tell it like it was and I respected her so much. In July of 2006 I was made the Assistant Director. It was something I never had really thought much about until they came to me and asked if I would interview for the spot! Me! I was 22, so I figured that they would offer it to someone with more experience. I was thrilled that I got the job and loved the position (for the most part) for the next 3 years.

Lighthouse Learning Center

My current job. I've been there since August of 2009. I can't believe it's already been over a year. I miss my old job a lot sometimes, but I've grown to enjoy different aspects of this job too. It took awhile for me to not be bothered by the fact that I felt so lowly after having a bigger amount of authority at my old job. It still bothers me that I make so much less where I am now, but I am thankful that I have a job. I've grown to love my little munchkins here too!

I didn't realize this post would grow to be so long. Maybe I should have made it a 2 parter. I've had a lot of jobs in my life and yet sometimes I feel like I haven't done much. A couple things I know though...I never want to work retail again and I know more about babies that a lot of people do!