I just got offered, and accepted, a job working as a developmental disabilities specialist for a nonprofit parent advocacy organization that helps people all over the state.

It's PT, 22 hrs/week, with full benefits - paid sick, personal, holiday time, vacation, health dental, 403b (a 401k for nonprofits). And it's something I know I will love doing and be good at.

It will still leave plenty of time for my regular writing gig as well as any other writing assignments I land. It will just mean that I'm now able to focus on what I really want to write and not feel pressured to take whatever I can in order to pay the bills. I'll need to keep up motivation.

The best part: I get to work from home and flex my hours however I want. If I want to take a week off but can't afford to lose the pay, I can work 44 hrs one week and 0 the next. If I want to work 2 10-hour days and have 3 days free every week, that's fine. It's all completely up to me. I'll never lose my job because of J's health needs. I can take unpaid time off whenever I want. They even will pay my phone and internet costs and travel to the job site and anywhere else I have to go. I will have to travel a bit but not a lot. Probably a bit at first as I introduce myself to the players in the DD services "scene" in the state. ;)

I'm really excited! To bring it on topic, I feel we're finally on really solid financial footing. All the risks we took, and even the HEL - which essentially financed me not working for money for the past two years - were totally worth it. Part of the reason they hired me was because they were so impressed with my strong advocacy for Jake these past 2 years. (And don't think it doesn't carry clout w/my school team that I am now working for the parent advocacy org! LOL! They're gonna flip.)

I'm so happy today, mamas. :D Now I need to get back to work! I am going to be one very busy mama.

that's so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is so fantastic. I am so glad things have been looking up for you! Just does my heart good every time I see a post from you these days! :)

Congratulations!! That's so awesome! I'm thrilled for you. :D

Yay!!!

Thanks mamas! I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging or gloating. But yeah, after a lot of struggle these past few years with finances, and after a big risk moving up here and wondering if I'd ever find decent-paying work in such a rural area - well, my mind is completely blown by all the bounties that have come my way in the past month.

Thanks mamas! I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging or gloating. But yeah, after a lot of struggle these past few years with finances, and after a big risk moving up here and wondering if I'd ever find decent-paying work in such a rural area - well, my mind is completely blown by all the bounties that have come my way in the past month.

Oh, Lauren - I have the upmost respect for you and have never seen you as a bragger. :hug:

I am SO excited for you!!! Awesome news.

Will you be able to come to A-ville? :D

That is really great :D I want to grow up to do something similar someday soon..I'd really love to be an RDI consultant but I will never have the money to finance the training!

That is AWESOME!! :hbeat: :monkeydan :cuc: :big hug:

Great news! Im so glad you were able to find something so perfectly suited to your needs. Im glad you shared, it helkps to hear success stories!

:hug: Yay :)

wow, that is Awesome lauren! Where do I find me a job like that? :)

Congratulations!!!

Congrats on the new gig! It is absolutely NOT bragging to share great news, esp. when you've worked amazingly hard, climbed more than a few mountains, and learned much on your journey to this point. Best of luck finding a new balance.

That's WONDERFUL news! We'll have to throw you a party here in the simplifying and thrift forum. I'll bake a cake from scratch. ;pot:

Oh Lauren! YOU WILL BE SO GOOD AT THAT! That is really really wonderful. I can see you excelling in both the fields you have chosen to go into... I am proud of you and so excited for you! Congratulations!!!!!

Val

Awesome! You deserve it, and I love to hear about people following non-traditional paths to achieving what they want in life.

You go girl!

:heart: Thanks so much mamas.

So let me tell you a little bit more about what I will be doing...

Basically it's my job to learn the system of dev. dis. services in the state, and create printed/web material to break it down for people. I will take what is a vast and confusing system and make it simple and accessible for parents of kids w/dd's and adults w/dd's as well. I'll help people navigate sometimes directly, via phone, sometimes by providing info to the other consultants who work for the organization, sometimes via email, or just by providing the printed info I've created.

They asked if I would be interested in getting involved w/Special Olympics, because they'd like to have a presence there, and I said YES! Absolutely! :D I would love it. One of the things I've been missing since moving up here has been connecting with the dd community directly...because of inclusion and our isolation, I really haven't done this.

I also think that having some interaction w/people and even traveling to the Big City once in a while will do me some good. It's hard to sit at a computer, completely alone, for 8 hrs a day every day. It will feed my soul to have some interaction & connection.

This kind of landed in my lap...so I would advise folks to just keep your eyes and heart open...I almost didn't apply because I had written it off as too far away and too low-paying. But dh and others encouraged me to just go for it. I'm so glad I did! :D

I also just landed another writing assignment yesterday, a national one. :) So things are picking up in that direction too. My writer friend connected me with a new google group for writers that has some really accomplished people on it who are great connections for me to develop. Things are just moving right along on that front too. So it's like, after last year just despairing and freaking out (I mean last August I had just worried myself sick over finances!), things are really turning around.

Oh and dh is getting more and more excited about being the primary "farmer." Well, he still wants me to do the garden. :D But he is getting excited about starting a small business providing local food to people. Me working opens up this opportunity because it requires investment and we just could NOT get into debt for it. Definitely for the first few years it will just be a second job for him...but who knows what after that.

Life is good...so good. :) I have not had a "real job" in ten years!

that is so excellent :D

Congratulations!!! :cuc:

Finding a PT with full benefits is awesome, but then also finding one that you can do from home, and most importantly--*love to do*, well that's priceless! :D

That's awesome Lauren! Congrats!

I work roughly the same schedule - though not at home, that would really be great - and get benefits, too. Gotta love the social services/non-profit/University jobs where they actually pay someone a living wage and create a living job...

Congratulations Lauren! I am so happy for you.

wow!! what a super cool way to combine your knowledge and passion for advocacy and DD and your writing. they did such a great job chosing you!! i worked closely with the "parent mentor" in my school system when i was doing speech in the schools. she provided info and support for parents of children with special needs in the county, mostly through email and phone. navigating them through all the steps and helping them find all the resources available to them. she would go to IEP meetings to help parents as well, which was so interesting...b/c she was employed by the school system (through a state grant), but was on the "side" of the parent. woo...sometimes the issues got a little heated. but...it was soooo great to have her. sounds like you'll be doing more creating/writing than that, and that will be so great.

alright, mama. so...you have this job, 2 writing jobs so far....AND the farm to school grant program. WHOA! sounds so great. and busy too!