Living the Dream

part 1 HERE, part 2 HERE

Why does my dream of being a Parent Consultant have to be put on hold?

On January 3rd I read an email about a job opening with PEAC for a program coordinator position. PEAC was looking for someone who could coordinate the Educational Right's Project and the Parent Consultant Network. The job is 20 hours a week. The office is in the heart of Philly and is housed within the offices of Vision for Equality. Some of the work of the program coordinator can be done remotely from home. Hours are flexible. Possibilities are endless.

My heart skipped a beat (maybe three) as I read the job description. If I had been given magical powers to design my ideal job, I would not have been able to conceive of such a perfect fit of my professional background, availability, and personal goals. It had been more than a decade since I updated my resume, so I contacted my references, submitted my application, and waited. Within days a PEAC board member contacted me to do a phone interview. Then I was asked to go into the city for a second interview. Shortly after, as Mark and I were with our realtor touring potential houses to buy, I received a call from PEAC's President. The job was mine and as such I will not be able to be a Parent Consultant during the time that I coordinate the program. My dream has evolved.

Not only do I have the most amazing family that anyone could ask for, but I get to experience both worlds. Friday was my first day. I will still be a (mostly) stay-at-home mom, but I also now have a job that is affecting change on individual and systemic levels.

We have a great sitter who is coming to the house and on the days that I go into the office I will be taking the SEPTA train. My walk to work from the station takes me by Chinatown. The office is 2 blocks from Independence Hall.

In my heart I'm still a girl from Iowa and I keep pinching myself to see if this is really my life. I am exactly where I'm supposed to be.