Jo Momma: May 2015

Inogen vs Michaels
I was reading some old blog posts and I realized I never really gave an update on my new job. Many people were shocked that I left Michael's for somewhere else. Trust me that no one was more surprised by my decision as myself. I truly loved the job and the people. I was the best me I could be there. I was however working for a corporation that had many restrictions on its employees. I won't go into to much detail about this but it became clear to me that to make the income I needed to support my family would have meant promoting to a position that made it even harder to spend time with them. My kids especially my youngest were struggling with this. I would go 3-4 days a week without seeing Chandler and Dylan at all. Elliot very briefly in the rush of the morning. I had interviewed at Inogen before Michael's. They called me after I had already been promoted since it only took a couple of months. I turned them down because of a promise to stay for at least a year in my position, plus I loved the job and couldn't imagine leaving it. After a long frustrating day when I realized what my future was going to be there I got a call saying they wanted me to come in and interview again and they had a position for me. If they had called the day before I would have said no. They got me at the perfect time. I said ok. I scheduled the interview on my day off. They officially offered me the job a few weeks later (this all took place over the holidays so it was a slower process than normal). I agonized, cried, and made many pros and cons list. I could not imagine leaving Michaels. It was my home, my happy place, I had so many friends, customers I helped on a regular basis and the other Managers. They had become like sisters. How could I leave them. How could I leave that place. It was truly part of me and it made my soul happy. Then I sat down and talked to my kids about the decision I had to make. They asked a lot of questions. When they found out I could be home for dinner and on the weekends they were so happy. This is what made the final decision. My kids still wanted me around. I won't have many more years of that. I knew I would not love my new job. I knew I would find it boring. I also knew it would open up my life to having a life outside of work. The first few weekends were so strange to me. 2 days off in a row with all of my family home. We didn't even know what to do. My kids then realized that we would be having salad for dinner every night again and said Michaels will still take you back!

My new job is not as full filling to me as Michaels but I do get to help sick people feel better and enjoy their lives every day. I have customers call and tell me they got to see their grandchildren for the first time because I helped them get a portable oxygen concentrator. Oh and the best benefit is the schedule and the pay. We might actually be able to buy a car this year. Never did I think that would be in my future. As long as I work 8 hours they don't care how early or late I work. I can take a long lunch and go on a school Field trip with Elliot or go to work at the crack of dawn when the kids are off so I am home in the afternoons with them.

I do still miss Michaels terribly and I think about it everyday. I feel grateful for making the decision to switch. I have been scrapbooking the many crazy pictures I took while working at Michaels. It makes me teary eyed when I do missing everyone. They are memories I will never forget. I love the fact I was able to stay on as the scrapbooking instructor. Besides the fact I get to keep my discount it has allowed me to still see everyone occasionally and participate in my loved classroom program that I worked so hard on.

These are what I sell.

Inogen One G3 Oxygen Concentrator