Coping

Hey y'all. I know I haven't blogged in a bit (okay, okay a MONTH) but there has been INSANITY in my life for the last month! I've been busy at home, Kath and I tried to have a yard sale (tried being the operative word there) and then we found out that Shane will be out of a job on October 31st. I'm finally coping with things and he did find another job. It may be temporary or it may be permanent but it's the best option for the moment. American Express is closing the consumer project at Convergys in Orem, but they are keeping the business project at Convergys in Ogden. The commute doesn't matter much, he'll just go north in the morning instead of south, but the problem is going to be his shift. They've told him that he has to work the night shift to begin with and that after 1 month he can request a shift transfer, but it's not a guarantee and he'll also have to work either Saturday or Sunday every week. The shift available now is 1pm to 9pm and he's not sure which day of the week he would have off. We've talked and talked about it, but the bottom line (har, har) is that we can't afford for him to be out of work for any time at all. They've already told him that training starts Oct. 6th-17th and it is M-F from 11am to 5pm. Yes, your math is correct, that's only 30 hours per week for two weeks with no chance for commission. Scary times. So which is the lesser of two evils? Start a new job now, tighten our belts for a month or so, pray that in a month he can transfer to days and keep looking for a better job...or stay in Orem until the very bitter end, but knowing that you can work full hours plus overtime, make commission, still look for a better job and then hope to find a job you can start on November 3rd? There is no easy answer here, but at least there is a job available. Which is why we decided this morning after lots of whispered talking last night (small ears you know) that he would call Ogden and tell them he's willing to work nights. We just have to keep reminding ourselves...okay ME, I I I I have to remind myself that this is NOT a permanent arrangement. Something will improve. Either he'll get a shift transfer to normal people hours or we'll find him a different wonderful fabulous job with normal people hours. And really, what's a month, right? I can do anything for a month, right? We were discussing the positives of him being home in the mornings

1. I will only have to get myself up and ready for work every day and I'll only take Kaitlyn to school on our days, since she goes at 7:30 and it's on my way to work and then I'll be able to go to work earlier and then leave earlier since I will be rounding up children in the evening times. Shane will be able to take Shannon later in the morning and then drop off my baby boys on his way to work.

2. He will still be able to help around the house in the mornings while the rest of us are at work and school.

3. He'll be available to go to interviews any morning, instead of being limited to Fridays.

I'd list the negatives about this plan, but they are MYRIAD. The biggest negative in all of this is him not being home in the evenings to be with us. But, it's only for a month, right? And it's not a permanent solution. I remember when we first got married, he had just started with Convergys and the only shift available was the 2pm to 10pm and we lived in Springville, so it was about a 30 minute drive each way and he worked on Saturday nights and then his one night a week off he drove to SLC to go to school and that lasted for 6 months! It wasn't until after Jax was born that he could put in for a shift change to days. I have to remind myself that we survived then. It took him just over 3 years to command the schedule he has now--there was no one else on his team that worked 4 tens, M-Th, but when you're the top of the leader board in commission, you get privileges. Now he just has to start over a little, but at least it's not a 6 month waiting period for a shift change. It's only 1 month, 4 weeks, 30 days. That's nothing! Right?

Anyways--think good thoughts for me and by Thanksgiving this will all be a happy little memory, right? Besides, I'm sure by then there will be a new drama!