TGIF?

As a kid I looked forward to Fridays. We would go to my grandparents' house, order pizza and watch all the awesome programing on TGIF. (Thank Goodness Its Friday) The adults would play cards or talk while we kids played. The love of Friday as the beginning of the weekend continued throughout the years I was in school.

While in middle and high school Friday signaled sporting events, movie night, date night and slumber parties with friends. In college it meant a few days I could procrastinate on a paper, hang with my friends, party or see my boyfriend. However, now I am in the real world and there is no such thing as a weekend.

Currently I am working two part-time jobs.  First I work 20-25 hours a week as a cake decorator, usually 7am-noon or 1pm. This includes most Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. When I get off work I go and pick up my daughter for a few hours of hopefully happy quality time before I have to go to work again. If I am lucky I get to see my hubby before the second shift starts, if not then my daughter goes to my parents' house until hubby is off work.

My second shift is working at a restaurant where I wait on tables. The food is good and most of the time the people are great, but it's often inconsistent in the amount of business we do, and thus the amount of money I make.  I work here 4 nights a week, starting at 4pm and running until, well it just depends on the customers, often 10pm though sometimes earlier and sometimes later. This job always includes Friday and Saturday nights unless I have a good reason to ask off.

As you can guess, by the end of the weekends I have been dog tired and want to do nothing but sleep, but often I don't have the luxury. There is always another shift that has to be worked, a house to be cleaned, errands to run and a baby to take care of. I have to admit that my husband has taken on a lot by watching our daughter on those nights I am at the restaurant and I couldn't be happier that they have such a great relationship, I just wish that he and I got to spend more time together.

I have been running this schedule for 7 months, and I feel like I have aged 10 years in that time. I love the jobs and the people but the stress of not seeing my family, the hate of having inconsistent paychecks and the desire to live up to the education I have, won out in the end.  Finally a company has seen my potential and has offered me a position. I will be working in an office, so no more food particles stuck on my cloths at the end of the shift, a regular 9-5 job, M-F with 1 Saturday a month and better pay. OMG, what will I do with all that extra time? Spend it with my family and friends.