I was promoted at work not to long ago and as soon as I started my new position I saw the negative impact it was having on my family. Being away from the girls for days at a time was one thing but they are kids and they are resilient. Leaving Will with the kids for days at a time was a different story. He didn't do well, at all.
I tried working from home but that didn't help, I was home but was still unavailable. It was really hard to hear what was going on outside of my door and not be able to do anything about it. I didn't do well, at all.
I decided that the best thing for my career and my family is to just focus on one thing. I am a good agent, I know a lot about life insurance and can explain it and help families decide what is best for them. I can do that in my sleep. When adding the need to train and hire and all sorts of other crap while taking care of 2 young kids, a home and a husband who doesn't believe he really needs taking care of was very hard. I had two choices, keep adding to my plate and fail at everything or decide what is really important to me.
My family wins that argument every time.
I am no longer in management. I get to keep my higher contract level and focus on growing my own business as a personal producer. Everyone at work has been so supportive, I was so afraid when rejoining the workforce that I would be forever explaining myself and trying to force people to understand the challenges my family faces but that's not the case. I found a great place that doesn't need to understand, they see all that I do and that's enough.
In a few years when the girls are in school I can reevaluate - if I want to make changes that is always an option. I can't tell you how amazing it feels to have at least one outlet in my life where I get to put myself first.
