Sandy C.'s Page

I officially have a new title.

I am no longer a “Working mom”, or a “Work-at-Home mom.”

For the first time in my life, I am now a…”Stay. At. Home. Mom.”

(pause)

I apologize for not having a more funny or witty post today, but I am physically and emotionally drained. I spent most of the Mother’s day weekend working, and I went to bed last night around 4am contemplating this decision.

So for the sake of staying true to this online journal/blog, I am posting portions from my letter of resignation sent out today. I’ve omitted many areas in order to keep details about the company out of the public eye for the time being.

Dear_____,

I am resigning from my position as (title) at (company), effective immediately. After 2 years I regret to inform you that I can no longer be part of the (company) team. I cannot put forth my time and effort, emotionally and physically anymore. In the past two years I’ve adjusted to the new role of motherhood, sold a house, moved across the country, moved into many different residences, worked part-time as a nurse, managed my own website daily, all the while taking care of a family. During these events in my personal life, my work for (company) has never waned...

(a whole lot of text omitted here)

I’ve stayed with this company for over 2 years (watching many people sever ties) sacrificing my time, family, and sanity at times, for NO pay and the smallest share in this company. I do not feel as if everyone’s work ethic within this company is aligned, and I can no longer continue fulfilling my role under these conditions, and with this team.

Attached is a list of some of my current tasks and responsibilities as a (title) I complete on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Sincerely,
Sandy

I know part of me is mourning the loss of this role already. Letting go has never been easy for me. Throughout my professional career, I have never “quit” a job for any reason other than relocation (except for that 1 nursing job where I took a patient down to the morgue nearly every week). So for me to cut ties with this company, and so abruptly, has left me licking my wounds a bit.

On the plus side, for the first time in my life, my mother called me today and said “I’m proud of you for leaving Sandy. I know it was hard….but I’m proud of you.” And for the first time in nearly 2 years, I sat down on my couch to do nothing and my 2.5 year old daughter climbed up into my lap, placed her hand in mine….and fell asleep in my arms.

Maybe this new gig isn’t so bad after all.

May4th- May 10th

Rainy Day

Puddle Jumper

Scars

Mothers and Daughters (4 generations)

Happy Mother’s Day!

Visit Lotus at SarcasticMom to see more Weekly Winners.

This Week’s Theme: Share ANY Photo

(This afternoon)

“Every cloud has a silver lining.”

Happy weekending to all!

Submitted for AngelGal’s Realm’s Mother’s Day Contest: Favorite Memory of Mom

My mother is the typical Asian mom. Growing up there were no hugs, kisses, or “I love you’s”. They just didn’t exist. They were never part of her world growing up in rural China. With only bare necessities to live, and little to resources in a tiny village, I’m guessing the culture and lifestyle didn’t leave much room for those things. So in turn, my upbringing was often void of emotional or physical affection. Even until this day, my mom expresses her compassion purely through actions.

At the end of my first week in kindergarten, I walked over to my mom in the kitchen and handed her a piece of paper. The yellow page was a notice listing all the supplies and requirements students in my class needed to have ready by the end of the week. I kept it hidden in my Care Bear folder with the intent of showing it her, but she was never home when I arrived home from school. Subconsciously, I think I neglected to show her to spare her from being upset about all the expenses for school. Every expense was a burden, and she always let us know it. So instead, she complained bitterly about me not bringing the list to her sooner. I remember lying in bed that night, crying softly into my pillow so my mom wouldn’t hear me. No one was allowed to close their bedroom door, so I buried myself under my covers and soaked my pillow in muffled cries. I knew that just outside of the room were my disappointed mom, and a brand new backpack…empty. I envisioned myself walking into a classroom full of children, each one with fully stocked pencil boxes and desks, and mine being empty.

I tossed and turned for hours, but finally fell asleep staring out my bedroom window. I remember looking up at the night sky and saying to my then 5-year old self, “I wish I didn’t have to go to school ever again.”

7am the next morning my mom gently pulled the covers off from my curled up body. I sat up for a moment as my head spun from all the crying, and rubbed my swollen eyes to see clearly.

At the foot of my bed was my new red backpack. My mom leaned over and pulled it closer on my bed in front of me and unzipped the top. As I peeled away the front flap, all of my textbooks leaned forward, all perfectly covered with folded brown paper bags to protect the outside hard covers. Every last one marked with their subject title on the front with a Sharpie. Behind the books were a few crisp folders, slightly filled with wide-ruled lined paper. And in the front pocket, newly sharpened #2 pencils, safety scissors, Elmer’s glue, a ruler, and a coveted unopened box of Crayola crayons. I wrapped my hands around the box of crayons and pulled them up to my face and closed my eyes. Breathing deeply to smell the new crayons, I was overcome with how special my mom made me feel. After a few moments in bed to take it all in, I peered up at my mom and smiled…

She smiled back.

Back then my mom was a busy working mother of two, supporting a family and aging parents. A woman I have grown to respect and love even more now that I am a mother, regardless of her signs of affection.

She probably has no recollection of this day when I was just five years old. However, for me, it is one of my most treasured memories of my mom.

(I have hands, they were just cold.)

Wishing all the moms out there a wonderful Mother’s day weekend

It’s been a busy week! Some of you mentioned that Dadisode must have read my birthday karma post before he received his Krazy Glue. After speaking with him last night, I can assure you that he had no idea. He finally caught up with all the recent posts here last night while…sitting right next to me.

*shields eyes*

Of course his immediate reaction to all the posts had NOTHING to do with the fact that he received GLUE in a TUBE as a birthday gift; or the fact that I had on lace underthings and fell asleep. Nope, I got an earful of, “ Geez! I look like CRAP in that picture!”

*sigh*

This man is a total moron completely oblivious. Subtle and not so subtle hints are never going to work.

So in lieu of Mother’s Day this Sunday (and to ensure not receiving another $5 car accessory), I feel I may need to list precisely which items may be deemed as appropriate gifts to receive from my husband.

1) A designer handbag – and it better not say “Fucci” or “Foach” on it.

2) iPod- Turn Off your PC defense mechanisms, walk into a MAC store, and allow the high school wannabe geek lead you into the dark side.

3) Manicure/Pedicure- from a reputable place that will not give me a fungal souvenir.

4) Alone time- for me. Meaning everyone must be off the premises.

5) Private shower- with just me, myself, and I. No toddler allowed. (This does not count as “alone time”)

6) New camera- My current Canon Elph has little to no zoom, and turns everyone into Casper the Friendly Ghosts with flash. Even iPhoto has limits to it’s magic powers.

7) Insolence perfume by Guerlain- I’ve had 3,045 samples of this lying around our bedroom. An actual spritz bottle would be much nicer than having to rub packets on my neck.

8 ) Shoes- I’ve mentioned this as a big “No No” in the past, but all of my current ones have either a tear, hole, or have been worn to death. However, please do not attempt to pick out shoes for me. Remember when you brought home a size 9 or 10 engagement ring for my size 4.5 finger. Please…. allow me.

9) A grown up size diamond- because the one I have was clearly not made for one. I’d post a photo, but the zoom on my camera doesn’t double as a microscope.

10) Earrings- Allow me to pick these out too (refer to #9 for diamond size insufficiency).

11) Salon haircut- to fix the hack job Superbad Cuts did to my hair last month.

12) A massage- by a professional. I’ve had a 1-hour massage once in my life, and I nearly cried when it was over.

13) Gift certificate to any store with decent clothes for women (does not include Wal-Mart Target, or K-Mart)- One day, I’ll need to replace some of the clothes I’ve been hanging on to for over 15 years.

(High school dance team T-shirt- 1992 to present)

*Copy*

*Paste*

*Sends blog entry to Dadisode’s email*

My prediction for Sunday, May 11th- I wake up to find a new silk screened “Sandy” T-shirt and this on my fingers…

Feel free to add to my list in the comments (predictions and bets also acceptable).

If you missed yesterday’s post about my plans for Dadisode’s birthday karma, you may want catch up and read it now. Go ahead. I’ll wait…

*whistles softly at computer*

You back? K.

Over the years I’m starting to realize that people tend to fall into 2 different categories:

1) Those who have a tendency freak out and hold grudges.

*raises hand high in the air, bouncing up and down in her seat*

2) Those who can pretty much have the world blow up in their face and do. not. blink.

When I received a Tire Pressure Gauge for Christmas, and NOTHING for my 30th Birthday, I was annoyed to say the least. Heck, the entire World Wide Web knows about my husband’s pathetic gift giving skills. So of course as we gathered around Dadisodes’ Birthday cake and candles yesterday, I sat in my chair rubbing my hands together below the table with evil glee. The anticipation of him opening my gift was so heavy; it forced me to take these horrific out-of-focus pictures.

(cake & fire are far from the toddler for a reason)

After he blew out the candles, I leaped out of my chair and handed over my special gift. Yes, giggling like a school girl…

The face of someone expecting the package in his hands to self destruct…

Not. even. a. blink.

Some people are just no fun.

See? Even the 2-year old understands that a stick of glue is lame-o.

Maybe it’s because I also took him on a date to the Planetarium at the Museum of Science (yes, we are that dorky). Or because he knows I will blog endlessly about his weepy tears over Super Glue.

Doesn’t matter. Because last night I slipped into bed wearing beautiful lacy underwear… and I did not blink.

Just fell fast asleep

There’s an old saying, “What comes around goes around.” And for those who believe in it, there is karma.

Karma- “…Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one’s own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others.”

I would like to set the stage for Dadisode’s birthday today. Thanks to some dedicated reader suggestions to my Friday Haiku, I would like to repost a portion from my own birthday aftermath last year to kick things off.

Originally posted: November 9th, 2007

I’m married, to a guy. One raised on an island inhabited by an isolated species of humans all missing a section of gray matter from their brains; a section directly responsible for the intuitiveness of gift giving. Strangely enough, the island’s population is predominantly men. But clearly, my husband reigns supreme in this land of inconsideration.

Yesterday was my 30th birthday. Perhaps not as commemorative as a 1st, 15th or 21st birthday, but it was at least a milestone. And in today’s aftermath, I have absolutely no gift from a certain mister to speak of. Please don’t think of me as a spoiled little brat. There is more to this post, I promise. But seriously,… nothing?

This lack of acknowledgement uprooted a past incident that left me spitting venom for weeks. Last Christmas, we had just finished moving from California to Massachusetts. In only a few short weeks, I braved the new bitterly cold and unfamiliar surroundings with a toddler to find a thoughtful gift for my husband. So it was to my dismay when I opened my stocking to find this…

Yes boys and girls. That is exactly what you think it is. It really does say “p-s-i.” I took a personal photo just for this post. See? It’s blurry and everything. For those fortunate enough to have never seen one of these before (New Yorkers?), it’s A TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE! Because nothing gives us ladies the warm fuzzies like a $5 trinket from the local gas station…for CHRISTMAS!

So my new mission online is to educate everyone afflicted with this debilitating gift giving deficiency. If I can prevent one woman from receiving a disappointing gift, then my suffering would not have been in vain.

What Not to Give Your Wife as a Gift (stupid simple)

1) Car accessories- Tire pressure gauge. Any kind of gauge, even if it’s not for a car. Tires (no matter how expensive they are). Windshield wipers. A Carburetor. Car battery. Car air freshener…heck, if you are not handing over a set of keys to a brand new car, then go back to the drawing board.

2) Tools- anything from Craftsman, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other fine stores listed within this section of the yellow pages. *Exclusion- If the store visit results in a dozen handymen coming to your house to remodel something themselves (without your help).

3) Subscriptions- to anything.

4) Clothes- you will surely screw this up. So don’t bother. And this includes the subcategory of socks and hosiery.

5) Shoes- see answer to #4

6) Kitchenware- this can be dubious. Unless given EXACT specifications for high-end cookware or appliances, you may want to reconsider. Unexpected frying pans and toasters can have explosive effects if given by surprise. Kitchen knives? If you don’t know, then you deserve the consequences.

7) Furniture- again, see answer to #4

8. Electronics- if you know other men that have it, then your wife doesn’t want it. Especially if it’s big.

9) Nothing- Last but not least. Never, ever give your wife nothing. Even if she asks for nothing. Unless you want nothing to do with sex for the rest of your marriage, don’t give her nothing.

Today- May 5th, 2008

Words of wisdom?

Karma?

Call it what you want, but today a special someone will be receiving this as a gift from yours truly…

Some of you men suggested I give him something else. Maybe I will…

Maybe.

April 27th -May 3rd

Chinatown

Twist

Boston Penthouse (not mine )

Looking Up Downtown

Uh, Paparazzi?… ‘Nuff Already!

Visit Lotus at SarcasticMom to see more Weekly Winners. PLEASE don’t forget to send her some love and hugs.

This Week’s Theme: Time

4 Generations
Great grandmother (95 yrs old), Grandmother, Granddaughter, Momisode (me)

Join in the Photo Hunt or find other participants at tnchick.com