Do I need a "real" job?
What is a real job anyway?
Should I "go back" to work?
Go back???? Am I not busy now?

This week I had an opportunity to rejoin the American workforce again. Well, at least the chance to apply and put myself back in the society of payroll workers.

I graduated in 1981 not really wanting to get into college for many years and many dollars. Instead,after high school I extended my education by enrolling in cosmetology school. I thank  my parents for taking on this burden when the economy was tough.   I studied, tested, and was licensed in complete studies as a Cosmetology teacher in March of 1983, thirty-one years ago this month and still keeping my license current.

It was something I enjoyed and was pretty good at doing.  I worked with a great group of girls.

I even  did well enough that I could support myself for a few years before getting married.  A few years and a few children later I found myself able to go back into a shop and work again.  I really, really liked working in this field.  Another child and many miles to drive had me back at home. A few more years pass. Then a decade ago this same opportunity came around.  I stayed home for justifiable reasons. I fell into the roll of wife, mother, farmer, and teacher.

  Many titles that have a string of sideline jobs that fall into their categories.

It can be more tiring than outside these doors as there isn't a mandatory break every few hours or a down time while you are driving home.
But now I am into my last year having a senior at home.  Almost there.  Almost.
The idea is so tempting that I struggled for days with a decision.
Money is always nice, but Tom said he would still be working his sideline job that he enjoys, and it was really a decision if I want to try or not.
It is not because I have idle time on my hands that I contemplated this thought.  I really like doing hair.  But now thinking back  over the years and the decision to be at home with the kids, farming and all that requires,  I would almost be quitting before I was finished.   The carrot is there in front of me without guarantee of getting it.  So why give up in the last stretch of  this time? I have my days, but it is important to me that I remember just why it is that I am here right now. 

And I think I have become pretty good at this, too.