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March 19, 2005
Short Timer’s Attitude
I’m the only person I know that has put in a two-month notice at a job. Who would do such a thing?! I told the supervisor some specific dates I needed off this month and next month, and then I’d be done working there. Last Saturday was my first day off when I ran the Lake Johanna 4-mile running race. Tomorrow is the second day off, when I’m running the Human 8k (5-mile) race. Then in April I’m doing the Iron Crotch 60-mile bike ride on the 24th, and finally April 30th I’m running in the Get in Gear 10k at Minnehaha Park. Also on the 30th, I’ll be at the TCBC swap meet at Southtown Bingo staffing a display table for the Minnesota Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance. Then on May 1st I’ll be working my last day at that job. After that my schedule becomes really intense and I’ll be gasping for time to breathe.
I gave two months notice because I don’t want to leave these people stranded. I work at a group home every weekend and it’s hard to find people for these jobs. Most people have better things to do on their Saturday’s and Sundays. And many people don’t have the patience or stomach for it. I remember my first week on the job when I took all four of them to a restaurant and one guy decided he needed to use the bathroom. Then he made a mess all over the bathroom and himself. Being new to the job I really wondered what I got myself in for. I did the best I could to help him and he kept saying to me, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” And I did my best to reassure him help him maintain his dignity when he walked out of that bathroom. This past year working there has been a huge benefit to me. But now it’s time for me to move on. I can’t sustain working 7 days per week forever, and I want to experience some new things. Although as far as jobs go, I could manage working every weekend because it really was like taking care of a family. I cooked, cleaned house, did laundry, took them to movies, the library, the fair, birthday parties, shopping, to get their hair cuts, etc.
Another advantage was that I became a good housekeeper. Today for instance my coworker came back from her break and the first thing she said was, “Wow, the living room looks great!” I had dusted, swept, shook out the rugs, mopped the floor and put it all back together before she had returned. I also had the laundry done and made dinner. The experience of doing all of these things with this group-home has made me a better person with more skills and has changed my life. I can clean a bathroom top to bottom, bathtub, shower and toilet included in fifteen minutes. ;-)
And my ‘Short timer’s Attitude’ is NOT “I can’t wait to get out of here!” but more like, “I don’t know how I will be able to handle leaving these wonderful people!” I should have put in a one-week notice and then I wouldn’t have to think about leaving, for another whole month. I’m used to seeing them every weekend and I know their personalities and likes and dislikes and little quirks. I will miss the hugs and their excitement to see me when I get there each day (and my excitement to see them).
With two month’s notice though, they should be able to find a replacement for me. But with one month to go, I’m feeling sad that I won’t be able to replace them in my life.
Posted by carl1236 at March 19, 2005 11:24 PM | Attitude