Most people who read here know I am a middle school teacher. And many know that I had worked at Walmart part time. Why work two jobs? Research the average pay of Catholic school teachers and do the math…. ha ha that’s funny since I am a math teacher, and you will soon understand. I am a single adult woman and it is just hard to survive on that salary. I have a home, a family, and all that goes with that.
I have worked two jobs since Joey started high school. I sent my children to Catholic high school and there was no break for teaching Catholic school. Add in college expenses, and life…. well, I have always worked two jobs and the truth is for about a year, I worked three! Given my Hashimoto’s, I am not sure how I did it either but I think it didn’t help it too much. Stress is a huge enemy of Hashimoto’s.
Last year, I was talking to Dr. Jack about my finances, I know…. a weird topic to discuss with your doctor, but hey, it has an impact on my health right? And he suggested I try to get a few tutoring kids and leave my job at Walmart. We got into that discussion because my Walmart job was getting stressful. I loved the people that I worked with. They were great friends, very kind and loving people from all walks of life and I made so many friends who are lifetime friends.
But working in retail is hard. It is physically hard work but it can also be so abusive. I dreaded the customers that were never happy no matter how much you tried to please them. I was tired of being yelled and screamed at over things that were in no way my fault. Dr. Jack told me many times that the job was having a huge impact on my life,adding to my stress, but I needed the money.
Then, last spring, I stopped being stubborn and tried the tutoring he suggested as an alternative source of income. I had a few kids and I loved working with them. It was fun and didn’t seem like work. The kids were nice, they were eager to learn, and I enjoyed being with them. Why wouldn’t I? This was the job I was born to do. One of them told me one day, “You know Mrs O, I love coming here because you explain things to me so I can understand how to do it. I show my friends the ways you show me!” It was heartwarming, rewarding, a sweet compliment. I played games and a student told me, “Mrs O? I love these games, because it isn’t like you win because you are the teacher. It’s more chance and we both take turns doing the work, and I learn by watching how you do it.” Some of my favorite kids are the older ones. I come in, they tell ME to hurry up because there is only an hour and they have a lot they want to get done, lol……. I asked one how their sports team was doing and their reply was, “We can talk about that later because I need you to explain a lot to me today.” Ha ha…..
I kept sharing these stories and Rob Ciminelli, and Dr. Jack encouraged me to take more students, work less at the store. I changed my schedule and accommodated the students I had.
When my awful summer came, working at the store just got harder. I wanted to be home to be with Joey in the evening. I wanted to be with Sara on a weekend, I missed out on so much “Life.” And one day, the breaking point came. A customer came in who ordered some product that was irrelevant. A phone accessory, available in local stores. But the item was cheaper through a third party vendor affiliated with Walmart. The item was backordered, and was not in the store when he arrived for pickup. I explained after researching and that he should have recieved an email stating such. He pulled up his initial email and I explained that was an estimate at the time of purchase and it states that he would receive and update.
He yelled that I needed to find the package. I showed him my equipment that showed the package had not been delivered to the store and quietly and professionally told him when it would arrive, and then the abuse began. Despite my calm demeanor, he did not stop, he kept screaming at me that it was my fault, that I had not done my job, that he was going to report me. I calmly explained that my role was to ensure his merchndise was delivered to him to hand and ensure it was in working order, I was not in charge of order and delivery. He would hear none of it, “Do you have any idea of what is really important in life? Do you? How stupid are you? You can’t even handle a simple order! Do you know how important this is in my life? Do you? Do you really understand what is important? “
I am sure my fingernail marks are dug into the counter still… but as he screamed, my mind flashed to me holding Baby Russ and hugging sweet Shannon. Karma is often a funny thing, as a worker walked by and waved and quickly said he was sorry to hear Sara lost her baby. The customer totally changed. He quieted and asked again when the package would be delivered and I explained. His words did not leave me….. Did I understand what was important? Did I?? I think I finally did….
I told Dr. Jack about what happened and as he always is, he listened quietly and then thought for a moment. “Let’s so the math here…”, he said as he calculated how many students would it take to get out, to replace the money I made. And then he laid a challenge at my feet. “Get enough kids to be out by October 1st.”
I was scared. I tried but I was scared. Could I do this? Tutoring can be sporadic but when I didn’t work at the store, I didn’t get paid either, And he and Rob kept telling me that word of mouth would spread and I would have more kids than I knew quickly.
Did I believe them? No…. Dr. Jack is a doctor! Rob is a life coach! What did they really know about tutoring?? But by the beginning of September I had a steady stream of students and then suddenly they came one after the other, and I was running like crazy. That’s when I decided to stop fighting the answered prayer of how I was going to bring my stress levels down and make enough to live on.
I put in my two weeks, told myself if it doesn’t work I was rehireable, and tried to keep walking forward. The truth is? I am busier now then when I worked there but with a few modifications.
I work when I want to work, I don’t get yelled at. I get home by nine most nights. I get to stop at the Y to swim and walk. I get to see my kids, and cook Sunday dinner if I want to. I get to schedule a lunch with friends on a Saturday and for the first time in ten years? I will be spending Thanksgiving with the people, I love, not getting yelled at that we don’t have the latest toy in stock.
I get to wish my students a Happy Thanksgiving, I get to take the weekend off from my tutoring, And I get to spend time on those that I love. Because in the course of life? That truly IS the most important thing.
I really am so blessed that Dr. Jack never gives up on me. And that through all things he waits patiently as my head works itself around my stubborn nature. And I am blessed because at the end of my work day, I get to enjoy how I spent my day. Yes, teaching is still a stress filled job or paperwork and children’s issues. It is far from stress free.
But the bigger picture is I love my kids. My students try their best for me most days. They love me and I love them. They “keep”me long after graduation. I pride myself that most of my social media friends are kids and parents I taught, and they are many of my readers here!
And I love my tutoring kids just as much. They are a fun bunch of all kinds of great kids. At the end of some days, I even get paid in coloring pictures that adorn my refrigerator as a reminder that my hard work is appreciated. And hugs….. and sweet words…. and thank you’s….. there really was life after Walmart! And it is a good life…..