Not that I'm complaining...

I am the type of person who likes to have a lot of irons in the fire. I am also the type of person who tends to over-commit herself until I get to the point that my husband tells me he is going to COMMIT me if I say I'll do another thing for anyone.

Alas, I find myself again with too many things pulling me this way and that. I'm drowning in irons, folks. And, I don't quite know how this has happened in December the busiest of all months!

It started when the ever-talented and lovely Nicole at Sitting Still generously asked for me to contribute to her new site, The Soccer Mom Vote. I was flattered and excited to contribute to a politically-conscious/thinking sort of blog. Look for my contribution later on this month there.

And, then, I was finally contacted about freelance work for a local magazine I had been pining over for several months. I'm writing an article for their February edition currently.

Then, my church sent out a plea for someone to help update their website. My impression of the job was that it was just that--an easy "just go in and make updates" sort of thing. Well, as it turns out, they are in the process of redesigning the site. When I responded and came to a meeting with the IT specialist, I became alarmed when he started referring to me as the new "Webmaster" for the site. Webmaster? WTF? On, no....I feel "project creep" coming on before this project has even started!

But, wait. There's more! Today, I get the most random of calls. A former colleague of mine for whom I did some volunteer work in our professional organization, called to see if I was available for on-going contract jobs for his consulting company. It would be very similar to the work I'd done before I decided to stay home with my children. He said he is looking for someone to help him out with projects on a part-time basis only. The good news is, the job does have the potential to grow into full-time work whenever I am ready and able to do that.

So much for leaving my old career behind and jumping into the freelance magazine writing thing, eh? As soon as I heard the hourly rate (which is average and nothing to boast about except when you consider I haven't worked in several years), I jumped for joy.

I am now scared to answer the phone. While the extra money will be great, losing all free time will not. Truthfully though, I think that I am ready--emotionally-speaking--to start taking steps back towards full-time work. Realistically, it will be several years before I can do that since my daughter not even three yet. But, it is good to keep those irons in the fire and burning on low heat for when I am ready to jump back in to paid employment.

And, best of all, after being home for this many years in my raising kids career--one that tends to get overlooked and has no raises or perks to speak of--it is really a boost to have someone pick up the phone and call you for work because they "remembered what great work you did before for them."

But, my holiday cards aren't addressed, I am not done buying the gifts yet, I have two holiday parties to help coordinate, I have to buy two teacher gifts by next week, there are pretzel rods to ice, decorate, and package up for classmates, and let's not forget about the cookies for family this Christmas. During this time, I also still need to get in one last workout with my trainer and keep up my 5-6 days a week of exercise.

So, if I sound like I'm complaining about these new job opportunities, please don't misunderstand. I am thrilled. I just have one bone to pick here--did it have to ALL happen in DECEMBER? That's all I'm saying...