Today's Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

Any Regrets

By Motley

Seven years ago I was faced with the difficult choice of leaving my safe,

comfortable career as a paralegal to take a job as a teacher's assistant in my

children's elementary school. While ten years as a real-estate paralegal had

proven to be reliable and prosperous, my husband and I decided that a change had

to be made for the good of our family. We were both being stretched too thin,

our sons were getting just " what was left of us " at the end of the day, and you

can only eat so many meals from a fast-food bag!

After much discussion and prayer, some friends of mine at church opened a window

of opportunity. Both of them just happened to be employed by the local

elementary school and one of them, a teacher, needed an assistant. The other was

a guidance counselor who helped me " get my foot in the door. " A job as a teacher

assistant is hard to come by in our area, so and I felt that God was

leading us in this direction. I would still be able to " bring home some of the

bacon " - even if it was just bacon bits! And at the same time, have the same

schedule as our children.

What amazes me, though, is two questions that still get asked of me.

The first question being, " Why? " Why would I go from a nice office, with adult

conversation, doing what I had gone to school to do, while making a nice income?

To work in the public school system, dealing with their perception of children

(screaming, whining, cuts and bruises, upset stomachs and head lice), while only

bringing home meager wages? My answer to the majority was then and still is

today just this: " Where else can you help shape the lives of tomorrow, get hugs

for a job well done, be home when your own children are home, and get paid for

doing it? "

By the way, when I went to my parents seven years ago with this decision I was

concerned. Here were two people who had spent their hard-earned money to put me

through school so that I would have a good education and be able to be

independent. Now I was asking them, " Is it okay with you if I toss my degree

aside, and take a cut in pay, so that I can be home with my children more? "

Their answer was " We didn't send you to school just to get a degree. We sent you

to help you become a well-rounded person so that you could become a happy adult

with options. Do what makes you happy! "

The other question that is often asked is " Do you have any regrets? " I have to

weigh in my mind the following: On one side of the scale, I am sitting down with

the checkbook sometimes juggling monthly bills. Waiting on payday to be able to

make an " extra " purchase. And a " night out " may consist of only a rented video

and ordering pizza. However, the other side of this situation is seeing a

child's eyes light up when they can finally read that book or do that math

problem. Being at home in the afternoons to help my own children with their

homework. Having a sit-down dinner most every night with my family. Having two

weeks in December with my family decorating, baking and making holiday

preparations - not to mention making memories. Nice, leisurely summer days with

my children, reading, playing ball and splashing in the pool with their laughter

as my music. So my answer to " Do you have any regrets? " is a resounding

" Absolutely not! "