Im Still A Rock Star

[thedollymama]

I was listening to my "feel-good, workout" music on my iPod this afternoon and a song came on that, oddly enough, was somewhat encouraging to me as I continue to obsess about finding a job.  It was Pink's song, "So What."  It has one of my favorite lyrics: "So, what?  I'm still a rock star.  I got my rock moves."  It may seem simple to you, but in fact this seemingly mindless lyric actually put me strangely at ease.

As I sang this lyric way too loud in a crowded Starbucks, I thought to myself, "That's right.  I am still a rock star.  What am I afraid of?  I wasn't intimidated when I was looking for a job 10 years ago, and I have much more job and real life experience under my belt now than I did then."  As I listened to this lyric throughout the rest of the song, I began to realize that these past seven years haven't been a total career waste. 

I've been very fortunate in my life to have worked with some great people and gained some incredible experience in my chosen career field.  Some of my jobs were a little more challenging than others, but nothing I have done to this day has been as challenging as the job of being a mom.  Over the past seven years, I have added many job responsibilities to my resume that have only prepared me even more for any professional challenge that may cross my path. 

For example, I have managed people before, but trying to manage a six year-old who thinks he knows everything and a three year-old who thinks he is a six year-old who knows everything is nearly impossible and requires stealth-like manipulation, painful consistency and an expert knowledge of the human psyche. 

The full-time job of being a parent has also taught me time management and organization.  I have never been very strong in these areas, but trying to get myself and two stubborn children out the door for anything has been quite the eye-opening experience.  I have learned that no matter how much time you give yourself, it is never enough.  Before children I had perfected the art of procrastination, lying to myself that I worked better under pressure, but AC (after children), that art no longer exists in my life. With kids, if I procrastinate, the kids will miss school, I will miss my days to myself, dinner doesn't get prepared or doctor's appointments get missed.  There is no middle ground.  And to keep up with the massive amounts of toys, school papers, art supplies, sippy cups or superhero costumes we have accumulated, I have to have some mad organizational skills or how else would I answer my kids when they ask me a thousand times a day where something is?

When you are preparing for a professional life, you spend many years and lots of money to acquire the proper training and knowledge to be successful in your chosen career field.  But to be a parent, you have to learn as you go.  There are no specific job titles for all of the positions you hold as a parent.  A parent is everything from the janitor, the CPA, the event planner, the chef, the medical expert, the psychologist, the mediator, the human resources manager to the entertainment coordinator.  Think about how much time and money you would spend if you were to go to school to prepare for all of those positions? 

So, once I thought about it, Pink is right, I am still a rock star and I do still have my rock moves.  As a matter of fact, I think now my star is brighter and my moves are better thanks to the two little professors that I have been taking class from over the past six and- a-half years.

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