I was a stay at home mom for the first 10 years of our marriage.  I married at 18 and never went to college.  I only started going back to work about a few years ago and it's only been part time.  One of the biggest things that has frightened me about getting divorced is being on my own and supporting the kids.  I have been terrified that I won't be able to make it on my own.  I only work PT and with the economy the way it is I'd be lucky to get a FT job anytime soon.  With these thoughts on my mind I decided to talk to my employer.  (Risky, I know.)

This is a newer job, I started working for this company just last January.  It is a small company and very family-like, I really like it here.  I wasn't sure what my future could be here though and decided to try and find out.  I met with the CEO and the owner.  First I laid out the divorce, just wanting to let them know to explain any odd behavior or time off for court dates.  They were very supportive, said they were sorry and they'd keep me in their prayers.  Told me that if I needed any time off for anything to not hesitate to ask.  They said family is first, that the job will always be there.

Then I got to what I was really dying to know.  I asked if they would possibly have any use for me FT, that I would love to be an asset to the company and expressed interest in Sourcing (I work for a recruiting company) if they had need of me there.  To my surprise I found out they had already discussed bringing me on full time a couple weeks prior but had waited to say anything because they didn't want to scare me off.  It would be more in the field I was already doing -accounting/admin duties.  He will actually be buying another company and will be needing me to help there as well and help take over some of the CEO's duties.  And that as I take on more duties they will take me off the hourly wage I now receive and give me a higher salary.  They really like me and want to keep me.

This has been such a relief to me.  I left their office feeling like I was walking on air.  I still have emotional stuff to deal with in this divorce but at least I can feel a little better for my financial future.  I cannot believe my good luck in finding this company.  I have not been there long enough to technically receive sick benefits but they have still given it to me when the kids have been sick.  And when I took a week off after my grandfathers death (he raised me and was like a dad) they paid me funeral leave.  This has been such a blessing for me I really feel like God is looking out for me. 

I only hope I can make it over the emotional hurdles and that my health holds out.  With all the emotional stress of the divorce and my loved ones death my heart has started racing again.  I haven't had problems with it since the surgery in '99 (a cathedar ablation to burn out the 'extra electrical current' in my heart).  And after this divorce I won't be under my husbands awesome military health coverage.  And the one thing that's not so great at my job is the health insurance, I'll be paying more out of pocket.  Ouch.