Okay...so this is really old...but I finally made the jump and RETIRED!!! I worked at Division of Child and Family Services for three years as a Foster Care Caseworker. I was Lead Worker and loved my job...but I was burnt out and more importantly, was ready to be home with my baby.
Working for DCFS, I helped parents get their children back. Most of our clients got their children taken away from abusing drugs, abusing their children, and a lot of other reasons. I saw things that I never thought could happen, I experienced some of the most life changing events of people's lives. I watched parents relinquish their parental rights, I watched children go back home to their parents, I fought to terminate parental rights, I watched families adopt sweet children, I was there when the children said goodbye to their parents for the last time, I testified for hours in trials, I reported to the Judge, I held children as they cried, I cried, I watched parents come off drugs and some stay on drugs. I was threatened, lied to, and yelled at on a daily basis. I think a DCFS worker is THE hardest job there is. It is a thankless job and it is a hard job. But I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work there for the last three years. My eyes were opened to the real world, to the drug world.
Somehow, the children made it all worth it. They needed a voice, and I was able to be their voice for three years. But 40 hours a week was just too much. The State doesn't have any part time positions so Mike and I decided it was the right time for me to retire. So I made the jump and haven't looked back! I absolutely LOVE being home with Scarlett and I love doing the things I wasn't able to do in the past year. We love our days which include play dates and lunches. I have become a professional luncher. I go to lunch about three times a week with friends and I love it! :) We go to the park, stay in our pajamas, swim at our pool, play with friends, read books and watch Ellen. Life is GREAT.
The best part about it is I still have an out...I still help with the Dixie State College Dance Team and I am the head coach for the Dixie State College Cheerleaders. So I am still busy...but not as busy as I was. I cut out 40 hours of work a week! I have so much respect for working moms, because it is not an easy task! When working, my days were detailed to the minute. I was exhausted and I was not able to give 100% to everything.
I was scared, but as I drove away on my last day from DCFS, I KNEW it was the right decision. I KNEW that it was time for me to be home. My goodbyes were sad, especially saying goodbye to my foster children. I love every single one of them and they have all left footprints on my heart.
Here are the pictures from my retirement party. One of my supervisors, Tom Kelly had a plaque made for me and wrote the funniest poem for me. He is one of the BEST supervisors I have ever worked for. I will definitely miss my office friends.
Brook, Martha, Tara, Colette, Me, Kathi
Aubree, Lisa, Brian, Me, Amy
Nicki, Me, Kristi P, Amy
Tom doing reading his poem.
My plaque and retirement watch...
Me and Julie laughing at Tom's poem..
Scarlett, Michelle and Nickie
Okay for Halloween Bunco, we were suppose to dress up. As usual, I had nothing to wear. So Whit and I decided we would be cheerleaders and I would just get old uniforms from the cheer uniform closet. I was trying them on and I looked over and Scarlett had one on. Funny girl.
