[ddahl]

Yesterday I resigned from my position of 4.5 years. Many of you have supported us throughout our adoption process and through some hard times professionally so I thought I would post what has happened to me at work.

I returned from work after our September '05 adoption was completed and have endured some extreem discrimination, denied a promotion because I am a mother and a myriad of other things. I was told on Monday that because I am a exempt employee meaning I am salaried that the minimum work expectation for me was 50+ hours. It was the end of the line for me. I was told that I need to be available any time my store is open.

Truth be told, I always believed you could have it all but I now think you can't. I am filled with sorrow over putting my son on day care. For many children its a wonderful solution but for my son it has never been. I will always regret not leaving sooner. I feel like we adopted him then put him in daycare. What is wrong with me? I feel like I lost the last year and a half with him. He informed me on Monday that his baby sitter was his mommy, actually several times. He is three now so I am holeful that we will have some time together before I find another job. DH is pseudo supportive but mad that I let them force me out to some degree. It was like I reached my personal bottom in this job. They clearly drew a line in the sand and I refused to cross it. I am hopeful that we will not suffer as a family because of my choice. Wacking our income in half without good planning was probably a stupid thing to do. All I could see in my heart while my boss and HR were feeding me this line of c*@*@* and telling me I have been a total failure for working only 45 hours a week for the last year, was the face of my beautiful son crying as I drove away one more time and left him at the baby sitter ( we moved him from day care to a private situation last August). I feel as though I have failed him over the last year and a half and it had to stop. I am giving a two week notice then who knows....... Good bye Outback take out and hello Top Ramen and welcome back to living the dream of actually being a Mommy.
Thanks for letting me rant. Dixie