Before I had Christian and Lily, I was a Director of Meetings and Events. I loved my job, even with the crazy hours and even crazier attendees. I was passionate about my work. I planned to go back to get my MBA, and then life happened (Welcome to the world, Christian!). While I still try to work 15 hours or so a week in the industry, my passion lies somewhere completely different.
If I would've known 13 years ago when I had to pick my major my freshman year of college that I would one day parent a Deaf child, I think I would've picked a different major. Perhaps I would've picked Education, so I could navigate the public school system. Maybe I would've picked audiology, so I could interpret the dozens and dozens of audiograms he would receive. Or maybe I would've picked Healthcare Management, so I could put up a good fight with the insurance companies. While I loved majoring in Psychology and Philosophy, they really aren't helping me out here in my day to day running of my family.
I still have the desire to go back to school and get my Masters, but it will not be in Business Administration. I'm seriously exploring the possibility of going back to get my Masters in Speech Language Pathology. I know one day I will go back to work. And I can't imagine doing anything else other than working with Deaf kids and helping them learn to listen and speak. I want to be able to help families just like my own. While I loved picking out the perfect decor for a gala, planning fundraisers, negotiating convention center contracts, and enjoying the countless fancy dinners that came along with my job, I would much rather be sitting on the floor with a toddler with a brand new CI, practicing his Ling sounds. We certainly can't afford to send me back to school while we are paying the hefty tuition at Christian's school, but I am getting all my ducks in a row, so when the time comes, I can jump right in.
5 comments:
Go Tina!
If you ever have any questions about the life of an SLP (and don't want to take up Christian's therapy time with his!), let me know. I currently live in IL, but actually went to grad school in Baltimore at Loyola.
It's funny you said that you would have picked something else...we went to a camp for parents of Deaf/HOH children and the first speaker made a comment like, "I chose to work with Deaf children, you were chosen by God to do so!" I guess He was planning things for me FAR in advance of having kids...
Good luck!
Amy!
Another idea you might like is teaching deaf education ECI with the babies. I have a friend whose job is very much like what you described wanting to do. She's an itinerant teacher and works with the babies in the home. If you'd like to talk to her about her job (and she is so passionate about it... most of them have or are planning to have CIs), let me know.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a scholarship out there with your name on it. :)
Why am I not surprised? lol
It's amazing how little ones can change your path, or what you thought was your path, in life. God has placed you on another path, a new journey, Tina, and you are embracing it beautifully. God bless you and your beautiful family.
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