During the recent weather snow spell I found myself housebound with a lot of unexpected spare time on my hands, so much so that by the time Sunday came, I was done watching all the ‘Come Dine With Me,’ ‘Flog it’ and ‘Escape to the Country programmes’ on the television – the house was spick and span and I was well rested, I was sick of snow and I realised that I was looking forward to going back to work in Quintas the next day.

Back in 2005 the opportunity arose for me to give up work and stay at home. Our children were small and after working for 19 years, I found myself wanting to be at home with them.  Even though it was a huge adjustment, the biggest change for me personally was that I really missed the social side to the job that I had left; I had never considered that aspect of giving up work.

The years were busy, toing and froing with the kids. We moved house in the tail end of the Celtic Tiger and I found myself thinking, how did I ever have the time to work? My husband would often say to me you should take up a course and go back studying, but I never did. I thought to myself, I might never go back to work and why would I need to take all that on board when I was so busy running the house. Then one September morning, my boys went out the door to school, I made myself a cup of tea, sat down and I realised that I wouldn’t see them again until after 4 o’clock. What was I going to do with myself? The realisation dawned that this was how it was going to be from now on, my boys were teenagers and growing up fast. Where had all that time gone? The time had come to return to work.

I had dabbled in a few things during my ‘time off’, as if to justify to myself that I was wanted out there and I could pull a job if I had to.  I was a Census Enumerator, I did some childminding, and I did a SECAD course. I applied for a few ‘tasty’ jobs (thinking that I would have no bother getting them, only to find that too often my job application wasn’t even acknowledged, not to mind get the chance of an interview!).  Being a keen cook I tried to get into the kitchen of a very successful café thinking that maybe this would a new career path for me. But the reality was that ‘admin’ was my thing and always had been. I wondered how I would get back into the workplace. Things had changed so much; almost everyone who leaves school now goes on to third level education. Back in the eighties, job hunting was very different, I had a choice of a civil service or semi state job when I left school.  I didn’t have a lot of confidence (why had I not listened to my husband and studied??) but I knew that I had excellent work experience which I hoped would stand to me. My sister was on hand for up to the minute advice, she helped me with my getting my CV together and said that the best thing that I could do was go to a recruitment agency.

So I sent my CV into the recruitment agency and on the same day I got a phone call to ask if I could come in for a chat the next day which I did. I was really not sure where I would fit back jobwise; we decided that reception work was a good place to start. Before I knew it I was offered a temporary assignment in a multi-national company. This was way too fast for me to take in. I had many dilemmas, was I really ready to go back?  Had I forgotten all my computer skills? The doubts were endless. And of course the excuses, my boys would have to walk to and from school, the kettle wouldn’t be boiled when they came home in the afternoon, these were very important considerations!!

Seriously nerve wracked I took up the assignment. I loved it, felt thrilled to be back at work and really things hadn’t changed that much at all, computers were still pretty much the same. One temporary assignment lead to another. Some weeks I had lots work and some weeks I had none. It was a great way to get back into the swing of things and to bring my skills up to date. I had the best of both worlds while I was easing myself back.  I actually could do this! Going from strength to strength I felt it was time to look for something more permanent. When the opportunity arose in Quintas, I went for the interview and afterwards thought to myself, I think that went pretty ok. To my absolute delight I was offered the job. To be honest, I would have to admit that committing to the full time job offer was a bit daunting ( I had after all been a free agent for so long), but you know what, it’s that old saying ‘nothing ventured nothing gained’.

And here I am writing this, I really enjoy my job on reception in Quintas, it’s very busy and the days fly by.  I get to meet and speak to so many people every day and there is always something new to learn. There are so many positives, I have a feeling of self-worth, I am keeping my skills up to date and I have my own independence (and money to buy those nice pink shoes I spotted). I have made so many friends, I love doing lunch on Friday and I love working with young people, they keep me young! Quintas is going from strength to strength and it is great to be part of the team.

It’s not all plain sailing,  between commuting and juggling the housework/kids and working full-time, but I have learned to delegate at home and take a step back (this really didn’t come naturally to me, it took time!!). If the kitchen floor doesn’t get washed this weekend, is it really such a big deal?

My own babies (they are now 16 and 18 years old) have turned into fine young independent men. My oldest son is a very keen cook (which I love to take some credit for). My younger son is big into gaming and every Saturday makes his own way to and from UCC (we don’t live in the city) to do a computer programing course. I loved being at home with them when they were small but I think that by going back to work, they had to stand on their own two feet instead of me mollycoddling them. They are at the ‘expensive stage’, we have a mortgage and bills to pay like everyone else.  With the state retirement age now standing at 67 and likely to increase further in the years ahead, who knows what lies ahead for me in my career!