Surviving the Job Hunt

So you’re looking for a job.  Maybe you’ve been laid off, downsized, fired, or just finished school. The hunt is now on to find gainful and hopefully meaningful employment. There’s no way around it. Being unemployed is no fun. Trust me, I’ve been there – more than once! 

My first job casualty came after the combined bubble burst of 2000 and 9/11. This bout of unemployment was the longest and the most devastating.  I had never been out of work, a day in my life. I was crushed and didn’t know what to do with myself.  In the beginning I would spend all day every day looking for a job.  I wrote and rewrote my resume, agonizing over every word. Don’t even get me started on versions of my cover letter. Somehow I thought that if I had everything just perfect, I would at least get an interview. I would spend hours combing the different job boards, looking at different company websites, emailing people I knew, and yes (at the time) still checking the Sunday paper. Not only did these efforts leave me exhausted and frustrated, I didn’t get any interviews. 

I quickly learned that in order to be successful I had to structure my day more efficiently, take better care of myself, and have some fun. So after you’ve written your resume and had it reviewed (preferably by a colleague or a recruiter in your industry) here are a couple things you can do to keep your sanity and hopefully find a job.  Continue reading “Surviving the Job Hunt”

The Healing Power of Milk

Part 2 of 2 – The Recipient

The Healing Power of Milk

In last month’s blog I shared my experience donating milk.  If you haven’t read Part 1 – click here to read the backstory.  I promised a happier ending to my story. As life would have it, there were some bumps in the road on my way to that happy ending.  It’s all about the journey, right?! 

After giving ourselves some time to heal – both emotionally and physically – we decided to try again. I was afraid, but for some reason, I had faith that things would work out better this time.  In September of last year we had our second child. This time it was a boy. My attempts at a VBAC failed, but our son was born healthy and we were overjoyed. Getting a baby to latch on and nurse after surgery was a little more challenging than just using a pump. With help and support from lactation experts we eventually figured it out. 

By the time I returned from maternity leave, breastfeeding was well established and I had a stash of milk in the freezer.  My pump and I were ready to return to work.   Since each of our buildings has a dedicated “Mother’s Room” there was always a place to pump while at work.  Other than the usual sleep deprivation that every parent faces, everything seemed to be falling into place. 

Then bam!  I was blindsided. Continue reading “The Healing Power of Milk”

The Healing Power of Milk

Part 1 of 2 – The Donor

Mother’s Milk that is! When I became pregnant I knew that I wanted to have a home birth and that I would breastfeed.  Actually I knew that I would do a home birth before I became pregnant. I even had my midwife picked out. At the time I didn’t know anyone who had a homebirth or that had breastfed. I didn’t do research around scientific benefits. I just knew I hated hospitals, didn’t want any drugs, and wanted my baby to be born in the comfort of home, not a sterile environment. For me it just seemed like the natural thing to do. Of course nothing went the way I had planned.  Little did I know at the time that breastfeeding would transform my life.  Continue reading “The Healing Power of Milk”