By Guest Blogger Gina Blitstein
I have been a licensed home child care provider for over twenty years. This means since the day I began my career at the age of 21, I have been self-employed. Along with self-employed comes a few other terms, such as self-motivated, self-sufficient and self-restrained. Yes, I am and always have been all of the above.
I have helped raise dozens and dozens of children through the years. I feel I always gave every day my best effort, through the dirty diapers and temper tantrums; the parental hardships and frustrations. I was able to do that because behind every temper tantrum is a smile and through every hardship comes strength. It is satisfying to be able to look back and feel that I did important and satisfying work for a very long time.
So why do I want to make a change? After all, you may say, most people don't ever feel that connection with the work they do or derive that much satisfaction from it. Well, in a nutshell, I got restless.
For the past few years, I've begun thinking that I want to do more - or at least different - things in my life. Child care was a great and rewarding experience, but frankly I am at a point in my life where I need to exercise some different mental muscles. I have always known I am good with words - writing has always come naturally to me. As far as making a living at it, however, that has always seemed like a pipe dream.
In high school I changed my college major from my first choice - English - to Human Development. At the time, it seemed an English degree could only lead to two careers: Journalism or English Teacher - neither of which appealed to me. That's how I embarked on my career as a Child Care Provider.
Recently there has been a sea change in my life. After all those years of a fairly consistent enrollment in my day care, my client base dried up. The little ones went off to preschool and beyond; and for the first time ever, no replacements came to fill their spaces. I found myself with a dwindling enrollment. The most likely reason is the economy - fewer people need daycare when fewer people are going to work. Here was my critical moment. I had an opportunity to make that change and widen my horizons.
Without the responsibility of the daycare business, there really was no reason not to think about the next stage of my career - Career II. So I've decided to start a freelance writing business. What's changed? Why do I feel I can make a living a writing now when it didn't seem a possibility before? Two words: The Internet. There seems to be a whole new world of opportunity for those with facility for the written word. I really do think I have a strong concept for a writing business but I also know I can't do it alone. I'm going to need some guidance and some shoring-up.
That's where Ellen comes in.
Check back next Wednesday to hear about Ellen and Gina's first meeting!
