I’ve had 2 jobs for the past 3 1/2 months. It’s been really interesting and fulfilling and hectic. Rewarding and testing.

For far too long, I was under- and unemployed. When I moved back to my hometown, New Orleans, Louisiana, all I wanted to do was work. I searched, applied, asked, and talked to people. Before I knew it, I had almost 3 jobs. I got the first one, an afternoon job that was for 2 hours, 4 days a week (no Mondays) working with Second Graders.

Six weeks later I got the second job, it was in the day time: 6 hours Monday through Thursday, 3 hours Fridays. I was so grateful until I decided to do them both and was considering a 3rd job which fell through, thankfully.

The two I got fit together but then they really didn’t. Both were demanding and a pleasure. But there were times when they clashed. If things ran over in my day job, then I would likely be late or close to it for my afternoon job. You see, there was only a 30 minute window between the 2 jobs which allowed for travel time. A surprise event would eat that travel time quickly and leave me no room to do any preliminary things.

Once or twice it even made me a few minutes late. I couldn’t have that for myself. And my boss and the children (it was an after-school tutoring program) deserved better.

looking at all sides

I tried to tough it out. All I wanted was to work to make up for all the time I didn’t work. Here’s the thing though. I am tough. And dedicated. Once I understood that it wasn’t about me alone, but what was best for all involved, the choice came clear.

I didn’t want to be forced to run out of my day job leaving unexpected things for the next day, in order to be on time for my evening job. And, as I said, I didn’t want to have to run late or be absent for the evening job because of my day job (Administrative Assistant).

I opted to stay with the day job that was closer to full time, provided me with autonomy (once I learn all the nuances), and made no demands on my time or finances outside of the job. Teaching is not that kind of animal, even in only the after-school sessions.

how i chose

I took the selfish route. I wanted to be on time every evening for the afternoon program but it wasn’t a guarantee that I could. I wanted to be free once I got home, to do other things I was interested in, like my volunteer work for my church, book studies, website development, learning software applications. That was difficult to do with the demands I placed on myself for classroom preparations.

My choice was to pick the one that I could focus on with minimal hesitation. This was the formula because both are rewarding and autonomous positions. I didn’t want to give up either, but since I had to, I opted for the free evenings and relative quiet of working in an office setting.

I’m sure I made the right decision for myself at this juncture in my life. I have no problem with working 2 jobs. But I firmly believe that my second job should be online and from home, to minimize the wear and tear on me.

So, did I make the right choice? When did you last give up on something in the name of self-preservation? Did it bear out that you made the right choice?

I won’t really feel my decision until after the holidays, when everything is back in full swing — and I get to go home at 3:00 p.m. It will be a bit before I really feel the absence of 2nd Graders asking questions, working studiously and trying to have their way. I may need to visit them.