Trying to get back to work

Posted by ihatediabetes @ihatediabetes, Sep 1, 2018

Hi everyone, I have been thinking a lot about getting back to work since my son is out of home now in adult residential services and day program. I don't have to take care of daily supervision. But I still take my son to mayo appointments. I was wondering if people had experience with getting back to work after long time of caregiving. I am signed up for temp work and I got a three week assignment that I am going to accept. Now I have to do all these on-boarding documents on a computer and send them back. You don't actually see real HR people in the flesh. But its very fast and convenient. There seems to be a whole economy out there with people getting temp assignments here and there. I actually like that I can try things out and move to something else after a few weeks. I'm supposed to get some benefits from temp agency like 401k.

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Wishing you the best of everything as you begin this new part of your journey, @ihatediabetes

I look forward to hearing how you enjoy these assignments!

Strength, courage, and peace!

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@IndianaScott

Wishing you the best of everything as you begin this new part of your journey, @ihatediabetes

I look forward to hearing how you enjoy these assignments!

Strength, courage, and peace!

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I start my assignment on Tuesday at 8am. I got an email where to go and name of supervisor to report to. I have to do something called I9 so I need my passport.

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Hi everyone, I went to my temp job today at 8am. I was working of front of monitors and them the power failed from lightning strike. Then I clocked out and went grocery shopping and home. So that's my first day back to the real world. I cleared off my schedule to finish my project. But I still will take my son to his mayo appointments. I keep wondering what happens after being a caregiver for more than 20 years. It seems like life has to go on but nobody ever told me what to expect. That's my experience.

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Congrats on your first day back @ihatediabetes Not as planned, but then as a caregiver that is probably pretty par for the course!

You are right that nobody told any caregiver what to expect! I like to say caregiving is the hardest job I ever had and it came with no employee manual, no rules, job description, etc.!

Hoping for a good day for you tomorrow!
Strength, courage, and peace

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@IndianaScott

Congrats on your first day back @ihatediabetes Not as planned, but then as a caregiver that is probably pretty par for the course!

You are right that nobody told any caregiver what to expect! I like to say caregiving is the hardest job I ever had and it came with no employee manual, no rules, job description, etc.!

Hoping for a good day for you tomorrow!
Strength, courage, and peace

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Thanks it does seem like work is in an environment that is organized somehow. When I was raising my son he wandered off constantly and I was looking for him a lot. There really isn't much organization to that. But I still think that its working hard.

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@IndianaScott

Congrats on your first day back @ihatediabetes Not as planned, but then as a caregiver that is probably pretty par for the course!

You are right that nobody told any caregiver what to expect! I like to say caregiving is the hardest job I ever had and it came with no employee manual, no rules, job description, etc.!

Hoping for a good day for you tomorrow!
Strength, courage, and peace

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I finished my second day at work. I logged in for an eight hour day. It was easier because I knew how to get on the computer and start working. I didn't get home until after 8pm. My husband said he was proud of me. I left at 715am this morning. We have a little break room to eat and use our cell phones. We can't use our cell phones in the work area. I am going to try to line up a five week project after this project.

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Well done @ihatediabetes Sounds like a solid second day! Especially if you are looking at longer assignments! Great to hear it is going well for you!
Scott

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@IndianaScott

Well done @ihatediabetes Sounds like a solid second day! Especially if you are looking at longer assignments! Great to hear it is going well for you!
Scott

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Hi I think I can be an encouragement too to others. One of my team mates was talking about being stuck here. He thinks its menial work looking at documents. But I told him, "This is honorable work!" I said its brave to be working and doing what you need to do. Maybe it is harder on guys though. I am a woman and I don't mind being in a support role. But I think guys want to be more high profile. I'm ok with support work and then I plan my cooking at home which is also support work. Then I will bring my son to Mayo Clinic next Friday and be the driver and pca while I am there. That's support work too. I think that being a caregiver must be honorable too even if its unpaid work. I wish people would tell us and remind us that it is honorable and brave to be the caregiver. I think the doctors don't notice the bravery and honor of being a caregiver. Does needs of patient come first mean that caregivers don't matter to them?

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@ihatediabetes

Hi I think I can be an encouragement too to others. One of my team mates was talking about being stuck here. He thinks its menial work looking at documents. But I told him, "This is honorable work!" I said its brave to be working and doing what you need to do. Maybe it is harder on guys though. I am a woman and I don't mind being in a support role. But I think guys want to be more high profile. I'm ok with support work and then I plan my cooking at home which is also support work. Then I will bring my son to Mayo Clinic next Friday and be the driver and pca while I am there. That's support work too. I think that being a caregiver must be honorable too even if its unpaid work. I wish people would tell us and remind us that it is honorable and brave to be the caregiver. I think the doctors don't notice the bravery and honor of being a caregiver. Does needs of patient come first mean that caregivers don't matter to them?

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@ihatediabetes - I just wanted to tell you that was so beautifully said "... it is honorable and brave to be a caregiver." That touched my heart - just what I needed today. So I want to say it back to you: It IS honorable and brave to be a caregiver and you obviously did it well since you've graduated to other work now. Great job!

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@debbraw

@ihatediabetes - I just wanted to tell you that was so beautifully said "... it is honorable and brave to be a caregiver." That touched my heart - just what I needed today. So I want to say it back to you: It IS honorable and brave to be a caregiver and you obviously did it well since you've graduated to other work now. Great job!

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Thanks for the encouragement. I never got to tell anyone that my son never got invited to birthday parties. Some how I think mothers feel like failures if their kids don't get invited to birthday parties. But they never get to tell anyone because the needs of the patient come first.

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