How we got here in the first place- Part 1

Hello.  Welcome to The Spare Oom.  I have blogged before, I even homeschool blogged in the past, but now that I'm about 7 years in to it, homeschooling 3 kids and chasing a little one, I decided to start a new blog.

My name is Flo and I was born and raised in Northern California.  A few years after my husband (who is from Western New York, yes... a Damned Yankee!) got married, we decided to sell our townhouse and look for a single family home with a yard and in a neighborhood with good schools.  Naturally, we decided to look in the town that I grew up in.  We ended up buying a house, a block away from my childhood home, where my parents still live.  This particular city is known for their good schools.  We thought that our kids would attend the schools that I went to and all would be well.

Then, we met families at our church.  Let me be more specific: Homeschooling families.  And their kids... they were so... NORMAL.  In fact, they were better than normal.  They were pleasant, engaging, and articulate.  While they never claimed to be perfect, they did proclaim a calling that they answered.  

The call to homeschool.

I was like... "uh. ok.  no thanks.  but totally cool for you."

Seriously.  I wanted NO part of it.  I was working for a software company and doing well there. I figured I would just work and send my kids off to school.  That's what my mom did and I really admired her for it.  I saw her as someone who worked REALLY hard and made a name for herself.  I thought I'd be a mom like mom.  Isn't that how most girls grow up? There was no WAY I was going to ruin my kid by staying home and being a teacher.

Then, I got pregnant with our first child.  My husband and I had been married for about 4 years when we found out.  We were so excited!  Then, we began to think about what I would do.  Would I go back to work after my maternity leave, or would I stay home?  In my heart, I really wanted to stay home, but could we afford it on just his salary as a System Admin?  My husband and I prayed about it.  Asking the LORD to show us His will with regards to this new little should that He entrusted to us.

About 2 weeks after we found out that was I pregnant, my manager called me into his office.  He NEVER did this, so I knew immediately that there was something wrong.  I sat down and he looked at me with the saddest look.  He told me, "Flo... I am so sorry, but we [Software CO.] acquired another company and our group is getting let go.  Our layoff date is set for the end of June."  I looked at him in complete disbelief.  That was a full 6 weeks AFTER my due date.  That was our answer.  I thanked him for letting me know and that I appreciated all his hard work and for being such a good manager.  I left his office and watched another co-worker get called in.  I looked over at my friend in the cubicle across from me and he was so distraught.  What was he going to do now?  And yet, I couldn't help but smile.  I was so happy.  I called my husband, who happened to work in the building across the street, for the same company, and told him I need to speak to him right away.  When I told him the news, he said, "Well, that's it then.  You're gonna be a full-time mama!"

And back to shock-and-awe mode.  

Excuse my inner monologue, but I thought, "What the HELL am I going to do?  I know NOTHING ABOUT THIS!!  I don't know ANYTHING ABOUT BEING A MOM, let alone a STAY-AT-HOME mom?!  God in Heaven, You're laughing at me, aren't you?!"

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