After college, I entered the fast lane. At 22, I became the Director of Thesis and Dissertation publications at a major university. It did not take long, however, for me to realize that I really wanted a career as a full-time mother. So when I became pregnant, I left my job for the life of a stay-at-home mother. For medical reasons, my child bearing ended after our third child was born; however, when my oldest was 10, we adopted a little girl from Russian. Over the next three years, we adopted three more little girls from Russia. I was at home raising and educating my seven children–living my hopes and dreams. Although the adoption expenses were enormous, we had every reason to believe that we could pay off the debts in a few years, which we did. However, a week after we paid the last debt, my husband lost his job in a RIF. Over the next few years, our debts steadily increased until it became evident that after 21 years at home, I would have to reenter the world of work. But I didn’t just want a “job.” I wanted a career, and I didn’t want to give up being at home with my children. So I decided to pursue some life-long passions. I love wardrobing and makeup, protocol and etiquette, and verbal and nonverbal communication. So two years later, here I am—an internationally certified image consultant. I work full-time (often more), but my studio is only 15 feet from my back door, my 18-year-old daughter is my photographer, my younger girls are my assistants and shopping buddies. As I watch my business and my children grow together, I know that now I am living a whole new set of hopes and dreams.
