“Hay is for horses!” I hear this one phrase quite often out of Lily. I think it started back a few months ago instead of saying ‘Hi’, she would say ‘Hey’ and we started to tease her that hay is indeed for horses. It has stuck and now she must say it at least 20 times a day. Well, it was almost nap time today and as much as I was so not in a good mood and was ready to put her down, she had other ideas. I told her it was time for her nap and this is what she turned around and told me with a big smile on her face, “Hay is for horses!” She was not only so very happy, but proud of herself, too.
However, for the grownups in our home, today has been a bit of a rough day from the get go. It started yesterday, when Kevin came home from work last night and was visibly upset that his company was appearing to yet again promote another young girl considerably younger than him and even having been at the company less time then him. He is usually the more easy going one out of the two of us and he was so not happy nor easy going last night. Totally understandable, but the news hadn’t even officially been made or broken yet and my poor husband just knew it was coming though (he been around the block there enough times to know the handwriting on the wall).
Sure enough, it was announced this morning and he was livid. Text messages started coming in on my iPhone from him. My heart was heavy and definitely breaking for him, as well as more than a bit annoyed for him, too. He has put his heart and soul into this job and loves it, but once again ugly corporate politics rule. I am not saying this young girl didn’t work for or earn a promotion, but I have seen the hours my husband puts in and the creativity he has infused into his department and do feel he got somewhat short changed yet again. He has been in the company longer and always stays late to make sure all the promotions are up and running way before their deadlines. So this is just my humble opinion.
This actually brought me back quite a few years ago, when I was in my early twenties and working for a financial company as an administrative assistant. I was promised the moon and stars as far as advancement and worked my tail off for three years at this company to only be jerked around. I never did get that promotion nor even a raise. I ended up going back to school, getting a Master’s Degree to teach and now lo and behold the economy is in the crapper. So, I am a stay at home mom, who is trying her hand at writing.
But still this situation brought me back there though, when I had to make the decision of staying in a company where I was going nowhere or go back to school to further educate myself. This was actually the August right before September 11th. I remember going to hand my resignation in, my manager actually offered me a position in the NYC office with not much better pay, but room for advancement according to her and in her eyes she was throwing a bone at me.
I had two roads I could travel and I apparently chose the one less traveled as the Robert Frost poem stated (by the way one of my favorite poems of all time). I, in the end, opted out, but if I had taken the position would have had to take the subway downtown and would have departed that train each and everyday in the World Trade Center, as the NYC office building was literally right across the street.
I remember the day after the 9-11 Attacks looking in the paper and actually seeing just how close in proximity the building was and reading about those who got stuck in the actual subway trains in the World Trade Center. I was holding that paper, shaking and crying. It dawned on me if I had taken the other road, I might not have lived through that horrendous ordeal.
But here I am 11 plus years later and as much as I curse my student loan bills for a job that does not seem in my reach, I am still very much here, alive and well. I not only have Kevin, who now needs my support and attention, but my two girls, who as you can see from the beginning of this post keep me quite busy, on my toes and entertained, too.
I hope Kevin can go forward from here and either something will pan out at his current job or find something better, which I know with the current economy might not even be an option, but still am trying to have some faith and hope. And if all else fails, I guess we could always throw our hands in the air and smile, like Lily and tell the world or whoever is listening that, “Hay is for horses!!”
And by the way, this is the last Friday, I will be doing a regular post. Next Friday, I will be starting to co-host a Blog Hop with a fellow blogger from the Bloppy Bloggers Facebook group Kate from Can I Get Another Bottle of Whine with My Morning Quiet Time Our blog hop is called “Finish the Sentence Friday”. Next week’s sentence is as follows: “I went to the grocery store the other day and….” It is your mission to come up with a clever finish to the sentence. The most clever sentence will get to choose the sentence for the following week.
[amazon_mp3_clips widget_type=”Bestsellers” width=”250″ height=”250″ title=”” market_place=”US” shuffle_tracks=”True” max_results=”” browse_node=”” /]
[wp_ad_camp_2]
Collette Merritt says
I have so many thoughts running through my mind reading this post!
I'm sorry for your husband … I know how that fells.
Kids! You have to love them hey! The things they come out with! Hey! (Don't tell Lily 😉 )
I have to smile when I see the Hand of God when guiding our choices … You weren't meant to be in NY on that sad fateful day …
You are exactly where you are meant to be … Raising beautiful children, writing and supporting your hubby when he needs you to be strong!
Great post!
Lovies
Collette Merritt
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Collette and I do very much agree that I am in the placeI supposed to be in now, but can't help, but feel for my husband at this point. I just want to see him get the recognition he deserves and hope and pray 2013 will let him find this either where he is or somewhere new. Thanks seriously for your kind words and send love back your way, too!!
Jane Marsh says
Oh, Janine, what a tough end to a holiday week. Hope 2013 turns things around for your husband. xoxo
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Jane and I am with you on hoping and praying for a better 2013 for Kevin!! xoxo 🙂
Bill says
I'm sorry about Kevin! Unfortunately, those things happen in corporate politics. He will rise above it because he is a man of principle.
Way to go with that new blog idea; you are certainly becoming a super blogger.
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Bill and I appreciate you saying that about Kevin. He truly is a wonderful guy and love him so much. Just want to see him smile and be happy at work again. As for the blog idea, I am truly excited and can't wait to see how it goes now!!
Kera says
I feel for you and Kevin! It is so hard to be doing your absolutely best at your job and consistently get overlooked. Especially when the promotion goes to someone younger and less experienced. Happened to my hubby when we lived in DC. But you're right, everything happens for a reason. Hubs ended up going to work for another company who was amazing to him and he was getting paid 25% more than what he was making at his old job. The right thing will come for Kevin at the right time 🙂 And so…I'm excited for your new blog hop with Kate! I'll be stopping by for that one next week. Happy Friday mama.
JanineHuldie says
Thanks so much Kera for your kind words and for sharing your husband's story here. It gives me hope that things can work out for Kevin, too. As for the blog hop, I am truly excited and so happy you will be stopping by, too!!! Happy Friday to you, too!!
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Clark and I truly believe his current situation is relatable and know he isn't the first to go through this and won't be the last.
JanineHuldie says
Lol, Richard. I must tell you I wanted to spell it "Hey" first, but since Lily kept referring to horses here I felt I had to spell it "Hay" as in the food they consume. As for Kevin, he does golf, but it is a very strange company dynamic where woman are actually more in control of the power and I could never picture his one boss actually golfing!! That said thanks for your advice and kindness, too!!
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Melanie. Geoff's story sounds amazing and so happy that he ended back in his old company in a better situation now. It truly is those who are in management capacity at Kevin's current job that seem to be not really all with it and the dynamic of his department really has changed since he first started a few years ago. I hope that things will either change for the better or he, too can find a better opportunity somewhere else. So true though about everything happening for a reason 🙂
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Amy and I share the same sentiments as you. I thought teaching would be different, but even though it isn't corporate there are still way too much politics there as well. I appreciate your sympathy and do hope for a less stressful environment and situation for Kevin very soon.
Emily Mitty Cappo says
Ugh, yes corporate politics is so hard and can be so frustrating as sometimes those promotions go to the squeaky wheel, rather than the most deserving person. I feel for Kevin as I've been there…hoping things improve for him in the coming year. And yes, I remember that phrase "hay is for horses" so well..my brother taught it to me and used to say it all the time too. I love how you've injected your girls' innocence and simplicity into this post and how it contrasts with Kevin's weightier issues…sometimes you need to lose yourself in your kids' world to forget the bigger problems out there.
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Emily and I started to actually write about Lily and then all of this went down. I felt somehow all was connected and this is where it took me. As for Kevin, I honestly hope things will turn around for the better. I felt horrible for him and just tried to lose myself in my kids and him last night to forget all of this.
Dani Ryan says
I feel so bad for Kevin as I know how that feels. 🙁
And OMG about almost being in the thick of 9/11!!! So glad it worked out that you weren't there!
I am excited to participate in your blog hop!!! Woo hoo!!!
JanineHuldie says
Thanks so very much Dani for your thoughts about Kevin. As for 9/11, I too now I am just relived that I wasn't anywhere near there and that I am where I am now. And so happy that you will be participating in the blog hop, too 🙂 🙂
Lenetta says
Happy New Year!I love your blog. I found you through Aloha Blog Hop. Stop by and say hi if you get a minute. 🙂
JanineHuldie says
Oh thank you Lenetta and so very happy to have you here. Will definitely check yours out in a few, too 🙂 Happy New Year right back you!!!
Cyndi says
That's a bummer about Kevin. : I also hope that this year brings glad tidings and a prosperous New Year! Great post, Janine. 🙂
JanineHuldie says
Thanks for your thought here Cyndi and a very, Happy New Year to you as well!!!
Stephanie @ Mommy, f says
Such a thoughtful post. Your "road not taken" story gave me chills. I too have a really hard time when my husband gets discouraged, as it happens very rarely. When he is down, I know it is serious and I often don't know exactly what to do. It is really hard when it is work related, and you see their work ethic and dedication NOT paying off. I really related to this post.
JanineHuldie says
Thank you so very much Stephanie for letting me know I am not alone in these types of feelings where my husband is concerned. Your husband does sound similar to Kevin. I know when he is upset and down that something is truly amiss, because Kevin is one of the most even tempered people I know. As for my "road not taken", I still get a bit choked up when I think about the alternative. It truly became so real though when I saw that picture in the paper. To see it with your own two eyes really puts in perspective.
Gigigirl says
Unfortunately hard work if often rewarded with more work! I know how dedicated Kevin is but he is too nice…..got to go for the jugular in the corporate world. It was never for me….I don't have the stomach. Just hang in Kevin….things have a way of working out in the long run. Sometimes things change around you and you don't have to do anything but hang in. Thinking of you all….love Lily's take on things….Hay, hay, hay! Love you……
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Aunt Gloria and am with you on corporate not having the stomach for it either. I am just thankful that some many people including yourself are in our corner and thinking good thoughts for Kevin. As for Lily, she is truly always putting a great spin on things and love they way she sees the world right now and hope she always stays this way. Love you always!!
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Julie and I have to say he is just such an easy going guy and usually lets so much much roll off his back. It is hard for me to see him so down right now. Just hoping and praying for better to come his way real soon.