While it’s true that I started selling Cookie Lee Jewelry when my second son was just a few months old, I did it initially to pay off a bill here and there and I had no intention of ever making it my full time job. I just didn’t think it was possible. I was teaching preschool and kindergarten at the time and CL was great as my extra income – I made more in one night sometimes then I did in a week of teaching. We decided to homeschool my oldest son and we found out we were expecting our third child about the time I started working part time in a place I won’t mention. I loved my job. I worked two days a week, and was able to also work from home. It was a great way to be able to earn income and still be with my kids and homeschool my oldest. When my daughter was just five days old I got a call from my boss wanting me to go and work at an event. She also offered that if I came back to work sooner I could bring the baby with me to my office and work with her there. It wasn’t paid maternity leave so I agreed to the second offer (not the event). I ended up back to work with a five week old baby, trying to nurse, figure out her schedule, attend meetings, change diapers, clean spit up off my nice shirt….and look professional. I was also working in a high stress, and somewhat hostile environment in my opinion. Although I was glad to have my daughter with me, I was miserable. I offered to work from home more but a new boss refused. So I just kept trying to make it work because this job needed me. Or so I was convinced. Soon my daughter was able to be in the childcare center a couple days a week so my office life seemed a little better to me and I had taken on another day a week. I was exhausted hauling three kids in heels through a parking garage, and checking on them during every break. The stroller, the bags, the breast pump, the back packs and lunch boxes….all while trying to get to my office before anyone realized I was running late again because of a “blow out” diaper. I don’t think any of us were happy-except maybe my boss because I was good at my job.

Fast forward several months, my mother had passed away and I took a week off to go home to Minnesota. When I got back, I was numb. I was still trying to put so many pieces from the last few years of my mother’s life together and trying to reconcile everything that had gone on the past week. I had a lot on my plate. Being a mother, while trying to grieve, seemed so impossible. My new boss came into my office on the first day back to work and basically told me that if I didn’t take the job he was offering me full time, I would be out of a job. We couldn’t afford for me to lose my job. We were barely making ends meet as it was. So I said yes. We had already stopped homeschooling our oldest, my second son was in preschool, and my daughter would be home with my husband who went to work when I got home.

I learned a lot about myself that year. I learned that the long drive to work was where my grieving could take place. I learned that my moral compass for how people should be treated in a work environment is high. I also learned to take a lot of crap from a man who threw fits when he didn’t like how things were turning out at work. My job was threatened, my pay was cut, I was swore at- even when I was doing a great job. I saw things from people I never thought I would see. None of us were happy. Yet- this is how the world works. I was working to make someone else happy at the expense of my own happiness. With my husband going to work as soon as I got home – I was burning the candle at both ends and feeling like I was letting everyone down. My family life was a sinking ship.

Then one day while at work, my husband sent me this video: Eli Learns To Ride His Bike

It took about two seconds into this video to realize I was going to go for it. I wasn’t going to miss anything else. I called my husband and asked him if I could quit and start selling Cookie Lee full time. He fully supported me since he had been suggesting I go full time Cookie Lee for years. I called a good friend, asked her if I could do it. She promised me that I had what it takes to make this job work to bring in full time income. I wrote my resignation letter instantly and a weight lifted from my shoulders. Life was going to be a little harder for awhile, but a lot happier. Two and a half years later and we have never looked backed….not even when shows have cancelled and the income wasn’t what we needed for the month. We are so blessed to have this business. I don’t get stomach aches on Sundays because I have to go back to work Monday. In fact, I love going to work and rarely even know what day it is. If your ship is sinking- maybe it’s time for a change.