BACKTRACK BACKGROUND

[katjamiles]

TUCSON, ARIZONA

I grew up in Tucson, parents went 16 years until they couldn't hack it anymore. Within the 16 years, they moved from Germany (where they met, married, and had the first 2 kids) and settled for the rest of their marriage in Arizona (where, they had 3 more kids- a total of five kids with only four surviving after the age of 3.5 (who wasn't really discussed until we were all much much older). While married mama left the working with kids thing and worked with my father in his landscaping business-after the divorce she stayed in AZ and went back to the working with kids thing. She is happily working with kinders and almost done raising a grandkid ta boot! Dad went back to his roots and academic skill set and is surviving working landscaping in the countryside.  I see my older and younger sisters as kinda reflections of each other (one idolized the other so it sort of makes sense), both happy to follow mama in her profession,  My brother (first born) took his time figuring out what he wanted to do in life but now is settled working with telescopes and Drifting. All, also had the high intelligence "normal" brains to go with it.

Looking back I always see myself as a sheltered insecure scaredy cat brat. I worked with family up until I went through the end of college (which wasn't what I was working in) and married. Yes, I went from one independent dependent to another. I am stuck with lots of academic awesomeness but little experience!
Back to growing up, sixth grade, I was tested and found to be average intelligence (JUST LIKE MATER!) but my brain was just super slower...which basically meant my accommodations of calculator, word processor and extra time got me to produce similar outputs of all the "normal" kids. By the end of high school, I was leading all my IEP meetings and goals and whatnot and after I graduated I realized all of that was just for my schooling before I caught up to the real world. Mathematics still hates me and challenges me every day.

YUMA, ARIZONA

I moved to Yuma when I got married. I went to high school with him (and learned of our missed meeting along the way), his family is the opposite of mine gender wise and similar in other ways-divorced parents with his mother raising the family, his mother is also a teacher and they were raised on her salary (like i was-it is totally amazing how far one can make a buck stretch!), he also has an added bonus of a half sister. His side is chalked full of kids and significant other happily ever afters of their own. I think the comforting similarities of our backgrounds helped in falling in love with him fives years after High school. But anyway, Yuma found me flustered with learning to drive, finishing my degree (and consequently starting a new one), gaining a free puppy, and being immersed into the culture of my other half's chosen career path. Here, was the first of my missed opportunities.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

This place will always be remembered by the flood. We were there for schooling. We also took it as more of a 6 month vacation (even bought a pure-breed puppy!). There was again, another missed opportunity I found myself deciding not to take, not wanting the challenge of multitasking too many stresses.

MARYLAND

I decided that I didn't have enough experience to gain any more degrees and set out to gain some. I found little in the way of anyone wanting to keep me for paying positions, however, I did find a home away from home in volunteering. I had a blast gaining and improving my admin, management and peopling skills. Sadly, it ended when my pregnancy got the better of me. By the end of our term, we had a pretty little girl (which is what he wanted) and I settled into staying home with her. I love it, problems is, it could cause many a more problems!

JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

We recently just moved to NC so I haven't made much traction here yet. I am however, on the voyage of working again (paid or unpaid-preferably paid). The biggest roadblock I am finding (besides my lack of experience vs my academic awesomeness) is the damn daycare systems aligning itself with our schedules. I may just have to keep my little girl longer and deal with the outcome at a later date...