I was starting to feel that I might not find 'returning to the workforce' very easy.  It seems that regardless of previous skills and qualifications the second I mention taking time off to rear my children puts me in a bad catergory.   I've read about this happening, but until I had kids I didn't realise how tough it actually is.  Apparantly taking three years out to have children has killed my ability to perform at a professional capacity.  People ask me about my cv, seem interested and then mention the gap from my last employment until now.  As soon as the word, children, leaves my mouth I am greeted by a 'oh.'  Its kind of ironic really, having kids has made me more committed, better organised and able to multi task, but employers can't get passed the fact Ive had three years speaking in baby language, changing nappies, washing clothes, cleaning the house, tending to sick kids, comparing stain removers, taking an interest in parenting magazines.  Which reinforces the feeling that most women talk about post children.  My body is not mine, I am not an individual anymore (instead I'm a wife/Mum/Nurse/cleaner/housekeeper/taxi service/delivery service/phonebook/etc!), my brain must have frozen over and died.  The other irritating thing about it is that there is seemingly no right time to return to the workforce.  People either think that it's too soon or too late.  So, my recent applications and interviews have felt a lot harder than they used to.  Perhaps also, when I was younger, I took my incredibly good looks for granted.  Being able to say anything and get away it because I looked good.  There is nothing worse than a desperate housewife trying to impress.  Yes, you could say that my confidence is a little low.  I used to think I was God reincarnate, but now I have doubts about my own abilities and if I do, employers MUST soak that up.  The reality is that I have spent three years doing the above.  My husband thinks its amazing that I can recall most if not all childhood diseases and symptoms.  I can't remember what I was doing last week, but I know when the girls' had their immunisations and when they're due.  I can tell my husband about each school in the area and its ethos.  The family has clean clothes, the house is tidy and my girls' behaviour is relatively normal and they've been set good boundaries from moutains of research into child psychology and a 'mothers instinct.'  But sat in a suit being interviewed and having my skills analysed makes me feel like a fish out of water.  Its harder still when interviewers don't have children.  Ear infections, bowel movements and stretch marks just don't seem funny to the childless.  Indeed, parents, Mothers in particular seem to belong to a sub culture.  When I worked before the children, people would be late because 'Jimmy stuck a peanut in his ear again' or 'the baby pooped all over my suit, so I had to change' and it really annoyed me.  How disorganised I used to think!  But now I hope to encounter other parents so that I feel less isololated!  And a bit more normal.  Fortunatly, I've finally had three good responses to my cv, but I think that might be because my cover letter has gradually taken a more direct tone.  Instead of waffle about my skills, I've simply compiled a few lines that state, I can do this job, I have the skills, meet me to discuss.  I've called them before I've sent my CV, called to make sure they received my CV and then called a few days later to make an appointment.  I've not given them to chance to flick out a bog standard 'not this time' email or letter.  Then the pressures on to 'wow' at interview stage.  If one of the three jobs can make an offer, I will vow not to stick my head in the microwave.  Today I was told I was 1 of 5 shortlised for a position out of 50 cvs.  I might be to the token white, middle class Mother of course.  But at least its a foot in the door!  Just have to make sure I clean the baby sick out of my suit before the another round of interviews commences!

In further news, the real estate agency are STILL buggering around.  Suffice to say my one week alcohol detox finished abruptly!!  And I took the car in to be looked over because it was making 'chugging' noises.  $450 later, it was fixed.  Apparantly most of the spark plugs were just there for effect but weren't actually doing anything.  Should have been a bloody mechanic!

But STILL loving Welly!  The weather hasn't been great, but there is no denying it is so beautiful here.  I don't get tired of exploring new areas and I certainly love to look at the mountains in the distance.  Can't wait to move into our new gaffe!  The evenings are drawing out, so I'm getting that excited, 'its nearly summer' feeling!  Can't wait to build a BBQ!  Being happy where you live makes such a HUGE difference.