We Are Still Adjusting To Second Shift. But, We've Got This...

 

It's been 8 months since Lisa moved to the second shift. At first, we were not happy with the news despite the fact it was temporary. But. After the weeks rolled along, and the offer was on the table for it to become permanent, it didn't take long for us to come to the conclusion that it actually worked out for us. 

To better explain this, I need to back up a bit...

Last Summer, Lisa got a promotion at work. Manager. This was a very exciting time because she has worked hard to get to where she's at. To date, she's been working for the company for over 19 years. 

The only catch? Her hours were 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. And, if the first or second shift manager had days off or vacations or called out sick, Lisa had to cover.

What did that translate to?

Several things...

Lisa didn't have a "set" schedule most weeks. I can count on one hand the number of weeks where she worked Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  The entire week. 

More often than not, she would cover the first shift a day or two then her shift, and then the second shift. Or, she'd work the second shift for an entire week, then the first shift the following week, then her shift. 

Long story short, her schedule was all over the charts. 

Lisa was always exhausted.

On my end, I was exhausted too.

Our kids were confused.

My Work at Home Dog Mom Life was a bit of a challenge. 

We made it work and we would have continued to do so, but...

Lisa was presented with an opportunity to take over the second shift. 

At the time, we hated that shift the most. Lisa leaves for work around 2:30 p.m. and she doesn't get home until the wee hours of the morning. Sometimes she's home at a reasonable hour. Other times, she's pulled into the driveway at 2:30 a.m. 

But.

If she were to permanently take over the second shift, that would mean several things...

A set schedule.

A set schedule for our kids.

An opportunity for us to adjust to a schedule regardless of the hours.

We talked about it and I told Lisa, "Go for it..."

We would make it work, and we have. 

Lisa being on a set schedule has been incredible. It took a while to adjust, but we have. Our kids have. All the way around it's been great. 

There are a lot of things that we miss like eating dinner together and having family snuggle time before bed while watching TV for a bit. 

More and more little things have come up over the months, but the biggest hurdle has been Lisa's sleep schedule. She likes to get up earlier to get things done before she has to head to work. Time and time again, I have told her to sleep in. 

Lisa is stubborn. Just like me. But week after week, it's been catching up to her. When Saturday rolls around, she's exhausted. She will doze off at the table or at her laptop. More often than not, I have to stand firm and tell her to take some downtime on the sofa with our kids. 

Finally, I had to put my foot down and explain things to her...

If she were to work the first shift (having to be there by 5 a.m.), she would not get up at midnight or 1 a.m. to get the things done around the house that she wanted to.

In the second shift world, that meant not getting up at 8 or 9 a.m. to get things done around the house that she wanted to.

In other words...

Sleep. In. 

Sleep until 11 a.m. or noon if needed...

It's okay.

Over the past couple of weeks, when Lisa has gotten out of bed at 8 or 9 a.m., I'm right there. My hands on my hips. Putting my foot down. 

"Go back to bed! Go back to sleep!"

She has listened to me. 

Exhale...

I'm fairly certain this is the final hurdle of adjusting to second shift life.

Maybe. 

Maybe not.

But, I'm embracing any and all positive changes. 

There are more to come. Because. This Fall, we're going to be making our Bodacious Fall Pumpkins and our Bodacious 2021 Holiday Ornaments. 

We couldn't do it last year because of COVID.

So, this year, we're moving forth. After buying a house. COVID. Second shift. 

We've got this...