The Other Big Deal

In the midst of our journey through infertility, we've been struggling with another journey and that is our quest to get my husband Al a teaching job. When we moved here, he had been teaching in Australia at a private school with one of the best reputations in the state. In our naivety and ignorance, we assumed getting jobs here was going to be easy. We are great teachers with great experience after all!

Well, it turns out things are not so simple here. There were huge hurdles to jump over- like having certification in Texas for the right subject area. And that was a hurdle that just kept popping up. We finally got Al enrolled to take his correct certification tests and he passed all the relevant ones in late February/early March. He has one left to do but it won't influence what he teaches. We also had the hurdle of getting permanent residence for him since he came over on a 1 year work travel visa initially. Well, that came in the mail in early March. While doing all that, he's been subbing at schools throughout our school district. The pay is crap and the work is irregular at times but it is also flexible and has allowed him to be in schools.

So hooray- he's now certified and legally able to work- let's get a job! And that brings us to Saturday- the JOB FAIR! We went and visited nine schools and left with lots of smiles and we'll keep you in mind and even one mini interview. Al left overjoyed and I left optimistic. But today I'm getting scared. The principal at the mini interview school said let's get him in this week but the other teacher conducting the interview said we'll email you. Is that like a guy saying 'i'll call you' after a date when he has no intention of calling??? Here at my school they've scueduled 3 interviews already and he's heard nothing!

So, trying not to panic but it'd just be so awesome if he could go ahead and get a job lined up and I just don't know if we can handle another crushing disappointment right now. So I'm praying and trusting and trying not to worry...

Oh, while on this topic, the handful of people who know we're trying to concieve have sometimes expressed surprise we have been doing so 'before Al has a job'. Well, point one he is a substitute teacher and has worked almost every day I have so it's not really like he's unemployed and bringing in no money. And we also started before we knew he wouldn't have a job and were so dedicated to becomming parents by then. Plus, it's nine months after you get pregnant so we figured he'd have a job before the baby came and that was all that mattered. In the meantime, i have a job. I don't know- I just sometimes get this judgemental vibe from people like maybe I haven't gotten pregnant because God doesn't give babies to unemployed couples. Which is ridiculous on so many levels... and you probably think that's in my head but the number of times I've heard 'maybe God's just waiting for Al to get a job...' It kinda makes my blood boil...

Anyway, I would love for him to have a job secured for his happiness, my sanity and just a little bit to shut the cynical ones up. Oh, and also just in case God is waiting on Al to get a job... please hurry up and hire my husband!!!