"I wanted to work with you." Those words changed how I speak to my children

To everyone who read my previous article, "Cherishing time with my children: I started working again after 12 years," thank you so much.

In this second part, I would like to write about the process of looking for a job and the important things I realized after I started working.

At first, I was hoping for remote work.
Referring to articles by other noters and YouTube videos, I searched for job openings on Indeed, which has a good reputation.

However, almost no one around me was working remotely, and even though the internet was overflowing with information, I didn't know what to believe or where to start. I couldn't take that first step.

So, I asked myself, "What do I want to do?" and "What can I do?" and visited Hello Work as a place where I could consult with peace of mind.

A 12-year gap. My qualifications were Eiken Grade 2, Bookkeeping Grade 3, and TOEIC 765. However, all of these were obtained over 10 years ago, and they didn't give me any confidence.

The person in charge listened to me kindly, but they advised me that I might need to retrain, given my gap in employment and lack of relevant qualifications or experience.
Still, I was interested in a medical office job despite having no experience, so I decided to give it a try first. I decided that if it didn't work out, I would retrain through vocational training.

I was surprisingly nervous during the interview. Thinking of my children facing their own nerves at competitions, I told myself, "It's okay, stay calm."

What I was told in the phone call the next day was not,
"You're hired,"
but the warm words,
"I wanted to work with you."

Those words filled my heart, as if my current self had been accepted.

Even after I started working, the teachers and staff would stop what they were doing, even when they were busy, to say,
"It's okay to take your time,"
"Please ask me as many times as you need."
The sense of security in being accepted just as I am, while still in the process of learning. I realize every day how happy and grateful I am to have my efforts themselves recognized.

At the same time, it made me think about how I speak to my own children.

Am I offering words that acknowledge not just the results, but their efforts and the process of taking on challenges, and encouraging them along the way?
Starting this job has become an important learning experience that has caused me to re-examine my own parenting in an unexpected way.

This job required working on Saturdays.

My husband gave me the reassuring words, "Don't worry about the kids," and encouraged by that, I was able to take that first step.
The step I took with courage back then led to a world much kinder than I had imagined.

Without forgetting my gratitude to my supportive family and the colleagues who welcomed me so warmly, I want to continue moving forward one step at a time.