Work, The past, The future & everything in between...

I have worked in so many different occupations over the past 17 years, It is crazy.

My very first job was cleaning Beachfront Units with my Mum & Dad- something I didn't have a choice in doing, something I was forced in to doing so that I was keeping out of trouble and making their job easier. I don't recall being paid for it, I just remember coming home and smelling like Vanilla fridge Spray & Ajax powder every Saturday morning.

From there I went on to work at a Surf Shop, a Bowls Club,  a Discount Store (Possibly the best job I had until I moved to Melbourne)

When I moved to Melbourne, I got a job as a Receptionist in ChildCare. I didn't want the job at all- It was something my Case Manager lined up and TOLD me that I had an interview to attend. I walked in to that interview with purple hair and a bad attitude, I was asked why I wanted the job and my reply was "I don't, I was told to come". Would you believe- I actually got that job?

I both loved to work there, and hated to work there. Some of the staff were amazing (infact, I reunited with a few of them on facebook now and adore them to bits), the work was great, The job was  around the corner from home so it was perfect for me..Unfortunatly, I was treated horribly. I had a great friend relationship with my boss...but the boss power she had over me was crazy. I was pulled into the office  a couple of times a week for 3 years and she would tell me things I was doing wrong- even though some of them I was doing right/were not my fault..and I'd cry. I would cry hard.
I recieved an instant dismissal from that job once a new staff member came in, almost like she forced me out of that place..Instant dismissal for something that two people should have been responsible for- yet I took all the blame because the other staff member was like Family to the higher powers. (Don't worry, It wasn't anything illegal!)

This scarred me.

I was too scared to go back in to full time employment for fear that someone would treat me like shit, that I wouldn't be good enough for another employer and be forced to cry over things I did or did not do.

I dropped in and out of Employment for the next almost 10 years.

I worked in Massage (Which I found out was an underground brothel to some girls- so I left immediatly), I worked for my partners Mothers work, taking on two jobs at seperate times- Data Entry, Cleaning. A job I actually enjoyed doing because I was working with great people. I also worked on a few occasions for my partners Aunty & Cousin- I was head reception filling in for a girl who went away for a month, I was basically responsible for the whole workplace at the time, The second job was cold calling, a job I HATED and I found a different job just so I could leave (Plus i was getting paid $5 an hour to cold call- with no lunch break, no nothing... Infact, I went out for a 5 minute smoke break 6 hours in, only to be told I had to go back inside and work- no breaks were allowed for me!!). In between all them, I have done quite a few other jobs- one was telemarketing, and while I loved the hours (4pm-9pm) and the staff I worked alongside with, I hated ringing people and interrupting their dinner time, I got so many threats and so much abuse thrown down the line, when all I was trying to do was keep a roof ove rour heads and earn some money- I have so much respect for Telemarketers these days because I know how incredibly hard a job it is.

The last job I had was as a cleaner. Cleaning the local shopping centre. I actually really loved this job, I worked 2 hours a day, I walked to work, I got paid well...I had to give it up when I was 8 months pregnant with my son and it was so upsetting to leave the first job I actually felt comfortable in, in a long time.

So this brings me to now.

I have the most rewarding and demanding job of them all right now- A stay at home Mum of 2. It is a challenge at times- but I wouldn't change it for the world.

What do I want to do with my future? I don't know- I have all these great ultimate dreams, become a food critic, open an itty bitty "shop" that sells Cupcakes, Work from home creating awesome hairpieces and jewellery and imported clothes, Volunteer in an Animal Shelter, Feed the Homeless. I know none of these will ever happen (Well, the first two won't ever), but a girl can dream right?

Do you have dream jobs you want for your future? Do you think you will actually ever do them?