Summary: In 2009, Michael and I found ourselves stuck between a rock and a hard place, as they say. I had just had our first baby, and Michael was going to school for his Master's degree. We had recently moved to Northern Virginia so Michael could complete this degree, and I was working a day job to try and make ends meet.<br> <br> I was on maternity leave, and wanted more than anything to quit my job so I could stay home with my baby. I knew it was the right thing for me to do, and I really hated my job. The problem is, Michael was not able to find a job himself. When we moved to Northern Virginia, we knew, we just knew that Michael would be able to find work on the Hill because he'd had an internship in a Congressional office and had a good experience there. But, this was in the height of the Recession, and jobs just were not available.<br> <br> So, we had just had our baby, and I did NOT want to go back to work. We were seriously struggling. I was on maternity leave and had even requested an extension hoping and praying that Michael would find a job before I had to go back to work and leave my baby.<br> <br> The frustrating thing is, Michael and I knew that things should work out, but they weren't! They just weren't. We had done everything right! We checked off all the right boxes in the path to "success" so things were supposed to work out! But they weren't.<br> <br> Have you ever felt this way? Do you feel like your family is struggling, and you just can't put your finger on what it is?<br> <br> Tune in to hear about our miracles, and our struggles. This is the first of a three-part breakdown of my story, and the results I want to bring you as we go through this journey of designing our family culture.
