It's been a tough week. My husband David, who is a college professor, got word on Tuesday that he is not being recommended for tenure. Basically, what this means is that he is losing his job. He gets to stay for one more year. Since there is very little chance of him finding another job where we are currently living, this means we most likely be moving in summer 2010.
Three of our children are students at the college where he is working and get free tuition because of him working there. Two of them will graduate by next spring, but the third will be halfway through college in spring of 2010. We don't have any way to pay for college for her after this, so either she is going to have to take out loans or hope that my husband gets a new position which includes free tuition. My youngest son will be just finishing 10th grade and so will have to move in the middle of high school. He is at a public magnet school, an all college-prep high school and loves it there.
I work at the same place as David and I love my job. It's work I enjoy and am good at. The hours are flexible, the pay is good and it accommodates all of my physical limitations well. I like working near my husband and three of my kids. It's a unique job, so it's doubtful whether I'll be able to find anything similar wherever we end up.
David is devastated. He's barely eaten or slept for the last three days. In the 25 years we've been married, we've lived in eight states. Prior to living in Pennsylvania, we lived in Iowa for 12 years. Iowa was home and it was very difficult to leave, except David was very unhappy with his job there. The last move was so difficult it almost destroyed us. We were determined to make it work here so we would never have to move again.
Now we feel at home here. We have friends and a life. My husband actually was happy in his job. We like our house and neighborhood.
I've cried a lot in the last three days. I dread losing my job and our home and the life we've built here. I'm always lonely for the first few years in a new place.
Both of us are angry at the way he has been treated by the university. David threw himself heart and soul into this job and feels used. I think they chewed him up and then spat him out.
Life will go on. It always does. I keep picking up my feet and putting them down and doing the next thing that has to be done. But right now, I'm tired and angry and very, very sad.
Karen
Last edited by Karen_the_Mouse; 04/03/09 09:51 PM.
