It’s been a big week at work. First, the announcement that Holy Cross Family Ministries is welcoming CatholicMom.com as part of the family. I’m beyond grateful for the job I’ve had since March of 2015–I love the work that I get to do, and that it offers me the flexibility that my family circumstances require.
I’m equally grateful that Holy Cross Family Ministries will be keeping me on to do this work.
On the outside, things shouldn’t look too different. There may be some extra logos and links around as the various HCFM sites cross-promote each other. But nobody wants to change what makes CatholicMom.com special.
It’s so special, in fact, that founder Lisa Hendey and I won an award this weekend; for the second year in a row, CatholicMom.com placed second in the “Best group blog” category of the Catholic Press Association awards! Our names are on the award, but without the 125+ contributing writers, CatholicMom.com wouldn’t be what it is today.
On the inside, things will be different. That’s the part you can’t see. It’s not a bad thing; it’s just a different thing. There’s a whole team at HCFM that I’ll be working with. I’ve had a few emails from them and everyone is friendly and helpful and I think it will be easy to work with them. Eventually there will be someone who will be trained to do what I do, so there’s a backup plan in case of emergency or vacation.
I’ll have to get used to people who like to conduct business via phone instead of email, Evernote or Slack. I’ve never talked so much on my cell phone since I’ve had it than I have in the past week or so!
There are lots of people I need to meet and lots of details on lots of lists that we need to get figured out. It’s going to be a busy summer. I want to make sure that the transition is as seamless as possible for the many writers whose work I edit and for the readers who see it once it goes live on the website.
Right now, I’m overwhelmed. I’m happy and apprehensive at the same time. Once I have those boxes checked off on all those lists, I know I’ll feel better. I’ll feel even better when I finally get to meet everyone in person–that’s tentatively scheduled for August. (Not that I’m not used to working for and with people I haven’t yet met; I worked for CatholicMom.com for more than four months without ever meeting Lisa or even talking with her on the phone!)
In the meantime, if you need me, I’m probably hiding holed up in my office. And there’s a good chance that I’ve put M&Ms on the grocery list. For medicinal purposes.
M&Ms are definitely medicinal. Congratulations on the award!!!
Thanks, Jeanne! I resisted purchasing any candy at the supermarket today (but there is a carton of chocolate-peanut butter ice cream in the freezer…)
It seems as if many of us our doing “scary thing” and figuring out what’s next! I keep telling myself I love change and a challenge, which is mostly true. You can do this; very glad you are staying on.
I’m very glad to stay on 🙂 I love working with all the writers! It’s not self-doubt that’s plaguing me, just the whole “getting used to change” thing. Prayers are with you and your what’s-next adventures!
Congratulations! In addition to M&Ms, I recommend Dove Chocolate. Even good change is a bit scary, but things will all fall into places.
I’m just about finished with the bag of Dove “promises” (complete with silly fortunes inside the wrapper) from Mother’s Day. Those are good, but I’m an M&M or Milky Way girl down to the core 🙂
It may take a while, but it WILL all fall into place. I am going to take some time today or tomorrow and just work on getting a handle on the summer routine–I honestly think that’s a big part of my unsettled feeling right now.
I feel totally out of sorts despite the fact I’m not big on routine – or didn’t think I was. Since school ended, we’ve had constant disruption – travel, a/c installation, swimming lessons. I feel like this week maybe we can start to find our groove.
I figure as soon as I find my groove, TheKid’s theatre camp will start and I’ll need to retool the groove.
Yay Barb and Lisa! Hooray, Hooray! Thank you for all you do!
[…] to “meet the family” at Holy Cross Family Ministries and work on the details of bringing CatholicMom.com under their umbrella. There have been lots of emails and phone calls, and everyone has been very welcoming. I’ve […]