Thursday, October 15, 2009

the most important meeting i've ever attended

Yesterday, our amazing trips turned five years old. The very same day, my company had a corporate meeting on the east coast, where my attendance was requested. Since this was a global meeting that only happens once every three years, the decision as to whether or not I should go was a very difficult choice.

Life is all about making choices and quite often, those choices come with a sacrifice. But once you know what your BIG priorities are in life, you can very quickly identify a genuine sacrifice. Those are the ones that might haunt or nag at you, for years to come.

Ultimately, I took advice from the Great Counselor and let my conscience be my guide.

So yesterday, while my co-workers were rubbing shoulders with corporate managers in the Nation's Capital, I was rubbing shoulders with a bunch of cartoon characters and three birthday celebrating five-year-olds who have never been so excited in their entire lives.

And quite frankly - neither have I.

29 comments:

  1. Yea! I was hoping that was the invite you accepted. Those are some happy 5-year olds. Glad you guys had so much fun.

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  2. Oooooo, I hope you had a splendid day dodging rain drops in a un-crowded park. Happy, happy day!

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  3. I'm so glad you went!!! I hope a fabulous time was had by all. Happy birthday little ones!

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  4. Jen, they are going to remember this for the rest of their lives! What a wonderful choice.

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  5. So glad you made the choice to party at Disneyland! I'm sure this is a day neither you or your kids will ever forget.
    Happy Birthday 'Trips'!!

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  6. Good choice!
    There will be many more meetings that, in the end, no one will remember who went to.
    But there will never again be another Triplet Five year old Birthday and I can guarantee that you will all remember it for sure!

    I wrote about the little moments on my blog just yesterday (niccofive.blogspot.com). As my kids get older, I realize just how fast those moments, both big and small, pass us by.

    Hugs,
    Leeann

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  7. YEAH

    I am so glad you made this choice!

    Jessica

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  8. Good decision. Happy birthday to the kids.

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  9. Yea!!!!!! I'm so glad you went!!

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  10. In my opinion, right choice! Before I had children, I was an attorney for a major insurance company. I had a promising career path. I had intended to continue working after my girls were born, but when I saw their faces, I knew I had to be at home… so I changed the plan to working part-time. After two weeks of working part-time, I took a different, more important position… CEO and social coordinator of my girls. I quit my job of 10 years without one hesitation. When I made the decision, I had my husband’s wise words in my head. When he was getting his MBA at William & Mary, he had a huge Econ final in December. But, his final was the day after the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg. He knew he should study, but then he thought… What will I remember in 20 years – studying for an Econ final or the Grand Illumination? Then it was an easy choice. He went to the Grand Illumination and even passed his Econ final (although he admits that he might not have gotten the grade he would have if he had studied all night instead). I hope you had a wonderful day at Disneyland filled with memories with the most important people in your life! A very happy birthday to your trio.

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  11. Happy Birthday to your amazing trips! I can't believe how big they're getting. and Henry too. :)

    Happy birthday William, Elizabeth, and Gracie! :)

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  12. Oh! My Gosh! They are 5? How did that happen?

    The Great Counselor is very, very wise...I think...I hope...Yicks!!!

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  13. Awesome, Jen. I think you made the right choice. :)
    (Just don't let the Childfree movement find out you chose your kids over career. Sca-ry.)

    Happy birthday to The Amazing Trips!

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  14. Good choice! The kids look so happy and I think that's worth all the $$$ in the world. Happy 5th to the Amazing Trips!

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  15. I couldn't have went either! glad you had a fantastic day with your new 5 year olds!

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  16. YES! I am so happy you did it!

    I saw this yesterday and love it. You are teaching your kids that family comes first.

    http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=167786338222&ref=nf

    (I hope you are able to access the video!)

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  17. And here I thought you were going to the meeting. Good for you. I think you've made the decision on where you want to end up, now you just have to figure out how to get there. Also, I don't think having health insurance at all times is mandatory. I went years without even using mine.

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  18. Good for you! I think at the end of the day you will remember the year that 3 little hands were able to hold up all 5 fingers on one hand more than some meeting. I know others may disagree, but you know what that is ok. Happy Birthday Amazing Trips! I am glad that your whole family was together! I celebrated my 5th Birthday with Mickey and Minnie too. I still remember and it has been oh so long ago. My mom and dad shared it with me. My dad has never been a fan of crowds so this was a big deal. Good decision!

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  19. You can bet that this is a birthday they will never, ever forget. Looks like a good time was had by all!

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  20. Great Choice! I'd choose Disneyland even for MY birthday! haha. :)

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  21. Kimberly from Texas10/16/09, 2:33 PM

    Yea!! Family is everything...it wont matter what job you had or what meetings you attended..and maybe the trips wont remember their 5th birthday..but what matters is that they will know you were THERE. Family is the legacy you leave when you leave this earth. Think about the impact your Uncle Bill had on your development. Yea, Jen or "Jane" lol

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  22. Sometimes colleagues and cartoon characters are synonomous. But when the cartoon characters & kids hook up the animation is boundless!!

    Your difficult choice brought you JOY, JOY, JOY!

    Marie

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  23. Looks like a few of the coworkers got a little "goofy".

    However look at the smiles on those main characters! Sure shows that this meeting was a great success!!!!

    Great job on closing the deal! ;-)

    Beautiful. Love, Marg.

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  24. Happy Birthday kids, and mom! :D

    ~Cindy! :)
    ..

    P.S. What Leeann said couldn't have been said better! :D

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  25. Wowza, 5 yrs! Congrats. That is awesome and what a perfect time to be at Disney. Sept & Oct are always have the smallest lines because of back to school.

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  26. One of many cuzzins!10/18/09, 8:16 PM

    Jen,
    Good for you! Don't ever let the execs think they come first. You're a Mom before anything else.

    Happy Birthday Gracie, William, and Elizabeth!

    Smooches!
    Regina

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  27. Hooray! I'm glad that's the choice you made. That specific meeting might not happen again for a few years, but I'm sure you'll have other ones that will be just as meeting-ish.

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