When my life shifted into single motherhood, the office manager role at a small internet company was meant to be a stopgap — a steady job to help me find my footing. What it became was a lifeline. The position gave me the flexibility I desperately needed when the kids were sick or schedules went sideways. While I primarily worked from the office, we set up a home office so I could handle evening calls or cover a day from home without missing time with my children. That balance made all the difference.
My boss at the time was also navigating marriage troubles, and that shared vulnerability made him an unexpected sounding board during my divorce. He served me some humble pie and showed me parts of the male perspective I hadn’t considered, and I tried to do the same for him from the woman’s point of view. We didn’t save either of our marriages, but we each grew from the experience. Over the years that professional support turned into a deep friendship and eventually into love — he’s now my fiancé, and I feel blessed to be building a future with my best friend.
Then COVID hit in 2020. Overnight everyone was working from home and demand for fast, reliable internet skyrocketed. It was chaotic and exhausting to keep up, but our company stayed afloat when many couldn’t. Not long after, a larger internet provider from Texas secured substantial grant money to expand into rural areas. Faced with the choice to either compete or sell, we chose to sell. That decision closed one chapter and opened another. With the sale, we pivoted into real estate-house flipping and rentals.
Looking back, what started as a temporary job turned into a career and a partnership that reshaped my life. The flexibility helped me raise resilient kids, the friendships turned to love, and the business transition led to a new path in real estate. I’m grateful for the unexpected turns that brought me here.