As you already know from my last post, we booked last September, following no holiday that year, to go to WDW - even though we knew it would be paid for mostly by credit card than savings.

We booked that holiday, not on a whim but through a lot of thought and knowing that it would be hard to accommodate our DS with his sensory needs anywhere else. At the same time, I was struggling to cope with my job, studies, all the paperwork and fighting that was needed for our sons education, filling in forms for the Occupational Therapist etc. that eventually my husband agreed that I should give up work after 16 years.

Leaving work wasn't an easy decision, but it was a much needed one and on the day I had decided to resign, I was lucky to be ill, so while I was off, the company announced redundancies.
I waited once I was back in work and about one to two weeks later, I was informed by a colleague (while out of the office) that they would accept voluntary redundancies.
I was lucky, I jumped at this chance and within seconds of being informed this, I emailed HR and asked to be considered. The Director of my department had a quiet word with me to make sure I was making the right decision, especially after 16 years of service, but they were also aware of the issues at home and the increase in stress at work through company changes.

On the 18th November, I left my employment with a little cry and and a small leaving presentation where even the Managing Director came down to give a small speech I was happy and sad: happy to be leaving behind a world I started to hate but sad for the 16 years I was leaving behind and the unknown that lay ahead.

I've managed to adapt well; it took about 3 weeks to switch off and stop myself from checking work emails (they had left my login open, so I had to eventually request they switch it off! ), I tidied a couple of rooms in the house (living/dining room, bathroom) in the first two weeks but then switched off and spent a while writing blogs and not doing very much at all. Obviously we had Christmas, so I had my first full end of term holiday with the children when previously I'd had to book time. In the New Year 2012, I received my CRB check back which gave me the pass to volunteer at our local village Infant School; this is where I now go 3-4 afternoons a week to help with observations and reading etc.

Obviously, having given up work, the biggest question was "Can we afford to go on holiday or should we cancel and lose the £700 deposit?"

We came very close to cancelling, but we are desperate for a holiday (which we have never had on our own in over 11 years - we have always gone away with my in-laws in the UK or taken my brother-in-law when abroad!) After the last couple of years that we've been through, we REALLY need to relax in the sun and WDW is the best place for our children. (and me )
Last week we decided to go for it and if that means putting ourselves in debt with the credit card, so be it. We'll just have to work hard at cutting costs and paying it off as quickly as possible. We've now booked our holiday insurance and the airport hotel for the night before we depart.