I know most have you have noticed either Sandy, the kids, their cousins or I wearing this odd looking Pokemon ish character on our clothing every now and then. Who is it? Well it is Wapuu, the official character or mascot type creation for one of the main products (WordPress) that Automattic supports. Automattic is the company that Sandy works for and we have all grown to love Wapuu! There are a few different designs of him out there if you were to google search him and in this house we have the original and the punk version of him on our clothing!
Why do we love Wapuu? Well the kids think it is cool that their father works for a company that has a character like this representing part of what he does! For me, it just makes me happy! Most of you who know Sandy know that he is the type of guy who just needs to learn more and grow within a company. Once that opportunity is gone or if it doesn’t offer the flexibility for him to have time with his family on top of that, then he moves on and in the past has always been looking for other opportunities no matter where he was working.
We are quite the opposite that way! I have stayed in positions for years or with companies that I didn’t love because it did what I needed to or offered what I needed at the time. I can divide my happiness that way and leave almost all of my work behind me at the end of the day! Even with my childcare, most of you know children can all have their days and some kiddos can be more challenging than others, but at the end of the day once I sit down at my table for supper with my family, it is all behind me. Sandy is definitely not that person. I love him for his passion to learn and grow!
When he first applied at Automattic, I really thought it was too good to be true for one and secondly, I thought he would go crazy being home in his office without interaction from co-workers. Well I was certainly proven wrong! Automattic exceeded my expectations. It is an amazing company to work for, with a great group of people and a constant opportunity to try something new, learn and grow! Perfect for Sandy! He has been there just about a year now and for the first time in the 13 ish years we have been together I have not seen him seeking other opportunities! He is finally happy and the flexibility is amazing for our family! I am so amazed by this company that the thought goes through my mind every now and then about trying to learn more, so that one day I may be able to work there myself!
So for me, Wapuu is a reminder of how blessed we have been this last year! I love that Sandy can pick up the older girls from school, take most of them to their extra curriculars, take days off to go on class trips, make his own schedule, yet learn, grow and challenge himself as a person. His position has also allowed me to continue with mine. I am not sure how many years I will continue to offer childcare, but I am thankful that for now I am able to do so! Although Wapuu is a very tiny part of the whole WordPress and Automattic, it’s a cute little reminder for me and did I mention that all of Sandy’s clothing as well as the kids & I are free! Paid for by the company! Another small but big gesture that makes them so wonderful!
I Dream of Summer 
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