I started working again last week. More or less, I have been out of the work-force since late 1998, when my daughter was born. For those, like me, who are math impaired…that’s nine years.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve kept pretty busy with my two preemie kids. For awhile, my son’s therapy, doctor’s appointments, insurance hassles and healthcare needs were a full-time job. But now, he’s five and in preschool. He even eats lunch there. He doesn’t need me so much anymore.
My daughter has become little Miss Self-Sufficient lately. I woke the other day to find her in the kitchen packing her lunch for school. Little does she know, her chore list is about to get a lot longer. Momma’s gonna need a hand.
That leads me to the real purpose of this post. I have always given accolades to working Moms and Dads (to the youngsters in the house…that means something like mad props). But, I was short-changing them by saying things like, “I don’t know how you do it”. I should’ve been saying, “You are amazing because you do it”. People who have something left to give to their kids when they have been working all day…well quite frankly, that’s just unbelievable…and at this point, it baffles me.
I’m still trying to find out how it works, how you juggle all these responsibilities. But, I’m excited and ready for the challenge. I want my children to know that you need to be determined and keep your nose to the grindstone. I want them to see that you can have your cake and eat it too. That you can be a successful employee, a caring Mom, a great friend, and still have time to take care of yourself!
Either that, or I’ll show them that if you bite off more than you can chew, you end up choking and falling over dead. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
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Stacy
Well, I have to be honest and I say I’ve spent most of the last year choking, but haven’t quite fallen over dead, yet!
I wish you the best in your endeavors and with balancing it all!
And as my mom always tells me, “Don’t forget to take care of you,” to which I always reply, “I haven’t forgotten, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.” 🙂
Pinky With a Brain
Momo, I’ve seen you on cre8buzz, and all over my favorite blogs, so I checked yours out, and it’s so funny!
I still work part time and personally, I can’t do it all. But more power to you, sister!
later,
pinky
Corey~living and loving
I certainly hope you don’t choke and die. I’ll send you good “do everything” vibes!
Joeprah
Hey You! Congrats on the job and I hope it works out for you and your family. I have perpetually had a supplemental job to help with the bills since I came home 7 years ago. Mostly jobs I work nights or weekends or both (restaurant stuff yuck!). I also have worked retail in the wine industry cause I am an avid drinker of the fermented juices. I also ran a Spanish program at a community college…part-time (30ish hours a week), I have done construction, real estate…and others I have undoubtedly left off. It is always hectic and I always have to balance the “is it worth it” factor. If I can’t answer the question “why am I leaving my family for this?” Then it is time to go.
Veronica
I hope it all goes well for you, I don’t think choking and dying is an option at this point 🙂
Momo Fali
It’s all good folks. I don’t have time to choke and die!
Misty
the best of luck to you… with one child and a suffering work from home routine, I can’t comprehend how people pull it off (but you are right… amazing is a great adjective!)
now:
your 8 year old makes her own lunch? WOW! My 8 year old is lazy and half hearted about EVERYTHING… I’m told it’s a phase.
piper of love
MOMO fo sho sho! Who loves you babe?
Thanks for that statement about doing it all. It is super-hard, but I know that you can do it! Everything lies in the balance, and if you should happen to find the key to the balancing act…please send me a copy!
It’s all about attitude! You’ve got panache 🙂
MommyCosm
We put our 2 year old into day care when my daughter started kindergarten this year. I had been at home with both of them until then. I was so excited to work again. I envisioned that I would not be so burnt out from being with them all day. I’ve got to tell you…it’s just a different kind of exhausting…except now I have the added guilt of them being away all day.
Avery Gray
I think it’s probably best to show them the first one. The second one’s a little drastic, and would probably lead to years of therapy. Best to avoid it if you can.
(BTW, you’re amazing because you do it!!)
newnorth
Good luck with the job and finding a few more minutes in each day!
Jill
Hey-keep us all updated on the work/mom thing! My youngest goes to kindergarten next year and my husband is already asking me what I’m gonna do to bring in some moola.
Tough question. Lots of my friends are heading back to work part-time. They all commute into NYC. I know I can’t do that. (Too attached/neurotic to venture that far away) So I’ll look for something local maybe 7-Eleven or Dunkin’Donuts???!