I am adjusting to my new status. It is one that involves an interesting mix of stay-at-home-mama and working-mama. A mix that I am fortunate to have stumbled upon, for sure.
I am working part-time in the afternoons, M-F, from 2:45pm until 5 or 6pm depending on the day. I am the second instructor at an after school program called "Art in the Afternoon" that is in the same building as the Montessori school I worked at for years before having Claire.
So I'm back in a familiar space, working with kids, making art.
And here's the kicker......
I can bring Claire with me.
Nice, huh?
Usually. We are definitely still adjusting and transitioning and working out some kinks. I love that I am able to still enjoy leisurely mornings with my girl, but not too long after breakfast I start thinking about how to wear her out so that she'll nap before "we" go to work. I am trying to figure out how to do things like write in this space and read my pile of neglected library books and stay fairly organized and prepare meals and such during my non-working hours (which certainly are most of my hours), but so far I'm not getting very far with any of that. Oh yeah, and find time to plan art lessons, too. There is that.
Mike has been in training a lot for the past few weeks. It is a tad inconvenient that this training fell during my first few weeks of work, but that's how it goes. After this week he will be able to hang with Claire in the afternoon at least 2 or 3 days a week. Which will be great for everyone, really.
Because, you know.... sometimes it's challenging to teach an art lesson when your 19 month old (yes, really- 19 months!) is pulling on your leg yelling "Up! U-uuuuuup! Milk! Miii-iiiiiiiiilk!". Or when you are trying to help 10 kids thread needles and learn to sew and said 19 month old has a little meltdown in a hot stuffy room and nothing you do (with your one free hand, anyway) seems to help.
It's time like those that I've wondered a bit whether my heart is fully into this new gig. When it's hard on her. Because her well being is my priority, of course.
But I think it's gonna fall into place quite nicely once we settle into it. Yes I do.
I welcome words form the wise and experienced on how to balance out such things, how to mother and work at the same time, how to let go (just a little) of your time with your babe, how to get motivated to plan meals in advance and other such household-organizing tasks....
you know, all that simple stuff~
This year I STILL haven't gotten into the swing of getting dinner ready beforehand....I am hoping I can adjust in a few weeks. My poor husband! He seems to be handling it well, though. You will get into the swing of things...I know it! :) love ya~!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have had/still do have our hard moments. Like you, I still struggle with juggling the needs of 10 other children with the needs of my own child - with one hand, with one heart, etc....
ReplyDeleteI try to breathe, yes breathe...take a minute, maybe two, if we are lucky 5 or ten to connect with Bea. Even at 2.5 she needs me to hold her lots. At some point in the morning I might carry her on my front or back in our carrier for 10 minutes or so. Lately, she'll tell me when she's ready to get down. And then off she goes, happy again...
And then there are many days that are just delightful. She plays and works happily with her friends and touches base with me for a quick hug or kiss. And my heart sings at these moments.
It's definitely not perfect. But we don't have the option for me to stay home full time either. And I'm not sure that that situation would be any easier (for her) either. But also, I think it's a bit different for her because our morning at the school has been a part of her life since infancy....
Cooking...we do a lot of bulk cooking on the weekend. Then maybe once or twice a week I'll cook enough to have leftovers for the next night.
Books: hit or miss. It has to be a really good read for me to stay committed to it! :)
thanks, ladies~
ReplyDeleteNichole I am going to try (really. really!) to get into the habit of cooking a lot on the weekends. Knowing how much easier it will make my weeks, and particularly our evenings after work will, I think, serve as the perfect motivator.
And oh yes, breathing can really work wonders, can't it? Must remember that.....
Claire definitely still enjoys being worn in the carrier, and having her all set up to eat when we get there seems to help a lot as well. I think as she gets more comfortable in the space she will feel more confident and secure in it. And in the upcoming weeks when she's able to start staying with Mike in the afternoons twice (or so) a week will be great all around, too.
I appreciate the encouraging words~
You'll get the hang of it and it's awesome (and so great for papa and baby girl) that she and Mike will have their special time together. Pablo watches our girls 2 fulls days plus many mornings and they have a ball.
ReplyDeleteI have found meal planning to be super helpful and whenever I make something that lends itself to freezing, I try to make a double batch. I've also started a meal rhythm of sorts...fish on Wed, soup on Friday, roasted chicken on Sundays, pasta Tuesdays, etc. Then I have a list of 5-6 meals in each of these categories that I can easily make and that my family likes. Here and there I add something new to the mix, but don't have much time for that at the moment, so having dependable standbys really helps. It makes planning and shopping for food super easy.
Danielle, I like the sound of your "meal rhythm". I'd like to do something similar, and really, it seems like it'd be easy enough to keep enough variety going to keep everyone happy. Thanks for the ideas! Good luck finishing up school and preparing for the big move out West!
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