What a hectic week!! Between errands, appointments, work, taking Kira to the babysitters, and training, I barely had a second to myself this past week. It really opened my eyes to a few things:
First - I have a brand new appreciation for working moms. Especially working moms who manage to squeeze in exercise and good nutrition (which can be a full-time job all in itself). I've realized that just to get yourself ready, your child ready, drop them off where they need to go, and make it to work on time, you have to start your day 3hours earlier than normal! I had to leave my house an hour before work...and I live 10 miles from work! There is a lot of work and planning that goes into everything, and I appreciate the ladies out there who have it all together and are doing it.
Second - I have a new appreciation for stay at home moms! I thought I wanted to be stay at home mom. I really did, but unfortunately, I need to work. I like buying things, and I am the only one who can support that habit. :) This week, Kira transitioned from an infant to a toddler. It was practically overnight. One day she just started getting into EVERYTHING! If I open the fridge, she's in there, a cabinet - she's in there too, under my feet constantly. I tried the pack-n-play a few times, which is great when I'm cooking or trying to get ready. But I felt bad sticking her in there for more than 20 min at a time. I feel like that's a prison. I realize that children need boundaries, and it's not healthy to let her roam around as she pleases..but the pack-n-play just bothered me...probably because I've seen a lot of mothers abuse this. Anyways, mid-week, Kira was following me everywhere, getting into everything and I'd just had enough, so I put her in her room and shut the door (don't worry, it's completely child-proof). Well, I checked in on her about 5 min later, and there she was, toybox open, toys everywhere, playing contently. Mission accomplished!! I got a baby gate set up the next day so I can keep the door open, and now when I need to do things without Kira's "help", I can put her in her room, and know that she is having fun playing, and not stuck in a little cage...just a bigger, much more exciting one. :) So my appreciation is for mom's out there who stay home, and play with their children all day, and keep them entertained. It's a very hard job, and for those out there who do it, I admire them.
Lastly, I especially admire military wives/moms. I am new to this one, and it is tough. It's one thing to be a stay at home mom, or working mom, and have a husband to help out at the end of the day...so you can relax, or go get some things done that you couldn't do with the kids. Military wives/moms don't get this luxury during a deployment. And most of the time, the military takes people away from their extended families, so it's just them...no close family to help out. There have been so many times since Enrique left where I just want to pack my bags and go home until he comes back. It's hard to not have a break from work and children. If you stay at home, you crave that adult conversation, and that chance to let your husband play with the kids for awhile at the end of the day. If you work, you want to be able to rely on your husband to pick up the kids if you're running late, or watch the kids while you go to an appointment after work or need to grab some groceries. It's very hard, and this is the first time I've had to experience it. There are a lot of women out there who have been doing this for years, and I truly, truly admire their strength, perserverence, and grace. I hate to sound cliche, but it really does take a strong woman to be a military wife...it's a tough job.
My goals over the next few weeks, are to adjust to my new life. Enjoy going to work and having a break from being "mom", appreciate the fact that Kira is playing and socializing with peers while I am gone, plan my days so that I have plenty of time to get ready and out of the door without the added stress of rushing, continue training and eating healthy, and to just take it all in stride! I know this will take some adjusting and fine tuning. Kira is growing up, and therefore, so am I.
All very true! I started working again when Caeden was 13 months old and I quickly learned to have immense respect for single working moms. You're right, when our husbands are deployed it is extremely challenging to have to do it ALL on your own, in addition to trying to work.
ReplyDeleteSome women have said "well, my husband travels a lot for work." Sorry but it's not the same! They can easily call their husbands if they need help, have a question or just need to unload from their day. Our husbands are in foreign countries where we cannot reach them when we want and many times are lucky to get a weekly phone call from them.
I agree that the Pack N Play shouldn't be used much. In all honesty, I never put Caeden in one unless it was nap time. I'm not sure how your house is set up, but I was able to put a gate up to separate the living room from my kitchen so that I could get that stuff done. The only time having him under my feet constantly was when I was trying to prepare and cook food. Trust me, though, they will grow out of it and become a bit more independent and let you get stuff done.
Anyways, hang in there you are doing a GREAT job! I'd like to say it all gets easier....working, being a "single mom", the deployments...but it doesn't. It becomes more manageable but it's still always hard. I think what mad me sad is that my 2 year old is now used to daddy being gone and isn't even phased by it anymore. He's gone from asking for him all day everyday to "oh well, daddy's at work, see him eventually." He gets home from Mali this Friday and we get him for a whole 2 weeks before he leaves again :(
You can do this!
:) Tracy W.