So how did staying at home get so incredibly hard? I enjoyed being a working mom. I felt my superhuman strength emerge each morning when I would rise before the sun to workout or take a shower in peace. My super powers included; but weren't limited to, human regeneration (birthing two wonderful human beings), multitasking (driving and singing Raffi at the same time or writing sub plans while holding a vomiting child), linguist (knowing when to talk like an adult and when to speak kid), and flexibility (keeping the household organized, time management, knowing when to wear what hat depending on where I was and who I was with, etc). I knew I could do it all. I was invincible.

Then one day it seemed the world was falling apart. We all know: when it rains, it pours. There were health issues for the kids and extended family, there were needs at Colette's school that weren't being met, there were demanding classroom parents and their wayward children, and we can't forget potty training.

So I admitted I was stressed and tried some "rejuvenating" activities like scrapbooking - that was all about the kids, or reading - that was all about work or the kids, or taking a class or two - that was all about work, or working out - I was so tired of getting up at 4:30 everyday before I full day of teaching but couldn't scream. So was any of this helping me? I was still stressed. As you can see nothing was really about rejuvenating the spirit from within myself.

Nobody hands you book of instructions when you leave the hospital with your bundle of joy - not even the second time! And advice is usually given without asking thus adding to a mom's stress. I have had to really consider what's important in this lifetime amd make adjustments that aren't always easy. And I've had to continue to make readjustments sometimes putting things back where I had started from.

Being a mom is tough whether you're working or not because YOU ARE ALWAYS WORKING! Hang in there mommies of the world. This job is probably the most important and underpaid, but it will be the most rewarding of your life. Celebrate the little things and remember to smell the roses even when those roses are the poop your little one hasn't been able to get out for the past week - Colette's health issue!
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