What is an average day or week like in your house? As mothers, we establish routines because, for me, at least they keep me sane (or mostly sane. Hmm, perhaps marginally not crazy.) And some routines, such as work schedules and daycare schedules and everyone else’s schedules often mean that our routines have to work around those. If they change, we have to adapt.
Today, I can admit that I am 100% off my routine and have been for about 12 days now. For many of you, this likely coincides with summer break. Kiddies are out of school, so the established patterns of the year go to the dogs and you just try to keep up. However, my son is only three so school isn’t yet an issue.
Nope, this change is because of my schedule. This year, I took on another part time job working on Brenda Novak’s Online Auction for Diabetes Research. I love Brenda, I love being a part of something so wonderful and the auction this year was wonderfully successful. We raised $270, 611! Thanks to everyone who donated and participated. I’m happy to say that the kindle the MamaWriters donated for went for $395.00. What a wonderful event when people are willing to spend above and beyond the cost of something just to support a good cause. (Congrats to our winner!)
So this month, I’ve been working hard on the auction, in addition to the other things I already do. Of course, you would think I would have scheduled my time a wee bit better so I wasn’t going crazy, but that would make sense, so why on earth would I do that? My husband has been beyond unbelievable in his support, trying to do whatever he can to help.
But I have to admit, one of the changes we made for the month of June was adding a day to my son’s daycare schedule. Usually, he goes to his babysitter’s three days a week. That was changed a few months ago, from two days a week, when my business started getting busier and I needed more time. This month, he’s at four days a week and I have to say, while I believe HE has adjusted just fine, I’m not sure I have. He loves his time there, he gets excited in the morning when we’re going. He has friends he loves to play with–and one little adorable girl who is his bestest bud. It’s the sweetest thing to watch them give hugs when they arrive and say goodbye…but that’s a different post.
While I imagine he knows that something has shifted, he’s doing okay. But partially because it’s routine and partially because I relish my time at home with my son, going from three days to four days a week seems HUGE to this mama. When Friday rolls around and he’s home with me, I almost feel like I haven’t seen him in weeks. All I want to do is hug him, snuggle with him. For example, as I write this post, he is sitting snuggled up to my side on the couch. Just to be closer to his vicinity, I grabbed my laptop and set up here.
The days are inevitable – I know he’ll go to school soon. I know things will change a million times over, but I can’t help that little part of myself that wishes I could just keep us in a bubble right now and enjoy every single second of the time I have RIGHT NOW. Because I understand that it will be gone in a flash.
So how do you handle when things change? The big steps and the little ones that signify your little ones are growing up, or life is moving on? I’m thinking I need to start preparing now for his first day of school, so just toss that advice right on over.
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Jeannie~
I completely understand the sense of not seeing your baby when he’s away from you for any kind of extended periods.
When I went to the RWA National conference last summer, I left on Tues. my husband and son arrived Friday. Since I saw my son Tuesday morning, and they were there by Friday afternoon, that means it was Wed & Thurs I went without seeing him (first time ever). I couldn’t believe how much older he seemed. It was shocking.
Kudos to you for for doing all that great stuff!!
Jeannie, it’s always harder on the mom than it is on the kids. Just a fact of life
. My boys are teens, and it’s dawning on me that they won’t be in my house much longer. I’m not sure what I’m going to do without them.
Yesterday my mom took our girls for the night so hubby and I could have time together. I was looking forward to it, a date without kids! And believe me I did have a blast and we totally needed it, but when we were out to dinner, there were so many kids eating with their parents and I did get a little sad, and then when it was time for me to pick them up this afternoon I was beyond ecstatic.
Nationals will probably be tough for me too this year. I haven’t been away from them for that long in literally 3 years….Its going to be hard, and I’ll probably call home a few times a day and they’ll talk to me for a few seconds and that’s it because they are so busy playing, lol
Adjustments are hard, I agree. I cried when my eldest went to kindergarten. The entire year before we’d spent together. She was in daycare until she was 4. I pulled her out and stayed home that year before she went to school and it was the best thing I ever did, just so I felt like we had that time together before she went off…Even though summer time makes my work schedule a lot crazier, I’m excited to get to spend more time with her.