tales from a workin' mama

So Christmas has come and gone and it was splendid, but this is not a Christmas blog post. That will comes soon (I hope.)
This post is a post I have had in my head for a while, and with the soon return to work for a dear friend of mine, I thought I would finally get it down "on paper." And if there are other working mamas out there who can relate, all the better. So here goes.

I have worn both the stay at home mom hat (with Ansley) and the working mom hat (with older Ansley and with Stephen) If you are looking for a good debate on which one is the best or most noble or right or whatever you want to call it, this is not it. There are hundreds, if not thousands of websites, blogs, birth boards, online communities where the topic of stay home vs. working moms is alive and well. Feel free to check those out if you like, but you might get more satisfaction from beating your head against the wall - just giving you a fair warning. It is a heated topic for many. And many times it ends with women attacking other women as if their very breath depended on the other person admitting they are WRONG. Think I am being dramatic? I am not. So no debate and here goes.

So you work. So you are a mom. Guess what? You. Can. Do. It. Whether you are single or have a partner, you can do it.
No, seriously. It can be done. Want proof? You are reading it. And there is no pass or fail. So get that out of your head. You are not going to be scored on a daily sheet with your results posted on facebook or twitter. You are not racing anyone. You are not competing against anyone. Including, read this carefully, including YOURSELF. Day by day, sometimes hour by hour. You just make it work. You might make it work because you have to financially. Or you make it work because (GASP) you actually enjoy your job. Whether you work for the money, the benefits, the stimulation, the chance to use your degree - if you are a working mama, know right now - you can be successful. We just must be very careful in the ruler we use to measure our success.

So here are some things to remember:
They are your kids. You can speak up to your childcare provider. You can ask questions. And guess what else, you have the ability and right to change things if they are not working. And what might be bothering you is not too little to speak up about. We do not watch Spongebob in this house. One of my kids was in a room at a child care center at one point where on more than one occasion they were shown Spongebob shows. I told the teacher I didnt like it. I told the director I didn't like it. In the spirit of trying to smooth things over, I even offered to bring in more appropriate movies. Some of the staff probably thought I was crazy. But I didn't want my child watching it. And so I spoke up. And this is not easy as a mother. You want the teachers to like you. You start thinking thoughts such as, "If they teachers think I am crazy, if they think I am telling on them to the director, will they treat my child differently??" All working moms have thought this. They have debated for hours over whether or not to mention the bottle issue, the feeding time issue, the I asked that he not be put on the floor issue. I would venture to say that the majority of child care workers I have encountered are very special and very loving people. And if something is causing an issue, it is almost always a miscommunication and not an act of willful disrespect of my parenting wishes. But to all the working mamas out there, don't be scared to speak up.
With Ansley we were in a little different place b/c I had a dear friend who kept her once I went back to work. But with Stephen, it took a while for us to get settled into the right place for him, which ended up being in a licensed home daycare run by a precious and wonderful lady. This is not to say day care centers are not good. In fact, it seems right now this new baby will be in a wonderful daycare center when I return to work in the fall. I don't feel a lot of guilt about decisions I have made with my kids, but one I do is leaving Stephen in a center for even a day after a feeling deep in the pit of my stomach that I needed to do something. He had been bitten numerous times and each time the director assured me the situation was being taken care of. One night at church my mom could tell that both Stephen and I were about to lose it. Very gently she whispered to me, "He can't speak for himself. You do it for him." I pulled him out the next day after a brief but serious meeting with the director (Jamey went along for this meeting) I still feel bad that I left him there for even another day. But I did, and although he of course has not lasting issues from it, I learned right then, I will speak up now and worry about offending others later when it comes to my child.

Dinner is not always homemade. It is also not always planned. If the kids are hungry, we feed them. And guess what? You don't have to turn in a menu to anyone, so if they eat french toast and orange slices two nights in a row, you are not going to be on the front page of the newspaper.
I try very hard to enjoy my kids. I do not try very hard to have the cleanest carpets or kitchen in the neighborhood. Who cares. Certainly not me. And if someone does, then they have more time on their hands than I do.
Hold them, read to them, bathe them, sing to them. Let them see you happy. Let them see you reading. Let them see you enjoy having a meal with them. This is not a suggestion that you hide all emotions from your kids and pretend that everything is roses and rainbows when lots of times, it is not. There is a time as they grow to let them see how you handle situations that cause sadness or worry. (That is another blog another time.)
But at the end of the work day, our kids, our babies, need to see that we are glad to see their faces, to hear what they have to say, to notice when something is not right with them. My mama radar rarely shuts off. I don't think I could shut it off if I tried. And I am ok with that.

A few final thoughts for working mamas of little people: Find someone who encourages you. Not the mom who has no roots showing, perfect makeup, an organically prepared dinner every night and who keeps complaining that she "can't stop losing weight." I am sure these people , whoever they are, are really lovely people. But an encourager to me, she is not. It is not easy. Sometimes I see a pile of laundry and I feel so discouraged about the size of it, I can't even begin to tackle the folding. Sometimes I do it anyway, and sometimes I just go to bed. Or watch How I Met your Mother on Netflix. I score no points for having it all done tonight. The Flylady aint coming in your window with any gold stars.

We do what we can where we are. And I love my children (all two and a half of them at this point). Don't beat yourself up. Don't be scared to change your mind. And don't feel you are alone.

It's Christmas, Mama

Ansley and I riding in the car today:

Ansley: Christmas is in 10 days. I can't wait. I want it to be Christmas and I don't want it to be Christmas.
Me: what do you mean?
Ansley: I don't want the now part of Christmas to be over. When Christmas day comes, this now part of Christmas will be over. I like this now part of Christmas.
Me: me too, baby. I like this now part of Christmas too.

To my girl and boy

Dear ones,
You have both now celebrated a birthday this year! 8 and 5. 8 and 5???? I guess that is what happens while we are living - you are growing up. But this is not a sappy post, it is a letter to you. So that we can all look back and remember how awesome you are at this stage in life. So here we go,

Ansley, since you are the first born, guess you can go first, so here goes...

Dearest Girl,
You are 8! Here are some things your 8 year old self loves: playing school, skating, reading, reading, reading, helping in the kitchen, the beach, swinging as high as you can, shopping, spending the night with your grandparents, singing, playing piano, swimming, oranges and grapes and watermelon, ice cream, flying to new places. egg drop soup

Here are some things you do NOT like: sweatshirts (this is very bazaar to me, but it is a definite 'no' on your list), fried oysters (only char-grilled or baked oysters will do - and you will eat the heck out of a plate of those. You try to eat them raw but it makes me too nervous, so cooked ones you would eat every week if we served them up), substitutes at school, hamburgers in the cafeteria, riding the school bus on field trips (where are the seat-belts you keep asking), and now that I think about it - you really aren't a fan of anything fried. food-wise. and you don't like when people break the rules,

You are a sweet and precious child. You play with your brother so well and you are counting the days until your baby sister arrives. She might as well have two mamas at this point as I (and everyone else) know that she will be just as much yours as mine. You are beautiful inside and out and I love every freckle that pops up on your face in the summertime. You are a ray of sunshine.


Dearest Boy,
You are 5! Here are some things your 5 year old self loves: sword fighting with anyone who will take you on (no sword? A no contact old fashioned fist fight will do just fine), happy meals, apple juice, cowboy boots, Zorro, Captain Jack, peanut butter sandwiches cut into the shape of Mickey Mouse, show and tell days at school, the playground at your school, smuggling rocks and pecans off the playground at your school,chicken nuggets with sweet and sour, swiping anyone's Iphone or Ipad that you can get your hands on.

Here are some things you do NOT like: Friday shirts at school, the news, car rides, sitting outside of Ansley's ballet class waiting for her to finish, bedtime, getting up in the mornings, wearing shirts with collars, public displays of affection.

You are a sweet and smart little man. You say what you think and you mean what you say. You remember even the tiniest details and you  are honest to the core. You love your sister and your favorite pastime is being let loose with her in the backyard or the playroom. You are handsome inside and out and I love your hair and forbid anyone to cut it except for one person in the world. You are a ray of sunshine.

Jamey and I are blessed  and we are patiently waiting on our 3rd ray of sunshine.

My list

I try and try to remember things throughtout the day to blog about that evening, but this is not an easy task. I know some people blog from their phones, but I just can't blog with one finger. I just can't. I tried. So I have to do my writing at home on an actual computer. Which means that lots of times, I have simply forgotten what I wanted to write about by the time I get home at night. So I just going to make a random list for my blog post tonight. Here we go:

1. Tonight at church we had the Hanging of the Greens, which is a lovely and meaningful part of the Advent season. Our church decorated tables with actual "greens." Meaning they had a fabulous scent (even I could smell them with this cold/sinus infection thing I have going on) and they were beautiful. They were also covered in sap. Did my 5 year old or almost 8 year old come home covered in sap? Nope. That would be me. My clothes, my hands, my chin (my chin???????). i have washed my hands repeatedly. Sap is some sticky mess (who knew?) guess I will carry this sticky reminder of the meaningful Hanging of the Greens ceremony for a while longer.

2. Tonight I committed the ultimate December transgression and bought something for myself at Target. I had a little Scentsy money left and I bought a purse. As I was still using the one from the summer and had been reminded by several people that it was seasonally inappropriate (good lord) I thought I would break down and see what they had at Target. I chose a nice sensible brownish bag I thought people would approve of while shopping with Stephen and Ansley before church tonight. As I was putting it in the buggy, Stephen gasps, "Mommy - this purse. This is the purse you need." He is holding a greenish bag. That is a terrible description of it as you might be thinking pea soup green or Grinch green and it is neither of those things - it is actually quite nice. Just a bit out of the box for me. "Get this purse, mama. It goes with your face and all your hair." he tells me. So.....I am just going to assume you know which purse I left the store with this evening. And it wasn't the brown purse. Gah! I hope I am one of those mamas who will raise a good future husband. I must be doing something right, b/c this little 5 year old man can lay on a compliment that makes a girl swoon.

3. I am clicking and shopping away from Christmas this week. Or I need to be. I also need to be working on my Disney Photo pass book as Disney gives you 30 days (30 days!?!?!?) only to create and order your book. Talk about pressure! I suppose it is good, as otherwise I would probably be home on maternity leave thinking about making this book. But geez, December is not a good time for additional deadlines. But I want this book, so at some point (midnight one night?) I am going to get it done.

So I think three things on my random list is good enough for tonight. Time for my nightly cereal. and  Brrrr...this is not my kind of weather. Goodnight, all!

So you may have heard the news...

We have been up to a little something lately...our little something is about 19 weeks these days and weighs almost 10 ounces. And, as you probably read above this, or on the world of facebook, our new little project happens to be a feisty little girl.
We let the kids skip school today to go to the ultrasound with us. Ansley of course was rooting for a girl while Stephen was waving a blue flag. But baby, however, had no initial interest in showing off "the goods" as my sweet friend KPH termed it several months ago. We got healthy and normal measurements on head, limbs, back, face. etc - but little miss sat with her legs crossed under her, completely uninterested in sharing her news. The ultrasound tech (who I think was having as much fun as we were with the kids in there) poked, bounced, tickled and prodded - the baby pulled her legs in tight under her bottom. The tech went back to measuring other things, moved quickly back to side of the crossed legs and caught her in moment with her guard down. She was, indeed, a little girl! And no sooner had the tech shared the news (and at this point Ansley is bouncing up and down shouting, "Its a girl!Its a girl!") than little miss priss had recrossed her legs back in her original position. My first thoughts after that turned to my little man. I see a serious little face - "What do you think, buddy?" Pinching his lips together so as not to reveal the smile shining out of his whole face, "I guess it'll be alright if it is a girl." He tells me. He then gives me a high five.
What a morning of blessings - a morning that started out by a) my car not wanting to stay on and b) Stephen randomly throwing up in Jamey's truck on the way to the ultrasound and then seemingly healed of whatever had momentarily ailed him. As anyone with kids will tell you, sometimes there is just unexplained throwing up when kids are around. I am not sure what that was all about, but we made it through the appointment with no other incidents (and believe me, I WAS praying through that whole appointment as I had not thought about grabbing a plastic bag from the truck in case we were faced with it again.)
My car seems to have healed itself (sigh of relief) and Jamey just ended up saying - forget it - and just took the day off with us.
We have obviously known for a while that baby #3 was on the way. We waited until the end of the first trimester to tell family. Several people have stated how they could never have kept it a secret that long. But my motivation did not lie in any lack of excitement - but rather a mama's instinct to protect the hearts of the two little ones already living in our house and filling our lives with love. If this baby, this pregnancy early on, was not meant to carry to full term, then I did not want any of that sadness to fill the hearts and thoughts of the two babies I have here with me now. We are grateful that this baby girl appears healthy and growing. And God has brought me to a place where this baby is a part of me and a part of this family no matter what happens or doesn't happen ever. She is my daughter. One of my two daughters  who belong here with my son. Three children, three blessings,  for Jamey and me.

I have a dear friend Sarah - who at this moment is on the other side of the world with her precious family. She messaged me this thought a few weeks ago and it has resonated with me. She told me, "This is your family's baby. Not just a baby for Jamey and you, but  a baby for the four of you to welcome and love."

This is the Duke family's latest home improvement project. A project of love and adventure.

We are ready, thankful, and oh, so excited.

a few Disney Pictures for now.

Pictures from our trip are scattered through three cell phones, Elizabeth's actual camera, and two Disney photopass cards. I am attempting to sort through them all (minus Elizabeth's - I have to get that from her when she gets back next weekend) but all in all we seem to have ended up with some great pictures. It was a great trip. We were there long enough that we didn't have to rush. We tried new places to eat, midnight - ok, 2am shifts on Space Mountain for some of us (not me), a new hotel thanks to Elizabeth and made lots of great memories. My kids will REMEMBER this trip I think. Which is definitely a bonus when I think (or try not to think) of the money we spend there in 7 days. All worth it, of course. I do love Disney World.
Here are a few pictures.I haven't actually purchased the rights to the photopass pictures yet - good LAWD those are expensive - but some are so good, I may just have to do it. Especially b/c of certain life events that are upcoming may mean a good 18 months to 2 years before we make it back there again.  These are pictures from our phones I think:

Entering on the first day. I think Stephen was a little overwhelmed.

Elizabeth and the future Mr. Elizabeth :) AKA Capt Jack

Flick and the kiddos (I really like him, by the way)

I have a picture of Ansley and Steve with Mary Poppins from 7 years ago. I am going to try and find it tonight to compare

Ansley with Aurora. We have a picture of her with the real sleeping beauty, but just haven't purchased it yet.

Yes, she did eat this and then ride on Tower of Terror. Didn't bother her one bit.

Riding Partners

The kids and their DJo dancing in the street at Hollywood Studios.

Proud girl after riding Everest

The Mad Hatter and Alice make a breakfast appearance

Happy Breakfast Folks

Stephen in jail with Zurg. He insisted I take this picture.

4 days

So we leave in 4 days. My house is somewhat clean (all but the playroom and I am not tackling that without Ansley who was off with her Nanny all day today). Clothes are also clean (mostly) and since the kids wear uniforms every day until we leave, I can go ahead and pack most of their clothes. But right now Jamey is doing calculus prep work, Ansley is signing 125 Christmas cards for the residents of a local retirement home where her Christmas piano recital will be held and Stephen and I are watching Santa Claus is coming to town...or whatever the name of this movie is about Santa Claus. Stephen would like to know what a burgermeister is. I also would like to know, so we are about to Google it before bed.

Stephen has been a tad under the weather - cough, raspy voice. He and I stayed home today to give him some rest and hopefully get rid of whatever it is before we drive to Orlando at the end of the week. He is in good spirits though.
I am a little sad to be missing out on a Colorado Thanksgiving with Luke and Sara. My parents fly up there next week. But they are coming here for Christmas and then I think the kids and I (and hopefully Jamey) will squeeze in a trip to CO in January. A nice gentle snow would be nice while we are there - no blizzards or the like. Especially if I am there without Jamey!
Since my last post, Stephen Jack is officially 5 years old. 5 years old??? oh my. I was carrying him on my hip to bed last night. I really have to stop doing that. A) He can walk just fine. B) Its just not good for me to pick him up right now and C) he is 5. But my goodness, I just love my little man. We are on the countdown for my big girl to turn 8. 8???? Two years away from a decade she tells me :( They both just keep growing and learning. They both make me laugh everyday. I am thankful for them. And for the blessings God has for us down the road.
Did I mention 4 days to Disney/???