After making the call to keep our two little girls in the private school we love, my husband and I took a good look at our budget and the medical history of my spine and decided that I probably should begin looking for a job that did not involve scrubbing other people's floors and bathrooms. Right about that same time, my sister-in-law called and told me to contact her chiropractor, since he was in need of a part-time receptionist. What could be more perfect, I wondered? I hang up my mop and bucket, go to work for a chiropractor and get free treatments, and make money to keep my kids in school. But then, after I interviewed for ten minutes, was offered the job, accepted the job, and was driving home looking at sheep grazing in a field did I remember, wait a minute! I have not ever held a full-day job with two children at home! I have childcare arranged, but who will make me dinner? So here is what I have learned since last week, in case any of you are thinking about going back to work:
1) My husband can put food in the oven. I never gave him a chance to take care of me in this way before.
2) I have an awesome support structure of family and friends who will wake up early to watch my girls since my husband works nights and sleeps days. You need this!
3) In regards to #1, I am learning about foods that can be made way ahead of time and then frozen. Someone should write a cookbook with lots of recipes like this in it...oh wait, that idea seems to be taken. And, also, is now overwhelming to research due to the high volume of material available. How about spaghetti instead?
4) Painting 40 tiny nails and pretending to eat plastic food--oh, excuse me, crab truffle souffle salad--is much more fun and exciting when I haven't seen my children in ten hours. They, in turn, seem to enjoy my enthusiasm, and reward me with extra kisses. Today, they even read me three stories at bedtime.
5) My husband seems to know much more about what our kids are doing, since he is their go-to parent for several hours of the day. They are learning that Daddy can tie ballet shoes, dress Bride Barbie, and eat crab truffle souffle salad too, and it's been good for everyone.
6)I get lovely cards and artwork when I get home. I also get squeals of delight, and people cheering my name. This is all usually reserved for Daddy! It's like I'm famous, only without all the money, material possessions, and destructive patterns of behavior.
7)I feel more cheerful about dishes, laundry, and other menial household tasks. I don't know why.
8) I feel more like being productive on the other days of the week, so that the house will be cleaned, dishes done, and laundry washed and put away when I go back to work.
9) I started working out again with the energy I save by sitting in a desk chair twenty hours a week.
10) I am even more appreciative of my sweet and wonderful husband, who is taking on more work at home so I can work outside of it. He is giving up time with me so I can help our family, and he cares about my needs and my feelings. What more could a working girl ask for? Maybe a nutrition bar that doesn't taste like it was made with sand...
