The debate is never ending - working mom versus stay at home mom...and who has got it better. The working mom (and I'm speaking in general) longs to be at home with her babies. The stay at home mom wishes for that adult interaction. I am a working mom (though I know and deeply believe we're ALL working moms). I long for more time with my girls - to see Natalie's firsts as they are quickly coming...and savor all of Sydney's toddler spirit before she's interested only in her girlfriends, activities and lord help me Boys!
The hardest part, though, about working all day is trying to make the most of the minimal hours I have...and lately my time with my girls - particularly Sydney - has just flat out stunk! It begins with the morning wake up call. My daughter is not a real morning person anyway. We do our routine - potty, get some breakfast, put on her clothes (usually with some fashion debate) and rush, rush, rush. About the biggest smile I get is when she sees the red trolley while watching Mister Rogers! And who can blame her for being cranky - it's early, damn early and she's being moved around like a toy doll at an inspection factory.
Then at night, Mommy gets the evening crankys. She's been at daycare "school" all day, playing hard, engaged in activity after activity...and what do we do when we get home? Dinner, bath, jammies, teeth, books, bed.
I know children depend on a routine and actually probably prefer it. But sometimes, some days the routine, the grind, the drill, the regime gets old and it's all I can do to just say screw it... Let's take the day off...because Mommy really needs some more smiles!