Back to work

I've posted on this blog twice in the past month. That is despicable. What's even more despicable is that I leave my house before 6 a.m. every morning - when it's still pitch black outside - and don't return home until after 3 p.m. - on a good day. Sometimes it's not until 4 p.m. I'm still trying to find my groove of working full-time, commuting two hours a day, and being a mom of two amazing littles and wife to my best friend.

Keith and I knew my going back to work would be a huge change. Of epic porportions. We thought it would take an entire month for the kids to adapt. We thought there would be meltdowns and endless crying. We thought it would be so hard and that, maybe, by October we'd get into a regular routine.

We thought. We thought. We thought. It turns out? The kids adapted without so much as a sideways glance. This is Cole's 4th September, so he is now used to the drill. Sure, he's sad, and sometimes he shows that sadness by telling me he doesn't love me with a mean fake look or vice grips my leg in an effort to "hug" me. But, otherwise, he gets it. Mommy works in a school far from home. And Bevin? I thought it would take her at least a month to get used to the idea that her all-you-can-eat dining option closed at 4:30 a.m. Instead, she falls back to sleep in Daddy's arms with little fanfare. Of course there was a day or two of crying. But that was all. That was all!!! I thought I was going to have to run from the house every morning at 5:15 because the crying on that first day was so terrible. But she surprised me and stopped making a big deal of it.

Keith and I are adjusting, also. I'm used to pumping at work (though now I have a pumping buddy - who knew that was possible?!); I'm used to rushing around all day trying to fill up my one free period with all of the teacher-like tasks I thought of on the drive to work; I'm used to the commuting. I'm used to being away from my babies all day long. But, it doesn't mean I like any of it.  Work is work.  I'm trying very hard to leave work at work and keep my family life free from the negativity that can follow me home.  It's not always easy. Case in point: the other day I was so upset by a conversation I had with a colleague that I would not rest until I shared it with Keith. Hopefully I can learn from this and create a nice balance between work and life. Though I still have to get work done at home, it does not mean I have to allow the troubles of work enter my home.

The best part about our working situation is that when it's my turn to take over, I'm in it with them. I'm done for the day. No late night grading or planning. I even leave my bag at work, only bringing it home on the weekends or if I'm planning to do an hour's worth of work as soon as I get home, when Keith is still home. Pre-bath fun is spent outside soaking up the September sun, getting in one last bike ride, or one last bug investigation. Baths are filled with splashing and giggles and story time is filled with more cuddles and smiles.

I wish I had an awesome candid picture of our time together, but the photographer of the family is busy working during that time, so I'll leave you with these parting shots...